Founded and led by lawyer Tapping Reeve, the proprietary school was unaffiliated with any college or university.

Tapping Reeve moved to Connecticut and studied law under Judge Jesse Root of Hartford, and was admitted to the bar in 1772.

In 1784, in response to increasing demand, Reeve had a one-room school built adjacent to his house.

Litchfield Law School students also held state and local political office and became business leaders.

[8] Framed pictures of students are still hung in the school, including George Catlin, Horace Mann (the educator), Aaron Burr, Oliver Wolcott Jr., and Roger Sherman Baldwin.