The Faculty of Law of Universitas Andalas was originally a Private University with the name " the Pancasila Law College (Perguruan Tinggi Hukum Pancasila)". This university was established on August 17, 1951 under the auspices of the "Sriwijaya Foundation" which is domiciled and headquartered in Padang with its Notarial Deed of establishment No.10 dated March 20, 1951 (Notary Hasan Qalbi Padang). On December 23, 1955 with the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No. 80016, the Pancasila Law College (Perguruan Tinggi Hukum Pancasila) was inaugurated into the state owned Faculty of Law under the name "Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge (Fakultas Hukum dan Pengetahuan Masyarakat)".

On September 13, 1956, along with the inauguration of Universitas Andalas as a State University in Sumatra, the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge was inaugurated as one of the faculties within Universitas Andalas.