It appeared with the subtitle A Magazine of Legal and General Literature and was published by the Articled Law Clerks' Society of Victoria between 1891 and 1903.

It was a yellow-covered sixteen-page journal depicting an angel with a trumpet on its cover and served as more of a current affairs magazine than an academic journal, publishing reports of moots and discussing topical issues, which at the time included the fusion of the two branches of the Victorian legal profession and the admission of women.

Notable publications include C S Lewis on 'The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment',[3] Owen Dixon on 'De Facto Officers',[4] H V Evatt on 'Amending the Constitution',[5] John Latham on 'The Law Student',[6] and the re-printing of Frank Gavan Duffy's poem, 'A Dream of Fair Judges' (originally published in The Summons).

In line with prevailing American practice, top ranking law students were invited to become members of the editorial board.

Notable alumni of the Melbourne University Law Review include:[8] Federal Court Supreme Court Solicitors-General Barristers Politicians Academics Writers In collaboration with the Melbourne Journal of International Law, the journal publishes the Australian Guide to Legal Citation.