The University of Puget Sound School of Law was founded in Tacoma, Washington in 1972. Classes were initially held in Benaroya Business Park on South Tacoma Way; in September 1980, the school moved into the Norton Clapp Law Center, an updated facility located in the former Rhodes department store in downtown Tacoma. United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger attended the Law Center's dedication ceremony.

In 1993, the University of Puget Sound made the controversial decision to sell the law school to Seattle University. The School of Law officially became part of Seattle University the following year, and the name changed to Seattle University School of Law in August 1994.