The Phoenix School of Law announced today that it will be relocating to Downtown Phoenix in the One North Central building, located at the corner of North Central Avenue  and East Washington Street.

In a lease that begins Aug. 1, the school will eventually occupy 205,130 square feet of the building’s 13th-20th floors and a portion of the first floor. The relocation is a result of the school’s dedication to enhancing its learning environment, commitment to improving student outcomes, and its increasing student enrollment.

“Phoenix School of Law’s announcement to relocate to downtown is great news, bringing long-term jobs that benefit the entire city,” Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said.  “By continuing to build on our knowledge based economy, we strengthen our workforce and create opportunities to reinvest in our community.”

“Phoenix School of Law is extremely excited for our move to downtown Phoenix,” said Scott Thompson, president of the school. “This strategic initiative provides the foundation for the next phase of our institution, and will build on the attainment of full accreditation granted last summer by the American Bar Association.”

The new campus will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a fully operational mock courtroom, a legal clinic and a law library with an expansive physical collection of legal resources, and a variety of electronic databases.

“Attracting educational institutions is key to enhancing downtown Phoenix’s redevelopment and renaissance efforts,” said District 8 Councilman Michael Johnson, in whose district the school will relocate. “Students, faculty and staff will be ideally located in the heart of the state’s legal, government and business districts with convenient access to light rail, retail and other amenities.”

“Our location in the heart of the legal community and justice system maximizes our students’ ability to utilize many resources in the downtown area,” said Shirley L. Mays, Dean of Phoenix School of Law.  “As a law school with nearly 1,000 students and employees, our presence downtown confirms our commitment to Phoenix and will benefit both the city and the broader community.”

The Phoenix School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association, and is the only law school in Arizona where students can choose from full-time, part-time day, or part-time evening programs.

The Phoenix School of Law will be leasing One North Central from its owner, Mitsubishi Estate New York, Inc.  for the next 10 years, with an option to extend for an additional five years. Jay Hoselton, senior director of Cushman & Wakefield, was the broker for the transaction. Lewis & Roca, LLM served as the legal advisor.