Baldus, one of the most famous jurists of the Middle Ages, began his studies in his hometown, Perugia. He later went to Pisa, where Bartolus of Sassoferrato was among his teachers in Roman law, and Federicus Petruccius in canon law. The date of Baldus’ his doctorate is unknown, but from as early as 1351 we find him as a professor of law at Perugia. Between 1357–58, he was probably at Pisa; 1359–64 at Florence; 1365–76 at Perugia; 1376–79 at Padua; 1379–90 again at Perugia; and 1390–1400 at Pavia where he also held a canon law chair at least from 1395–96. Among Baldus’ students were Pierre Roger de Beaufort (Pope Gregory XI) and the jurists Petrus de Ancharano and Paulus de Castro.

In addition to teaching law, Baldus took an active role in political affairs. While at Perugia, he was employed as the advocate of the merchant’s guild, held public offices and served on diplomatic missions. After the death of his teacher Bartolus in 1357, Baldus was the most renowned jurist in Europe.

As a canonist, Baldus wrote an incomplete commentary on the Decretales, as well as short works on Liber sextus, and the Clementines. He composed a Margarita to Innocent IV’s commentary on the Decretales, Additiones to Guilelmus Durantis’s Speculum iudiciale. Baldus wrote a variety of small treatises, but a number of treatises bearing his name are not his work. Baldus also wrote approximately 2,500 Consilia on problems ranging from simple commercial disputes to major political issues such as the Great Schism.