Could Arizona’s MLS Pathway Rewrite the Future of Legal Work?

Would you trust someone with one year of legal training to work on your case? Arizona might soon let you find out.

Arizona’s Supreme Court is reviewing a proposal that would let graduates of a one-year Master of Legal Studies program take a focused criminal law exam and, after nine months of supervised practice, represent clients in criminal cases other than those involving the death penalty.

Arizona already licenses Legal Paraprofessionals (LP), but those roles require more education and longer supervised practice. LPs can appear in certain family, housing, and limited criminal matters. They are not equivalent to this proposed MLS track, which is narrower and faster.

Supporters point to lawyer shortages in rural counties and the cost of a traditional JD. Critics worry about quality, ethics, and constitutional challenges, and they question how clients will feel if they think they are getting a second tier.

Arizona likes to move first

Arizona opened the door to non-lawyer ownership through ABS. Capital followed. So did tech-forward delivery and multidisciplinary teams. An MLS route fits that pattern.

If it works in criminal practice, pressure will build to test focused one-year programs in corporate, IP, and compliance, where volume and process dominate and risk is predictable. Partners and JDs stay on negotiations, complex opinions, portfolio strategy, and litigation prep.

One year can be tougher, not easier

Strip the electives and teach practice. There may be one-year curricula that focus more on practical application or have more intense learning timelines. Live simulations and clinic hours instead of theory. Fewer footnotes, more reps. Graduates show up knowing how to file, what to do, and when to ask for help.

Additionally, nine months of supervision is an extended tryout. Top performers can earn sponsorship toward a JD, with a commitment back to the firm. Others provide reliable coverage for routine matters.

Potential downsides

If MLS lawyers end up doing only the grunt work while JDs handle the interesting matters, morale and retention can suffer. There are also insurance increases that could potentially arise. Of course, the biggest concern is subpar representation. Hopefully, the curriculum and nine-month probation period will be sufficient.

Looking ahead

If Arizona moves forward, it will not only clear rural criminal backlogs. It could reshape talent deployment. Tiered roles can make lower-cost work profitable again and let JDs focus on strategy and complex cases.

If passed, firms that lean in will need clear career paths, intense supervision, and quality controls to avoid internal stratification and malpractice exposure. Get that right and you deliver quicker results at lower cost while keeping associates engaged in higher-value work.

Ayven Dodd advises attorneys, law firms, and investors on everything from legal AI to MSOs, ABS models, and M&A. He serves as a Legal AI and M&A Consultant, helping firms modernize without losing their edge. Reach him at ad@sheltonsteele.com