Arizona Office
IJ-AZ’s first lawsuit protected a family-owned brake shop from being taken by the city of Mesa for the purely private benefit of a developer who wanted the land for a hardware store. IJ-AZ saved the brake shop, won a landmark legal precedent protecting Arizonans from eminent domain abuse and set the stage for the passage of the Arizona Private Property Rights Protection Act. IJ continues to fight to protect property rights from abusive civil forfeiture and land-use regulations.
IJ-AZ’s efforts have also protected people’s right to earn an honest living, free from arbitrary government regulations, and made Arizona a freer place for entrepreneurs and consumers. Natural hair braiders, small-scale landscapers and gardeners, eyebrow threaders, and animal massage therapists and are now all free to practice their trades without unnecessary credentialing and licensing. IJ is the leading expert on economic liberties under the Arizona Constitution and uses that expertise to litigate to protect the right to earn an honest living.
In addition to its legal victories, IJ’s Arizona office has had tremendous success in the court of public opinion and at the legislature. The saga of San Tan Flat’s fight against the dance police received national print, radio and TV coverage. So did IJ’s “Tamale Bill” fight. When control companies tried to use the Arizona Structural Pest Control Commission to protect their own monopoly from competition, IJ-AZ dominated the media headlines for weeks and the legislature abolished the Commission entirely. IJ has led successful efforts to reform civil forfeiture laws, strengthen sunrise and sunset review, and eliminate licenses and reduce barriers in numerous fields.
IJ-AZ’s staff of talented attorneys, along with a network of volunteer lawyers and like-minded policy organizations, continues to protect the legacy of liberty in the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona Team
Directions to IJ-arizona Office
3200 N. Central Ave.
Suite 2160
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (480) 557-8300
Fax: (480) 557-8305
Law Student Clerkships
To apply for semester clerkships in our Arizona office, please submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample via email to pavelar@staging.ij.org. If you are interested in applying for a summer clerkship please visit our Students page.
Guest Speaker Information
If you would like to invite an Institute for Justice attorney to a debate or to speak to your group. please email activism@staging.ij.org. To see if there are any events near you, go to our Speakers & Events page.