It is the oldest law faculty in Canada and was officially created in 1848, as a response to a petition from 23 young men who had been studying independently for the bar. They wanted their work rewarded with a legal degree, before that lawyers in Quebec did not have to have a legal degree beyond their five year apprenticeships to be called to the bar.
By 1867, there were 110 McGill law graduates working across the country, including two future Prime Ministers - Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott and Sir Wilfred Laurier - and Father of Confederation Thomas d'Arcy McGee, one of only two Canadians ever assassinated while in office.
Prominent Faculty members have included constitutional specialist and civil libertarian F.R. Scott, and John Peters Humphrey, the founding Director of the United Nations Human Rights division and author of the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948.
The Faculty of Law is located in Old Chancellor Day Hall, New Chancellor Day Hall and several other buildings on Peel Street and Dr. Penfield Avenue (Peel metro), on McGill University's downtown Montreal campus.