The department is led by the Secretary of Justice, nominated by the president of the Philippines and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

The Department of Grace and Justice was tasked with the establishment of a regime of law in the Republic, with Severino de las Alas at the helm.

After the country's liberation from the Japanese forces near the end of World War II, the restored Commonwealth government re-activated the Department.

Today, the DOJ continues to pursue its primary mission "To Uphold the Rule of Law" with its "Justice for All" motto.

The constituent and attached agencies include the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Public Attorney’s Office (Philippines) (PAO), Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), Bureau of Corrections (BuCOR), Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA).