Ave Maria School of Law

Ave Maria School of Law stands out as a distinctive institution, shaped by a commitment to its Catholic identity and a conservative religious orientation. Its inception arose from a desire to establish a "true Catholic" law school, a vision championed by founder Tom Monaghan and brought to life through his Ave Maria Foundation. This unique beginning set the stage for an academic environment deeply rooted in faith and tradition.

Established in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1999, Ave Maria welcomed its first class in 2000. Its early development was marked by the involvement of influential figures, including a founding board of governors comprised of prominent right-wing and pro-life religious and political leaders. Even the structure of its curriculum benefited from consultation with legal giants like Antonin Scalia and Charles E. Rice, ensuring a robust and thoughtfully constructed educational path. A testament to its foundational principles, faculty and administrators are required to make a profession of faith, aligning with Catholic teachings.

After initial plans for a larger university campus in Ann Arbor were rejected, the school embarked on a significant relocation to Florida in 2009, despite considerable internal opposition. Following several years in temporary facilities in Naples, the initial plan to co-locate with a university in Ave Maria, Florida, was eventually abandoned. Since 2015, the school has proudly owned its facilities in suburban Naples, continuing its mission to provide a distinctively Catholic legal education in a new home.