The Shahr-e Danesh Legal Research Institute was established in 1994 under the title of the Institute for Legal Studies and Research, with the aim of conducting research into legal knowledge, principles, and techniques; studying the legal experiences of Iran and other countries and legal systems; and examining the teachings of Islamic Sharia, in order to promote and develop the country’s legal system.

In 1998, the Institute obtained preliminary approval from the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology to establish a legal research institute comprising three research groups: Private Law, Criminal Law and Criminology, and Public and International Law. These groups brought together some of the country’s leading researchers.

In 2004, the Institute received final approval from the Council for the Development of Higher Education of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.