It is charged with the protection of the public interest and, as such, oversees the insurance industry, financial institutions, pensions and rental housing.
It was created out of necessity as Lord wanted to appoint Brad Green, the only lawyer in his caucus, as Minister of Health.
On October 3, 2006, new Premier Shawn Graham named T. J. Burke as both Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Consumer Affairs, however in legislation to realign government departments passed on March 2, 2007 the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice and Consumer Affairs remained separate entities.
However, it was again created in September 2013 when non-lawyer Troy Lifford was appointed minister of justice.
In 2016, its separation from the functions of the Office of the Attorney General were further confirmed when it was merged into a new Department of Justice and Public Safety.