Another program from the Arizona Supreme Court is looking to address statewide lawyer shortages in government law offices. The new program comes after the Court’s Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program that launched last year.
Both programs aim to fill gaps in legal services across Arizona, but the Government Law Admission Program, or GLAP, seeks to increase the number of prosecutors and public defenders.
It will work outside of Arizona Supreme Court Rule 34, which allows lawyers to practice law in Arizona from states that have a similar licensing criteria to becoming a lawyer.
Aaron Nash is with the court. He said attorneys from 12 states and five territories that don’t have a similar criteria would be eligible for the program.
“Government law just can’t compete with the private sector in pay," Nash said. "This is another tool now to find people who are interested in doing government law and be able to get them licensed and out there practicing."
After five years in GLAP, they’ll be able to practice any law in Arizona.
The program will accept applications in April.
