For James L. Williams, the practice of law has never been separate from his Christian faith. It is a calling – an opportunity to pursue justice, serve others and use his professional gifts for a greater purpose. That conviction will now shape the development of Grand Canyon University’s new College of Law.
GCU has named Williams, an accomplished Phoenix attorney and longtime Christian leader, as the inaugural dean of the College of Law. He will lead the development of a law school that combines rigorous legal education with a distinctly Christian worldview, preparing students to practice law at the highest level while viewing their profession as a calling to serve others, pursue justice and positively impact their communities.
“We are grateful James answered the calling to serve as the inaugural dean of the College of Law,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “There are many accomplished attorneys who understand the law. What makes James uniquely suited for this role is the way he brings together legal excellence, a passion for teaching and mentoring, and a deeply rooted Christian faith.”
“We are not simply building another law school. We have an opportunity to rethink what legal education can look like when academic excellence, Christian worldview principles and free market thinking are joined with a strong sense of purpose. We want to develop attorneys who pursue truth and justice, serve others with integrity and understand the tremendous responsibility that comes with the influence they will have in their communities. James understands that vision because he has lived it throughout his career.”
Williams, a graduate of the Baylor University School of Law, is an attorney and shareholder with Phoenix law firm Schmitt Schneck Even & Williams and President of the Phoenix chapter of the Christian Legal Society, for which he has also served as board member for the last decade. He said the opportunity to build a law school from the ground up – and Mueller’s vision to create something that is “not simply another law school” – drew him to the position.
“Starting from the ground up gives us the opportunity to be very intentional about the kind of law school we want to become and, more importantly, the kind of lawyers we want to develop,” Williams said. “GCU students will be challenged academically, prepared professionally and encouraged to think deeply about the purpose of their work and the responsibility they have to serve others. I am confident this is a work God has begun in and through GCU, and that He will be faithful to complete it.”
Willams’ appointment marks another significant step in GCU’s plans to establish its 12th college and expand educational opportunities in a profession that plays a critical role in Arizona and throughout the nation.
The College of Law could welcome its first class as early as fall 2027, subject to required regulatory approvals. GCU is pursuing the necessary approvals through the Supreme Court of Arizona, Higher Learning Commission and Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education, and then will seek accreditation through the American Bar Association, a separate multiyear process.
If authorized by the Supreme Court of Arizona, graduates of GCU’s College of Law who meet applicable requirements would be eligible to seek admission to practice law in Arizona. Upon ultimately achieving ABA accreditation, GCU would become the third ABA-accredited law school in Arizona, joining Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.
Williams has practiced law in Arizona for 18 years and brings extensive experience mentoring and developing attorneys. He also has worked directly with law students for years through Arizona State University’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.
One of those students was Justin Larson, who participated in the ASU Law mock trial program from 2017-19 and now serves as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Colorado.
“Despite being a volunteer position that James took on while managing his own successful law practice, I was immediately inspired by the tremendous amount of time, effort and passion he put into teaching us the art of practicing law and getting the program off the ground,” Larson said. “Since that time, James has continued to serve as an indispensable mentor and friend to me and many other young lawyers, and I owe a great deal of my success to his thoughtful guidance. To my mind, James is an obvious choice for this position, and words cannot convey how happy I am to know that James will continue to play a pivotal role in training future generations of young lawyers.”
Williams’ commitment to integrating faith with the practice of law extends well beyond his professional career. In addition to leading the Phoenix Christian Legal Society, Williams serves as an elder and worship leader at New City Church in Phoenix.
Those experiences have reinforced his belief that Christian attorneys have an important role to play in a profession built around questions of truth, justice and the rule of law.
“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.”
