[3] He received his primary education in Boston, then graduated from Harvard College in 1868 (A.B.

He began working as a tutor and instructor at Harvard in 1871, and continued until 1873, when he was admitted to the bar.

[3] Ames married Sarah Russell (born September 22, 1851) on June 28, 1880.

[4] Ames has been called the foremost teacher of law of his time, being not only an exceptionally broad and accurate scholar, and a profound student of the history of common law, but also having special ability in the development of clear and exact thought in those under his instruction.

Ames insisted that legal education should require the study of actual cases instead of abstract principles of law.