Grand Canyon University names James Williams as inaugural law dean

Grand Canyon University (GCU) has appointed Phoenix attorney James L. Williams as the inaugural dean of its new College of Law. The school, which will be the university’s 12th college, aims to integrate legal training with Christian worldview principles and free-market thinking.

Williams, a shareholder at the Phoenix firm Schmitt Schneck Even & Williams and president of the Phoenix chapter of the Christian Legal Society, will oversee the development of the program. GCU President Brian Mueller stated the institution intends to rethink legal education by combining academic excellence with a commitment to public service and integrity.

The university could admit its first students as early as fall 2027, pending necessary approvals. GCU is currently seeking authorization from the Supreme Court of Arizona, the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education, and the Higher Learning Commission. Following these steps, the university plans to apply for accreditation from the American Bar Association, a process expected to take several years.