The year 1987 saw the beginnings of the tectonic shift in perceptions about law as a career from one of the least attractive careers, to one of the most sought after, with the establishment of the National Law School, Bangalore. It was a time of hope for the legal fraternity. The concept of a national institution to act as a pace-setter and a testing ground for bold experiments in legal education came up before the Bar Council of India in the context of the Council's statutory responsibility for maintaining standards in professional legal education (under the Advocates Act).

Dr.Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, was established by an Act of Govt. of Uttar Pradesh in 2005, U.P. Act No.28 of 2005 and came into being on the 4th of January 2006 to meet up the new challenges in the legal field and to strengthen the vision that was given by the establishment of first National Law School of the country. Originally incorporated as 'Dr.RamManohar Lohiya National Law Institute, Uttar Pradesh' word 'Institute' was substituted by the university later, vide an amendment in the Act in November 2006. This was done to give a comprehensive national character to the Institute in line with the other premier National LawUniversities of the Country.

The University, which is getting liberal grants from the State Government, is committed to providing excellent infrastructural facilities and an environment to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of the law and legal process and to develop in the students and research scholars a sense of responsibility to serve the society in the field of law by developing skills in advocacy, judicial and other legal services and legislation and the like. The present law has to meet the requirements of the society, which is entering into 21st Century. Law has to deal with problems of diverse magnitudes and a student of law and an Advocate has to be trained in professional skills to meet the challenges of globalization and universalization of law. With the advent of multinationals in India as anywhere else, the task of lawyers would be highly technical and an imperative need would arise to have competent lawyers who would be trained in the right culture of Legal Education. This makes a sound case for introducing reforms in Legal Education, and we at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University aim at all these aspects.