GGU Law was founded in the autumn of 1901 as the YMCA Evening Law School , a component of the San Francisco Central YMCA Evening College . Classes were held in the YMCA 's building at Mason and Ellis Streets in the Tenderloin , which was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . Like other YMCA Law Schools across the nation , it was established to provide people who worked full-time the opportunity to attend law school at night . The first graduating class in June 1905 had four students ( all men ) . After the earthquake , the school was conducted out of tents , and later leased space at 1220 Geary St. ( now Geary Boulevard ) near Franklin Street in the Western Addition neighborhood . For the purpose of conferring the LL.B degree under authority of law the school was incorporated as the Young Men 's Christian Association Law College on June 1 , 1910 . With the rest of the YMCA the law college moved to its purpose-built home at 220 Golden Gate Ave , near Leavenworth Street , again in the Tenderloin in November 1910 . The Law College 's graduates enjoyed the diploma privilege from 1915 to its abolition in 1917
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Golden Gate University School of Law