The Faculty of Law commenced its work in 1859, primarily as a body of assessment and examination rather than teaching.

[7] In 2016, the Social Science Research Network ranked the law school as first in Australia and fifth in the world in the number of downloads of academic papers which have been uploaded to its website.

[9] The NICA rankings evaluate law schools based on their performance in moot court competitions.

As of 1 July 2015, the building is no longer owned by the university, and the law school's CBD operations have been relocated to 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

[12] The former St. James campus is bounded by Elizabeth, King, and Phillip Streets and is opposite the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Sydney Law School had changed location several times in the past but had always remained in the centre of the city because of the tradition of teaching by practitioners, and for easy access to the courts and members of the profession.

[13] Consequently, a new law school was constructed at the main Camperdown campus, adjacent to Fisher Library and on the site of the former Edgeworth David Building.

Completed in February 2009, the faculty administration began occupation in mid-February, prior to classes beginning in early March.

On 30 April 2009, the New Law School Building was officially opened by Governor-General of Australia Quentin Bryce.

[15] The design and construction of the New Law School Building were each performed by local Australian firms, namely FJMT (Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp) Architects and Baulderstone Pty Ltd, respectively.

[32] Admission to postgraduate research programs, such as the Doctor of Philosophy in law, generally requires a master's degree or a bachelor's degree with first or second class honours, as well as the acceptance of a satisfactory research proposal and "satisfactory evidence of skills, knowledge and the ability to pursue and complete the proposed program".

The Sydney University Evangelical Union (SUEU) Law Faculty, caters to Evangelical/Protestant students.

In its over 170 years of history, the Sydney Law School has produced a prominent group of alumni.