The date of department's establishing (1964) is coincided with  the reorganization of the department of state law and historical- legal sciences which was  head by the talented scholar  - David Isaakovich Feldman. From 1975 till 1987 was head by the professor Fatkullin Fidail Nurgaleevich. From 1987 till 2015 was head by professor Reshetov Yuriy Sergeevich. From 2015 till 2018 was head by professor Pogodin Aleksandr Vitalevich. From 2018 till 31 August 2019 the head of the department was associate professor Gubaidullin Aidar Rushanovich. From 1 September 2019 the head of the department is professor Davletgildeev Rustem Shamilevich.

During the period of  department's history the preeminent professors like Zaharov N.S., Lazarev V.V., Ivanenko O.F., Kurdyukov G.I., Mingazov L.H., Gorbachev I.G. have worked in it.  .

Currently, there are 2 professors, 13 associate professors, 5 senior teachers, 1 assistants, 2 specialists. The legal regulation and the implementing the law serve as the main subjects for theoretical researches.

The department offers a Law honours programme for its bachelor's and master's students.

Disciplines on bachelor degree:

• Theory of state and law
• History of home state and law
• History of state and law of foreign countries
• History of the national statehood of Tatarstan
• Basis of theory of private law
• Problems of theory of state and law
• Law ethics
• Introduction to the Law
• Implementing the rules of law
• Theory of legal process

Disciplines on master's degree:

• History of political and legal doctrines
• Philosophy of law
• History and methodology of juridical science
• Legal drafting methodology
• Comparative law

The programs on legal science are embedded in other faculties and institutions of Kazan federal university and taught by the teachers of department.

In addition to the regular studies the students are encouraged to conduct active students' scientific-research work. There are three students' scientific laboratories which act under the supervision of the department's staff:

- Theory of state and law. Scientific supervisor is Cand. of Sc. in Law, senior teacher A.R. Gilmullin.

- History of state and law of Russian Federation and foreign countries and history of political and legal sciences. Scientific supervisor is assistant  E.V. Krasnov.

The department prepares postgraduate students and PhD candidates on the specialty 12.00.01 – Theory and history of law and state; history of sciences of law and state.