Generally, law school graduates must sit for the bar exam to practice law in any state. To do so, graduates must have attended an accredited law program at a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Of the 200 law schools in the United States that are fully or provisionally accredited by the ABA, three are located in Arizona. All law schools in the state are fully accredited.
The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University was founded in 1964 and is located on the main campus of Arizona State University in Tempe. The college is named after retired United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. In addition to conferring master of legal studies and juris doctor degrees, the college also grants joint juris doctor degrees with doctor of medicine, master's of business administration and doctor of philosophy degrees. It is home to the Center for Law, Science and Innovation; the Indian Legal Program; Center for Law and Global Affairs; and the Diane Halle Center for Family Justice. In 2010, Arizona State was ranked 38th out of 184 accredited law programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.
Founded in 1915, the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona is located in Tuscon. The College of Law was the first law school established in Arizona and one of the first in the western United Sates. In addition to its J.D. program, the university offers a master of laws (LL.M.) degree and doctor of juridical science (D.J.S.) degrees in a range of subjects, including environmental, international trade, business and Indigenous law. In 2010, the college was ranked 42nd out of 184 law schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report. It is also one of 80 law schools in the United States with a chapter of the Order of the Coif, a prestigious national law academic honor society.
The Phoenix School of Law is a private law school established in 2005. The Phoenix School of Law offers a J.D. program and received its accreditation from the American Bar Association in June 2010. The law school, which is not affiliated with the University of Phoenix, allows students to complete their studies through full-time or part-time programs. It also aims to encourage and promote participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in the law profession.