Image: GCU
A homeschool-friendly Christian university is going to open a new law school!
Grand Canyon University (GCU) officially announced the launch of its own College of Law in Phoenix, Arizona, with curriculum development already completed and administrative hiring underway.
Inaugural Dean
The university has named Phoenix attorney James L. Williams as the law school’s first dean, according to a press release from GCU on October 8, 2026. Williams is a graduate of the Baylor University School of Law in Texas, and has practiced law in Arizona for 18 years. He also has worked directly with law students through ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law competition mock trial program, where he helped coach and prepare students for the demands of legal practice. Williams is president of the Phoenix chapter of the Christian Legal Society, an association of Christian lawyers and law students, and has served on the chapter’s board for a decade. He is also an elder and worship leader at New City Church in Phoenix.
“The law touches virtually every part of our society, which means attorneys have an extraordinary opportunity – and responsibility – to influence the culture around them,” Williams said. “My hope is that GCU will develop lawyers who are exceptional advocates and legal thinkers, but also men and women of courage, humility, integrity and faith who understand that their profession is ultimately about serving people. If we can send graduates into courtrooms, businesses, government agencies and communities with that mindset, the impact can extend far beyond the practice of law. That is the kind of law school we intend to build.”
Required Approvals
Grand Canyon University has received unanimous approval from the Arizona Supreme Court for its new College of Law, marking a historic milestone in Arizona legal education, according to an October 15 press release. It also needs approval from the Higher Learning Commission, a U.S. regional accreditor, and the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education. After that, the university plans to apply for accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA), the main accrediting body for U.S. law schools.
GCU’s College of Law is intended to be Arizona’s third ABA‑accredited law school, joining Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. GCU plans to enroll the first students as early as Fall 2027 or Spring 2028, pending required approvals. ABA accreditation is a multi-year process that does not begin until a law school has been in operation with its first class for at least one full year.
Program Focus
According to GCU, this won’t simply be another law school. The new College of Law will incorporate a Christian worldview and emphasize constitutional law, free-market principles, individual liberty and the rule of law.
The vision is to educate future lawyers through a Christian worldview while examining the biblical foundations that helped shape Western civilization. GCU President Brian Mueller says you can’t fully understand American law and Western civilization without understanding the Old and New Testaments.
Imagine the Bible and American law being studied together!
GCU President Brian Mueller emphasized that the law school will not only aim to produce attorneys grounded in these principles, but will also instill a sense of purpose and responsibility in students, aligning legal education with the university’s Christian mission of preparing graduates not only for careers, but also to serve their communities and bring principled leadership into their professions.
Location
According to reports, GCU intends for the College of Law to initially operate in an existing 325,000-square-foot building near 27th Avenue and Camelback Road, along the university’s expansion corridor in west Phoenix. This location is about 3 miles south of GCU’s main campus.
Admissions
GCU has not publicly released its admission requirements, but based on what is typical for ABA-accredited U.S. law schools, applicants will likely need:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- An application through the law school admissions process.
- Undergraduate transcripts.
- Letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement.
- Potentially an LSAT or GRE score, depending on the school’s policy.
In general, homeschoolers can enter law school as long as your education is recognized as equivalent to traditional coursework. The path is the same as for other applicants — you must complete an accredited bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), meet LSAT and GPA requirements, and submit a competitive application.
Summary
The law school is GCU’s 12th college, part of GCU’s broader expansion during a period of record enrollment, and is intended to tackle Arizona’s attorney shortage. Pending regulatory approval, it is positioned to become Arizona’s third ABA‑accredited law school and the second in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Founded in 1949, GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers about 400 academic programs, emphases and certificates in person and online, according to the university. The private Christian university announced the new College of Law alongside a separate College of Construction and Industrial Technologies focused on skilled trades.
Do you think the Christian worldview has a place in legal education? Should future lawyers should study the Bible as part of understanding the foundations of American law and Western civilization? Or do you think faith should stay completely separate from law school? Leave a comment!
