ELFA was founded at a meeting on 15 and 16 December 1995 in Leuven, Belgium. Eighty European law faculties were present at this meeting and the decision to establish the association was taken by unanimous vote with one abstention. At this meeting, the articles of incorporation were approved. Since then, the articles of incorporation have changed three times: once to prolong the term of office of the Board of Directors, once to give easier access to the association for European law faculties located outside the EU, and once to solve some inconsistencies and the number of members of the Board of .
ELFA was formally incorporated as an association under Dutch law, with administrative office in Leuven, Belgium, in the study of notary Van Velten in Amsterdam on Wednesday, August 28, 1996.
| English version of the articles of incorporation | French version of the articles of incorporation | German version of the articles of incorporation | Spanish version of the articles of incorporation |