Aspirations

Real Change Starts with You

Suffolk prepares you to take on any challenge and any problem. Start by thinking about the issues that really matter to you, and then explore the programs and courses that will prepare you to make a real impact.

I Aspire To
Portrait of Jean Bradley Derononcourt.

Suffolk students don’t sit on the sidelines and wait for other people to solve the world’s problems. Whether they’re directly involved in running their communities, serving in state legislatures, or making their mark in Washington, DC, current Suffolk students and alumni work at all levels of government to make a difference every day.

Our professors offer political insight from their own experience on campaigns and in administration. Plus, our Political Research Center is always at the forefront of timely and accurate polling for the most important races. Students take advantage of career-making opportunities like our summer Campaign Lab program, Washington Seminar, and internships at the Massachusetts State House (which is just steps from campus!). Our graduates leave with a practical campaign tool kit, ready to jump into the political fray.

If you want to be part of the solution, your race starts at Suffolk.

Senofer Mendoza working on a computer.

Use your artistic skills in ways you’ve never even imagined. The image of anonymous artists in white smocks working alone in attics might be romantic, but it’s not our reality.

Our students work with scientists, builders, and businesses to make innovative contributions to the world around us. Our alumni are entrepreneurs. And they’re doing it all while remaining true to their creative vision.

Through interdisciplinary curricula, art and design students work with students in other majors across campus to find solutions to multifaceted issues. Transportation infrastructure, product design and marketing, environmental pollution—Suffolk students work on all these and more. Our artists also partner with physics students in the mixed reality center to create virtual models of 3D objects—from interior design elements and layouts to models of complex scientific concepts. 

Want to design the career of your dreams? At Suffolk, you can.

Group of students at the NBC Boston studio in Newton, MA.

Shape the conversation. Shine light on injustice. Help the public make informed decisions about the issues of the day. If you want to become a trusted broadcast journalist, Suffolk is where your story begins.

You’ll learn to craft a story from professors with industry experience--including some who still report on the air regularly. Courses in news writing, production, and editing will prepare you for the hands-on reporting you’ll do throughout your time at Suffolk. Outside the classroom, you’ll build your resume and your newsreel by taking advantage of the countless internship opportunities available in our national top ten news market.

In our fully-equipped television studio, students produce original news programming and help shoot interviews with visiting politicians and celebrities through our network partnerships. Some undergraduates even get a chance to report weekly on regional news station and NBC partner NECN through our unique “Suffolk in the City” program. Want to start your own show? We can make that happen, too.

Our alumni break some of the biggest stories across the country one report at a time. You can, too.


Where to Start at Suffolk

Ways to Get Involved

Students in the Sullivan Theatre.

Perception is reality. At Suffolk, you can unleash your creativity to craft new worlds--virtually, artistically, and physically.

Whether it’s weaving a complete sensory story that draws an audience into a live theater performance, meticulously programming a digital simulation of a complex science experiment, or crafting a sustainable building from floor plans to bricks and mortar, you’ll draw on your artistic and technical skills to create unique, immersive experiences. Professors with skill and vision will help guide you, encouraging you to experiment and innovate. You’ll use tools as timeless as fabric and paint, and as cutting-edge as holograms and mixed reality software.

Where will your imagination take you? If you start at Suffolk, the answer is: virtually anywhere.


Student working at Rosies Place.

Suffolk students don’t dwell in ivory towers. They live and learn in the city of Boston. That means interacting with some of our most vulnerable populations: residents who are dealing with homelessness and housing insecurity. Rather than turning a blind eye, our students turn their attention and talents to helping those in need.

Our students address some of the underlying causes of homelessness by increasing access to quality mental health care, fighting housing discrimination, and helping to reform the criminal justice system by applying restorative justice methods that help both offenders and their communities. Through service learning, you can volunteer in shelters, nonprofits, and homeless-run businesses to directly affect the lives of at-risk adults and children. Don't wait for change. Prepare to take the initiative and craft legislation to address the needs of homeless individuals in Boston and beyond.

If ignoring society’s problems isn’t your style, learn to affect real change at Suffolk.


Psychology student working on a computer.

Many people--from the wildest success stories to the most hardened criminals--can trace their paths in life back to the formative experiences of their youth. You can help troubled young people find a better way forward.

Troubles, and interventions, come in many forms. Our faculty members are scholars and practitioners who do groundbreaking work in areas like restorative justice, bullying, developmental psychology, and adolescent empowerment. Many work directly with at-risk youth. Students have the opportunity to get involved through service learning, independent research, and clinical placements. After graduation, Suffolk alumni go on to work in clinical practice and research settings, nonprofit and community organizations, school and justice systems, and in policy-making and advocacy.

You can help children and young adults thrive. Learn how here.


Architecture students in a gallery class.

Sustainability has permeated the housing market, sparking broader discussion on affordability, architectural progressiveness, and urban development. Given the increasing shift of rural populations to urban centers, sustainable housing has become even more relevant in modern city planning.

But what is a truly sustainable home? Suffolk professors and alumni look beyond the basic checkboxes of “green” design to create spaces that benefit residents, their communities, and the environment. Our professors and alumni are experts in LEED certification—the industry standard for ecologically sound building—and teach the principles of the Well-Being Standard that considers the health and happiness of a building’s residents.

Our alumni design smart lighting that mimics the natural progression of daylight. They select renewable materials that hold up to wear and tear, reducing costs and environmental footprints. And they take clients through virtual floor plans using mixed reality technology to work out problems before any materials are wasted.

Join us and be at the forefront of sustainable design.


Portrait of Clevis Murray.

Everyone has a story to tell. At Suffolk, you'll learn to communicate well so you can share yours—and others'. Here, you'll write, create, and explore—and distill your own unique personality into a style that's quintessentially and distinctly your own. 

At Suffolk, communication skills are baked into the curriculum for all undergraduates. You'll choose courses like our interdisciplinary Seminar for Freshmen based on your own interests—because it's easier to write a standout paper when you're passionate about the subject. Our faculty will help you hone those skills throughout your undergraduate career. And our Center for Learning & Academic Success can provide extra help when you need it with resources like tutoring, coaching, and more.  

Most of all, our campus is rich in literary culture. From poetry readings and author talks, to our literary magazines Salamander and Venture to the award-winning Suffolk Journal student newspaper, there are so many ways to get involved and up your writing game. Or bring the words of great playwrights—or even your own—to life in our theatre productions.

Whether you want to move live audiences with your acting skills or move copies of your latest hit book, it all starts with one critical step: finding your voice at Suffolk.


Where to Start at Suffolk

Ways to Get Involved

Students working at Massachusetts General Hospital.

From the first use of anesthesia to the modern biotech boom, Boston has long been the world’s healthcare innovation hub. Suffolk students and alumni are adding to that legacy by advancing cancer treatment and healthcare policy.

Precise, minimally invasive treatments help target cancer while sparing a patient’s healthy cells. Our radiation therapy majors train with world-renowned experts at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and other partner institutions to calculate and deliver just the right doses of cancer-killing rays. Graduate students in our brand-new Master of Science in Medical Dosimetry further hone their expertise in this complex field. And once they graduate, they're routinely hired by prestigious employers.  

Throughout Boston and beyond, graduates of our health administration, healthcare MBA, and community health MPA programs make sure the nation's top hospitals and community healthcare centers run smoothly. As students, they learned from top leaders in the field. As alumni, they're streamlining care, reducing costs, increasing access to testing and clinical trials, and helping patients through every step in the cancer journey--from early detection to celebrating remission.

Study at Suffolk today so you can work toward a cancer-free tomorrow.

Science lab.

Climate change isn’t just a reality. It’s arguably the biggest problem facing the world today and into the future. Immense global challenges call for bold, new, integrated solutions. Luckily, that’s where Suffolk students shine.

Creativity and innovation are core components of our undergraduate curriculum. Professors in fields as diverse as biology, chemistry, environmental studies, government, art and design, philosophy, and business work together to offer you a holistic view of the world’s most pressing ecological problems. Understanding how complex scientific and economic factors affect climate change will help you attack the problem from multiple angles—from research and development to advocacy, policy, and green entrepreneurship.


Student working in chemistry lab

Some superheroes work in a lab. If you’re a science whiz with a passion for justice, a career in forensic science can help you fight crime with chemistry.

The field of forensics is getting more advancedand more critical to crime detection and convictionevery day. At Suffolk, you’ll build a solid foundation in chemistry or biochemistry, and then gain specialized knowledge of genetics, toxicology, criminal psychology, and evaluating and preserving crime scene evidence. You’ll learn to ID criminals through old-school fingerprinting and high-tech DNA analysis. And you’ll intern at government crime labs or private forensic firms to put your skills to the test on real samples before you graduate.

If you want to help put criminals behind bars—and exonerate the innocent—join us in the lab.


Student working with professor in playwriting class

Whether your future career involves penning articles or crafting effective emails, one thing is certain: You’ll need to know how to write well. Clear, concise communication is critical for landing a job, expressing your ideas, impressing colleagues and clients, and progressing in any field. So, where do you start?

At Suffolk, communication skills are baked into the curriculum for all undergraduates. You’ll choose courses like our interdisciplinary Seminar for Freshmen based on your own interests—because it’s easier to write a standout paper when you’re passionate about the subject. Our faculty will help you hone those skills throughout your time in college. And our Center for Learning & Academic Success is there to provide extra help when you need it through resources like tutoring, coaching, and developmental English programs.

Most of all, you’ll find a supportive environment at Suffolk that’s rich in literary culture. From poetry readings and author talks, to our literary magazines Salamander and Venture and award-winning Suffolk Journal student newspaper, there are so many ways to get involved and up your writing game.

Start your next chapter at Suffolk, and you’ll be able to write your own ticket.


Aerial view of The State House.

422 steps. That’s our students' average commute from Suffolk's campus to their internships at the Massachusetts State House. It’s the steps you’ll take inside the classroom, though, that will prepare you to make a difference once you arrive.

Our professors in government, crime and justice studies, applied developmental psychology, and law have years of experience in shaping domestic and foreign policy; working with communities affected by crime; and helping patients in clinical settings. These faculty members are experts in their fields and eager to share insights from their extensive research and scholarship in their classrooms. They encourage students to master the fundamentals--and to put them to the test interning for local, state, or federal government; working at consulates, nonprofits, NGOs, clinical sites, and advocacy organizations; and working in the nation’s capital through our partnership with the Washington Center. 

Want to explore policymaking beyond the United States? Our travel seminars and study abroad programs will give you a global perspective on our shared challenges--and solutions.

Policy decisions that affect us all are being made every day. Want to be in the room where it happens? Suffolk can help you get there--at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Portrait of Rebecca Barnett.

Just because the world has gotten smaller doesn't mean that the world of business has gotten simpler.

That's why at the Sawyer Business School, the theme of global business is woven throughout our curriculum. It's an essential point of difference that will give you the global skills and world-wise knowledge you'll need to succeed, whether you start your career in New York, Hong Kong, or anywhere in between.

  • As an undergraduate, you're required to take global business courses.
  • Graduate and undergraduate students can participate in our Global Travel Seminars, which let you see other business cultures firsthand.
  • Half our full-time faculty are international, and they're eager to bring their professional skills into the classroom to share with you.
  • Similarly, many of our American-born faculty have had international work and/or educational experiences.
  • Boston is an international hub for finance, pharma, biotech, medicine, and hi-tech...and because of our location in the heart of the city, you'll have incredible access to all the multinational companies that have a presence here.

The advantage to all this? By time you graduate, you've become a bona fide businessperson of the world, ready to hit the ground running wherever you land.

 

Student at a whiteboard.

To you, data aren’t just numbers, they’re a calling. Binary burns in your blood. A well-organized spreadsheet is a treasure map.

If you agree with any of these statements, you’ll thrive at Suffolk University. Our Sawyer Business School offers left-brainers of all kinds multiple ways to dive deep into the numbers. Our Big Data & Business Analytics major is extremely popular, with graduates going on to work at organizations as different as the Boston Red Sox and Massachusetts General Hospital. Or they stay here to get even more experience and training with our Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA).

Our Taxation and Accounting graduate programs can help you become a professional number-cruncher (financial advisor or accountant, to name two). And as for the Big Four accounting firms, our students find internships and jobs there all the time. What’s even cooler? All four are within walking distance of campus. That’s what it means to be a neighbor of the Financial District.

If you’re into data, we’ve got your number.


Students at Greater Boston Food Bank.

If you could go back in time, you'd see that Suffolk University was founded in 1906 with the goal of educating students who weren’t as likely to be admitted to some of those “other” Boston and Cambridge schools. (You know the ones we’re talking about.)

We've been committed to access and opportunity ever since and offer you so many ways to cultivate your altruistic side. Take our popular Alternative Spring and Winter Breaks, which give you the chance to do something good at sites all across the country: environmental work in the Grand Canyon; building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Mississippi, and working with the LGBTQ+ community in Washington, DC.

Closer to campus, our Center for Community Engagement can connect you with dozens of ways to help people in Greater Boston as they negotiate issues like illiteracy, food security, and homelessness. Our tax and accounting students run a Free Tax Center every winter to help lower-income neighbors and international students around Boston file their taxes. And once a year, the entire Suffolk community takes part in a Service Day to help out at multiple organizations in the city.

If helping out and doing good are in your DNA, you’ll feel right at home at Suffolk University.


Boston is often referred to as the heart of the healthcare industry. Don’t just take our word for it. Our hospitals and medical centers have consistently ranked among the nation's top 10, according to U.S. News & World Report.

At Suffolk, you'll intern and learn on-site at some of the best facilities in the country. That's because our neighbors include institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, and, for you policy wonks, the Massachusetts State House. Not only that, Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are all a T ride away. Add in the nonprofit, biotech, and pharma industries that thrive here and you’ve got almost too many options  to count.

Whether you’re in our Master of Health Administration program, the MBA/Health program, or the MPA Community Health program, you’ll learn from and work with expert faculty, all of whom have vast experience (and connections) in the industry. On top of that, we offer travel seminars, an incredibly robust mentor program, and multiple chances to network with healthcare professionals from around the world.

 

Where to Start at Suffolk

Downtown Boston buildings.

More than just about any university in the country—even the ones based in major cities—our university is truly woven into the fabric of our city.

Walk outside your Suffolk dorm or classroom, and you’re surrounded by skyscrapers, restaurants, public transit, parks, museums, and everything else that makes Boston great. We don’t have a college green: we just relax in Boston Common.

Want to catch the Red Sox, Celtics, or Bruins? You can walk or take the T. (All of Boston’s subway lines run within steps of campus.) Eager to live off campus? Try the North End, with its warren of charming streets and Italian heritage. Or check out East Boston, just a short T ride away and overlooking Boston Harbor. Or live in Back Bay, with its world-class shopping, stately promenades, and stunning views of the Charles River.

But Suffolk isn’t just about living in the big city. Our location in the heart of Boston also means you have countless opportunities to find an internship or two, start a job, and build a career no matter what you major in. Especially now, thanks to its booming economy, Boston is one of the places to be in your 20s. (And 30s. And 40s. And beyond.)

If you’re excited to be on your own and living the city life, you can’t do much better than Boston and Suffolk University.


Sonos office.

Do you yearn to work in an advertising agency or a marketing firm? Do you really want to learn the business side of the biz and really get into the minds (and wallets) of consumers as a market researcher or account executive?

Either way, Suffolk can help connect you with players in Boston's marketing market. Our robust curriculum will teach you how to do marketing research, create consumer surveys, crunch data, and present to real clients. Speaking of presenting, current students have recently partnered with companies like Sonos, George Howell Coffee, and Roche Bros. Supermarkets to conduct research and share their findings with top execs. Thanks to this blend of classroom and experiential learning, you'll find our alumni working in name-brand organizations like Bloomberg, PBS, Arnold Advertising, and many more.

And if you’re looking to get even more experience and knowledge, check out our Master of Science in Marketing. 

If you're equal parts creative and strategic, you’re our demographic.

Entrepreneurship launch party.

Don’t just think like an entrepreneur. Become one.

Got a big idea? Learn how to develop and launch it. We’ll give you the tools to thrive as a creator. We’re uniquely qualified to help budding Shark Tankers start on the road to success. Our entrepreneurship program and Center for Entrepreneurship are like on-campus incubators, helping students figure out, develop, and execute their innovative ideas.

Here on campus and throughout the hot-as-the-sun Boston innovation sector, there are competitions throughout the year that award hundreds of thousands of dollars in seed money. Our faculty are tapped in and can give you access to mentors, industry contacts--and maybe even an angel investor or two. We even have one of the only crowdfunding courses in the nation. One recent graduate now sells his product on Amazon and was just chosen for the prestigious Mass Challenge accelerator.

Whether you’ve been working on your secret idea for years or have no idea what you want to create/build/sell/design, Suffolk can be your launching pad.

Working with intergovernmental organizations, international tribunals, and NGOs, Suffolk Law students have advocated for the reform of bullying laws around the world, reporting mechanisms for child abuse court cases, and the role of corporate governance structures in mitigating human rights violations. Come join the good fight. 

Courses in our international law concentration and close working relationships with our esteemed faculty will help you make the most of your legal studies. You'll learn from professors like Sara Dillon, a children's rights expert, and Lorie Graham, who's known worldwide for her work on indigenous peoples' rights. Plus, you can enrich your education with experiential learning opportunities. Perhaps you'll intern at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Or maybe you'll help protect the rights of migrant workers at Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. And those are just two of your options. 

Right here on campus, Suffolk Law students organize and operate The Suffolk Transnational Law Review, one of the oldest international law journals in the country. And they're always looking for good writers and editors. 

The ability to write clearly--not to mention effectively analyze data and policy analysis--can help make our planet a better place to live. The College of Arts & Sciences' Master of Arts in Global Public Policy program can prepare you to improve the lives of others anywhere in the world. Delve into subjects ranging from human rights and international political economy to international organizations and the theory of international relations. Plus, you can choose to focus on the politics of the Americas, East Asia, Europe, or the Middle East. Then put your classroom learning into action while interning at an international organization in the United States or abroad. This internship isn't just a requirement--it's an amazing chance to expand your professional network around the world.

More than a quarter of the active judges in Massachusetts graduated from Suffolk Law. That's a higher percentage than any other law school in the country. Plus, nearly half of the sitting judges in Rhode Island are Suffolk Law alumni. We can train you for the bench, too. 

It's no accident that we graduate so many individuals working at the highest level of public service. Suffolk Law is a national leader in practice-focused legal education. We're one of only two schools in the country with four legal skill specialty programs--trial advocacy, dispute resolution, clinics, and legal writing--ranked in the national top 20 by U.S. News & World Report. Our trial advocacy program, which trains students in all of the critical elements of trial preparation, is ranked 15th nationwide and has earned a spot in the top 20 for four years in a row. 

Each summer, more than 100 first-year students work alongside judges in courthouses all over New England through our First-Year Summer Internship Program. Many of these judges are Suffolk Law alumni themselves and excited to mentor our current students. If you're interested in litigation, we'll give you opportunities to represent the Commonwealth or defendants in criminal cases in our top-20-ranked clinical programs. Or join our National Trial Team to help uphold a proud tradition: Suffolk Law students have won the New England Regionals 29 times in 34 years.

 

Have a science background? Then Suffolk Law can help you become a registered patent attorney who can obtain patents for your clients. If you don't, though, you can still practice in this exciting field. 

Our intellectual property program is regularly listed among the nation's best. This year, it's ranked #32 by U.S. News & World Report. The IP concentration offers students practical patent law skills well beyond the typical course list at most law schools. No wonder 30 percent of the top IP firm patent partners in Greater Boston are Suffolk Law graduates--more than the next three competing law schools combined. We also have more technical specialists (students with science backgrounds working at law firms while earning their JDs) than other schools in the state. 

No wonder you'll find Suffolk Law alumni serving as in-house IP counsel at such employers as Gillette, HubSpot, the Boston Red Sox, Harvard University, Reebok, Hasbro, Biogen, and Panera. 

For an even more immersive experience, we offer regular patent law symposia and practical training opportunities with national experts. Our IP and Entrepreneurship Clinic gives you the chance to venture into complex patent litigation on behalf of entrepreneurs and small businesses squaring off against big city corporate counsel. 

If you're passionate about defending the public's interest, Suffolk Law can help you go far in this rewarding field. 

Civil rights and human rights involve a broad range of problems. You might be called upon to work on problems of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual preference, age, or disability; police misconduct; freedom of expression; issues of genocide or ethnic cleansing; children's rights; slavery; international trafficking that exploits vulnerable populations; war crimes; and a myriad of other issues addressed by the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Along with tackling these complex issues in the classroom, you'll have many opportunities to apply your knowledge in the real world. Our top 20-ranked clinical program is known for taking innovative approaches to civil rights matters, from immigration to indigenous peoples' rights to housing. 

Suffolk alumni have a huge imprint in state government, designing policy and running government offices and NGOs--thanks to the training they receive here. Our robust public service curriculum gives you the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge across disciplines. Here, you can take innovative courses on the Affordable Care Act, human rights protection in Europe, or mental health law. And you'll have plenty of chances to put your principles into practice. 

Working with intergovernmental organizations, international tribunals, and NGOs, Suffolk Law students have engaged in advocacy on the reform of bullying laws around the world, reporting mechanisms for child abuse court cases, and the role of corporate governance structures in mitigating human rights violations. They also work with Boston's city attorney to provide detailed recommendations, including model legislation around complex urban issues. 

Whether you participate in our cutting-edge Housing Discrimination Testing Program or join our Indigenous Peoples Rights Clinic to assist Native American tribal governments and communities in a broad range of matters (including drafting tribal court rules and advocating before international human rights bodies) you'll get the invaluable experiential legal learning you'll need for a satisfying career. 

The College of Arts & Sciences' rich offerings in government include the Master of Arts in Applied Politics and the Master of Arts in Global Public Policy. Whether you choose to master the nuts and bolts of domestic politics or prefer to study through a more international lens, you'll learn hands-on thanks to internships, guest speakers, and special only-at-Suffolk opportunities like our Summer Institute Campaign Lab.  

Want to fight crime where it lives? Our community-centered Master of Crime & Justice Studies will give you a holistic view of the causes and effects of crime so you can combat it more effectively.

Located between the Massachusetts State House and Boston City Hall, Suffolk's Sawyer Business School is the ideal place to pursue your Master of Public Administration. Our highly regarded faculty will connect you with influential internships, challenge you to unpack relevant case studies, and introduce you to new ways of thinking on travel seminars. You'll graduate with the tools needed to excel in public service and contribute to the greater good. You'll then join the ranks of program alumni who lead meaningful careers in federal, state, and municipal government; at healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and higher education institutions; and in the private sector. 

Using your law degree in the entertainment or sport industry--whether you're negotiating licensing, handling contracts or corporate agreements, or landing that rare job as an agent for athletes or musicians--requires a well-rounded skill set. In addition to developing dexterity in networking, you need knowledge that cuts across the worlds of intellectual property, employment and labor law, dispute resolution, business law, and contracts. 

Boston is a thriving sports and entertainment hub, known for its championship-winning sports teams and many starring roles as the setting for big-budget and indie films alike. With our many connections to the local sports and entertainment scene, Suffolk Law is the ideal place to pursue your specialized studies. We even have an Entertainment and Sports Law Association that hosts networking events and keynote speakers and panelists who discuss their careers, how to break into the industry, and emerging topics in the field. 

Your dream job is out there. Suffolk Law will help you get it. 

Where to Start at Suffolk

Family and juvenile law is a demanding, yet richly rewarding field of practice. You may frequently see your clients at their most distressed, representing parents who have lost custody of their children to the state or to the other parent; children who have been arrested; or families worried about their elderly relatives' ability to care for themselves. You can also witness moments of great joy, by helping your clients handle an adoption or make arrangements for artificial reproduction. 

As a student in Suffolk Law's Juvenile and Family Law area of focus, you can combine our robust menu of courses with experiential learning in our year-long clinical offerings. In our Family Advocacy Clinic, you'll gain valuable experience in handling domestic violence cases. In the Juvenile Defenders Clinic, you'll advocate for children in Boston Juvenile Court. 

Want a legal career with life-changing outcomes? You're in the right field. 

Where to Start at Suffolk

By focusing on environmental or energy law, you can help combat environmental crises through legal means--from climate change to air pollution, hazardous waste, energy regulation, and more. 

At Suffolk Law, you'll learn from expert faculty members like Professor Steven Ferrey, whose books on independent power, renewable energy, and carbon control are bibles in the field. 

You'll develop a solid understanding of the three major prongs of environmental law: permitting and the enforcement of permit emission restrictions to the air and water; the setting of environmental policy; and site contamination issues. 

You already have the passion. Now, get the legal expertise you'll need to help protect our planet. 

Where to Start at Suffolk

Working with some of the most innovative minds in the country to protect their intellectual property rights requires legal acumen, practical knowledge, and late nights. Graduates of our IP program--ranked #32 by U.S. News & World Report--have all three and thrive in this field. Indeed, 30 percent of the patent law partners in Greater Boston's top IP firms are Suffolk Law graduates. 

You'll prepare for professional success in the classroom and in the real world. You'll have your pick of practical and specialized IP courses. Plus, you can get invaluable experiential learning in our IP and Entrepreneurship Clinic. Students in this clinic can share great stories of successfully taking on large companies' high-priced attorneys. Just ask them. 

Great ideas deserve great defenders. Your professional journey starts at Suffolk Law. 

Where to Start at Suffolk

When it comes to your career, want to go it alone? Suffolk Law is a good fit for enterprising people like you. 

Graduates who successfully run their own firms regularly return to Suffolk Law to teach students how to run a solo practice. Thanks to these alumni mentors and our curriculum, you'll be well-prepared to strike out on your own and enjoy professional success. Our Trial Advocacy program, which prepares students for careers in litigation, has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the nation's top 20 for three years running. Plus, our clinical offerings--including the Juvenile Defenders, and the Prosecutors and Defenders Clinics--are ranked #16 in the country. 

Our Accelerator-to-Practice Program runs an on-campus law firm. You'll learn what it takes to run a firm from the ground up, mastering the economics of solo and small firm practice--including how to create business and marketing plans and using technology to reduce overhead costs. And you'll learn to put your creative thinking to good use. In fact, the ABA awarded our Accelerator students its top honor for innovators in the provision of legal services to average-income Americans. 

Plus, if you choose to pursue our dual JD/MBA degree, you can enhance your legal education with critical management skills. This accelerated option lets you double your professional network and prepare for positions in law firms, corporate counsel offices, investment and accounting firms, nonprofit agencies, and government institutions.  

Prepare to make an outsized impact on policy in a hot employment area: health law. Health is an increasingly critical public policy challenge and Suffolk Law's concentration in health and biomedical law can help you join--and even direct--the conversation about it. In fact, PreLaw Magazine recently hailed us as one of the nation's leading schools in this area of focus, thanks to our rich array of courses and our collaboration with experts from across the country. 

Because of our downtown location and longstanding institutional relationships with leading employers, you can intern at sites including the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and many other state and federal agencies, along with the general counsel's office of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Boston's famed teaching hospitals, and pharmaceutical and device companies. 

You can further immerse yourself in our extensive extracurricular opportunities. You might contribute to our Journal of Health & Biomedical Law (one of our honor boards), National Health Law Moot Court Team, Health Law Clinic--or all three. 

 

When you’re watching the artistry of a good prosecutor or defender—the storytelling, the pacing, the emotional appeal and clear logic, the ability to read a jury and change course, sometimes mid-sentence—do you feel a rush of energy? Our students do, too.

No matter which side you choose to represent, our Trial Advocacy curriculum will train you to shine in the courtroom. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Suffolk Law's program in the top 20 for four years in a row. And you won't just learn in class. You can represent the Commonwealth or defendants in criminal cases through our clinical program, which has also enjoyed a U.S. News top 20 ranking for four years straight. In fact, many of our clinics allow you to argue before a judge. 

The trial experience you'll get here goes a long way. Suffolk Law's National Trial Team has won the New England Regionals 29 times in 34 years—another example of our winning track record. And here's a final piece of evidence: One out of four sitting judges in Massachusetts is a Suffolk Law graduate, and nearly half of the judges in Rhode Island are alumni, too.