Formerly known as His Highness Maharajas Law College and it was established in 1874 in the heart of Metropolitan city Kochi. Government Law College, Ernakulam is first law college in Kerala state and one of the oldest law colleges in India.

It is popularly known as Ernakulam Law College or Maharajas Law College and offers undergraduate, postgraduate, & doctorate level legal education in Kerala.

The college is affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam and recognized Research Centre in Law under the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam since 2010.

The college, which is a premier institution of legal education in Kerala, has a prestigious list of alumni including K.G. Balakrishnan (the former Chief Justice of India), Mammootty (Noted South Indian Actor), A K Antony (Former Union Defence Minister of India) and Oommen Chandy (former Chief Ministers of Kerala).

Till 1909, The college was maintained by the His Highness the Maharajah of Travancore, in which year the college was placed under the Direction of the Public Instruction.

Later, in 1910, the college came under the High Court of Travancore. With the inauguration of the Travancore University in 1938, the college was transferred to the control of the university.

In 1957 the Kerala University was formed and the college came under it. In 1983, with the establishment of Mahatma Gandhi University at Kottayam, the college became a constituent college of that university and is now affiliated to it.