He is most known for his contributions to this field and, among other honors, is the recipient of the 1983 Goodwin Award of Merit from The Society for Classical Studies (SCS, formerly known as the American Philological Association) for The Rise of the Roman Jurists.
Additionally, he is interested in exploring legal theory, sociology of law, classical and modern rhetoric, and related disciplines.
He analyzed the volume's contents, chapters, and themes while underscoring the intellectual significance of Frier's scholarship and his scholarly legacy.
Du Plessis also noted that, “Frier, like a veritable Irnerius, has profoundly influenced the study of Roman law in the Anglophone world, both through his own work and that of his former students.”[11] Throughout his career, Frier has contributed to the field of Classics and Roman Law, authoring numerous publications.
Shedding light on the social and economic conditions of ancient Rome, he suggested a more complex model of the rental market than previously thought, highlighting that the range of accommodation available to the urban masses was often effectively limited by the wealth and other social characteristics of the prospective tenant.
According to Gordon, the book is an "effective interdisciplinary study,"[16] Cohen regarded it as "a rich and exciting treatment of an important topic,"[17] Birks praised Frier's scholarship and "firmness of judgment and clarity of exposition,"[18] and Watson found it "stimulating" despite disagreeing with its conclusions.
[24] In summing up the method that Frier developed in his scholarship, Du Plessis observed that: "while it acknowledges the importance of the different generations of Roman jurists, it goes much further in trying to contextualise their positions.
"[11] Frier also led a team of scholars of Roman law as the General Editor of The Codex of Justinian translation project.
[25] Du Plessis acknowledged him for explaining the project's aims and complexities, was of the view that "this should be required reading..." and highlighted that "There are also important issues about the 'apparatus criticus' that are worth noting.
Watson acknowledged him as the "most distinguished American scholar of Roman law" and commended the book as an "excellent introduction for the college Classics student to the law school experience,"[27] Johnston emphasized its usefulness as a teaching tool to introduce students to "some notion of the individuality of the jurists,"[28] and Harrington characterized the work as "well done and useful…because it relies upon the original Latin sources followed by a translation and explains legal principles in a clear and effective manner.