The school was previously divided into two sections across two campuses – the Gloucester Building (west of City's Northampton Square campus), where the academic instruction section was based, and Grays Inn Place, where the professional legal training programmes were based.

From September 2021, a new building for The City Law School was developed on Sebastian Street, to the east of Northampton Square.

The latter programme enjoys a nationwide reputation as one of Britain's elite qualifying diploma courses for non-law graduates.

In 2007, it received the highest grading from the Law Society of England and Wales for its academic provision.

The Inns of Court School of Law (often abbreviated as ICSL) was founded by the Council of Legal Education in 1852.

In 1947, the CLE moved to 7 Stone Buildings, where it was able to provide lecture rooms, and other facilities for students.

Although the name "Inns of Court School of Law" is no longer used, the location and traditions of the original institution remain unchanged.

The diploma has a strong reputation, and boasts an array of visiting lecturers, many of whom are leading academics in legal education.

They have organised workshops for students, career opportunities, seminars, the latest news and advice.

Others who went on to achieve the highest distinction include Mohandas Gandhi (leader of the Indian Independence Movement), Muhammad Ali Jinnah (founder of Pakistan, first Governor-General of Pakistan), a number of British Prime Ministers (H. H. Asquith, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair[5][6]), and Ghanaian presidents Nana Akufo-Addo and Kwame Nkrumah.