In line with the mission statement of SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY “to provide education directed to the service and growth of the individual human person, the community in which he lives, the country and to humanity in a progressing world with commitment to and concern for academic excellence”, The SMU Board of Trustees endorsed the plan to offer the Bachelor of Laws program in 1996, making Saint Mary’s University the first-ever institution of higher learning in Nueva Vizcaya to do so.

On the basis of CHED Temporary Permit No. 134, Series of 1996, the SMU College of Law officially opened on 20 June 1996 with 44 freshmen. For the succeeding school years, the SMU College of Law was granted by the Commission on Higher Education the authority to operate the Bachelor of Laws course on the basis of the following: Government Permit (HERO-II) No. 021, series of 1997 (to operate second year Ll.B. program for the School Year 1997-1998), Government Permit (HERO-II) No. 013, series of 1998 (to operate third year Ll.B. program for the School Year 1998-1999), and finally, Government Recognition (GR) No. 063, series of 2000 which granted Saint Mary’s University the authority to conduct and operate a complete BACHELOR OF LAWS program effective School Year 1999-2000.

Under the leadership of Atty. Rogelio P. Corpuz as the founding dean and with the support of the pioneer members of the Law Faculty (RTC Judge Jose B. Rosales, Prosecutor Albert G. Castillo, and Atty. Dominica D. Rosario)graduates were conferred their Bachelor of Laws degree on 26 March 2000.             The succeeding school years witnessed the phenomenal growth of the College, not only in terms of enrolment, but also in the number of bar passers.

From 44 students in 1996, the enrollment rose to as high as 151 in 2003.  The number of lawyers produced by the College also followed an upward trend – from having a lone passer among the first batch of graduates in 2000 to 11 lawyers in 2006.

Almost 20 years after it was founded, the College of Law has produced a total of sixty-eight (68) lawyers serving in different sectors of the Philippine Society.