National Recognition

Under the guidance of Dean John F. O’Brien and a closely involved board of trustees, New England School of Law continued to rise in prominence. The accomplished faculty helped establish groundbreaking international programs. A long-standing commitment to diversity deepened with the creation of new scholarships and support programs for minority students.

In 1998, New England School of Law received a great honor: membership in the Association of American Law Schools. In 2008, the school honored itself, with a multi-event celebration of its centennial.

1. 1988: O’Brien is awarded deanship

2. 1989: Lending support abroad and within

   The law school joins the Central and Eastern European Law Initiative (CEELI), which assists developing legal systems in the former Soviet bloc. It also launches an initiative with a focus that is much closer to home: the Charles Hamilton Houston Enrichment Program (CHHEP) offers a supportive community for students of color and provides academic assistance to all students.

   Through CEELI, Dean O’Brien meets with members of the Romanian Supreme court and faculty at the University of Bucharest. Courtesy of New England School of Law Library Archives

3. 1991: Sandra Day O’Connor visits

4. 1993: Purchase of 46 Church Street

5. 1994: Facilities get an upgrade

6. 1996: Aiding the prosecution of war crimes

7. 1997: Groundbreaking collaboration

8. 1998: A prestigious honor

9. 2002: Planning for the future

10. 2008: Centennial