The university was founded in 1953 as Southwest College of Political Science and Law.

In 2000, the administration of the university was transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Chongqing municipality, thus creating a system of co-administration between the central and local government.

In 2003, it was approved as one of the first universities to grant doctoral degree of first-level legal discipline.

The university has three campuses, the main in Yubei, the other two in Shapingba and Baoshenghu, covering a total area of 3136.17 mu.

The university consists of Shapingba, Yubei and Baoshenghu Campuses in Chongqing municipality.