Cochise County among first to get help from new Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program

Since 2022, every county in Arizona has fallen below the national average of 4 lawyers per 1,000 residents, according to the National Center for State Courts. The Arizona Supreme Court’s new program is trying to fill the state’s gaps in legal services.

The Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program, intends to help rural communities in need of lawyers. Seven apprentices in the program are currently practicing law under supervision from an experienced attorney.

They were admitted into the apprenticeship after scoring within 10 points of the state’s bar exam passing score. Dylan Hendel was the first applicant to be admitted.

He’s now a deputy county attorney at the Cochise County’s Attorney Office.

“We’ve been advising the county on election issues; a wide variety of other issues that the typical attorney doesn’t really get to work on particularly this early,” Hendel said.

Nicole Cantelme, who’s with the Arizona Supreme Court, heads the program.

She said it’s meant to help address lawyer shortages across the state.

“I think the rural areas are really sparse when it comes to community legal services which makes it pretty hard on those folks out there,” Cantlme said. “You’re really kind of relying on other volunteer programs that are available.” 

She estimates they’ll have 10 people practicing law through the program by the end of the year.

Hendel will continue practicing law under the program for the next two years. After that, he’ll be fully licensed to practice on his own.