A magnetic head is provided that has an extremely small first shield layer and first and second leads of a read head that extend from a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor to first and second pads without any vias therebetween. This is accomplished by patterning the first shield layer into its final shape before the first gap layer and subsequent layers are formed. An alumina mask with a recess at the ABS of the size of the first shield layer is formed followed by forming the first shield layer in the recess. A very thin first gap layer and an optional supplemental first gap layer are then formed, the supplemental first gap layer insulating any potential exposure of the first shield layer at its junction with the alumina layer. After constructing the MR sensor, first and second leads for the MR sensor are constructed from the MR sensor to sites of the first and second pads. Each of these leads may comprise a single thin film or a first thin film which is connected to the MR and extends past a boundary of the first shield layer and a second thin film which overlays the first film and extends from a location slightly spaced from the MR sensor to the first and second pad sites. With this arrangement the leads for the read head extend from the MR sensor to the pad sites without any vias thereby eliminating processing steps. Further, since the size of the shield is not dictated by the size of the initial leads the first shield layer can be much smaller to promote a more robust head.