HISTORY OF SUFFOLK LAW

Suffolk University Law School – A Favor Returned

George Frost, a businessman and philanthropist, met a young man while traveling from Cape Cod to Boston. The young man, Gleason Archer, had been working that summer to finance his college studies and was returning to Boston to be treated for an injury. Frost befriended the young man and, over time loaned him funds to complete his law school education. Later, Frost helped Archer obtain a position in a law firm after graduation. When Archer attempted to repay his benefactor, Frost refused saying, “If you ever have a chance to pass this favor along to others, do it for me.”

Over 100 years ago, Suffolk Law School was founded to ensure higher education for those seeking opportunity. In an effort to repay the generosity shown him by George Frost, Gleason Archer established Suffolk Law School as an evening law school for young men like himself. He reached out to students working to better themselves and their communities through the study of law. Suffolk University Law School has not wavered from its founding principles. The path to education widened by founder Gleason Archer has become a broad avenue of opportunity.

Suffolk University Law School was founded on the premise that capable men and women should have the opportunity to study law regardless of background or circumstances. While it has grown to be one of the largest law schools in the country, with thriving day and evening programs, Suffolk University Law School has remained true to its mission to provide excellent education and training for a diverse student body.

Suffolk University celebrated its centennial with a series of year long events and a timeline display in the Cameron Great Hall. View pictures from Suffolk Law School's Centennial Timeline »