The Zhang Jinfan Foundation for Legal History was established in January 2007, whose purpose is to reward outstanding students and support technological development.

The main purposes of the foundation include: setting up research projects for the national legal history field, setting up academic awards for the national legal history field, funding new academics and training legal talents and funding Sino-foreign legal exchange activities.

From 2010 to 2019, the Foundation has held 1st to 9th National Law History Student Essays Activity. The objects of the Activity include undergraduates of law schools in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), graduates and PhD students of legal history majors. The Foundation will select 2 first prizes, 5 second prizes, and 10 third prizes for excellent papers. This activity is planned to be held once a year.