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Arizona law schools partner with the State Bar to announce the 2026 Arizona Legal Access Fellowship awardees

May 18, 2026
UArizona Campus at Sunset

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona and the State Bar of Arizona are proud to announce the 2026 Arizona Legal Access Fellowship recipients — 10 law students who will spend their summers working to expand legal services in under-resourced communities across the state.

“The Arizona Legal Access Fellowship reflects our ongoing commitment to expanding access to justice in communities across Arizona that are too often underserved. These fellows represent the future of the legal profession, and we are proud to support their dedication to public service,” said Angela Banks, Vice Dean and Charles J. Merriam Distinguished Professor of Law at ASU Law. “Through experiential learning opportunities and dedicated career services support, the fellowship helps prepare students for impactful, service-driven legal careers. We are grateful for the continued partnership of the State Bar of Arizona and the University of Arizona Law.”

The Arizona Legal Access Fellowship program provides stipends to students from both Arizona law schools who commit to serving in rural and underserved areas where access to legal representation is critically limited.

“Legal deserts are a challenge Arizona can’t afford to ignore, and this fellowship is a direct response to that reality. These students are not just gaining important hands-on experience; they are filling a genuine need in communities that often have waited too long for support,” said Jason Kreag, Dean of University of Arizona Law. “We are proud to work alongside the State Bar and ASU Law to give students that foundation and to bring real legal help to Arizonans who need it most.”

“The State Bar is pleased to continue its partnership with Arizona’s law schools to prepare students so they can make a real difference in communities statewide, including through Arizona Legal Access Fellowships,” said State Bar President Sam Saks. “There is a shortage of lawyers outside our major cities, and these Fellowships are a creative and collaborative approach.”

The 2026 fellows include:

Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University

  • Taylor Young (1L), Yuma County Attorney's Office, Yuma, AZ
  • Shay Unger (1L), Cochise County Attorney's Office, Bisbee, AZ
  • Victoria Kubacki (1L), Yavapai County Public Defender's Office, Prescott, AZ
  • Jaqueline Acevedo-Solis (2L), Coconino County Attorney's Office, Flagstaff, AZ
  • Savannah Prida (2L), Pinal County Public Defender's Office, Florence, AZ

James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona

  • Blayne Barker (1L), Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Casa Grande, AZ
  • Olivia Harkins (1L), Yuma County Legal Defender, Yuma, AZ
  • Gabrielle Hetrick (2L), Coconino County Public Defender’s office, Flagstaff, AZ
  • George Romero (1L), Yuma County Legal Defender, Yuma, AZ
  • Micaela Smith-Villegas (1L), Pinal County Superior Court, Florence, AZ

Both ASU Law and Arizona Law are committed to preparing students for meaningful careers in public service and are actively seeking additional support to expand fellowship funding and student opportunities in legal deserts throughout Arizona.