The New South Wales Law Reform Commission began operation in New South Wales in 1966, and was formally created by statute in 1967 (Law Reform Commission Act 1967).

The history of the Law Reform Commission is detailed under the following headings:

• Precursors of the Commission 1870-1965
• The Establishment of the Commission 1965-67
• The First Decade (1967-76)
• Changes in Direction (1976-81)
• The Eighties (1981-88)
• The “Difficult Years” (1988-1991)
• The 1990s Revitalisation