[3] In February 1942, as uniformed lawyers' responsibilities increased in volume and complexity, specialized continuing legal education courses for Judge Advocates began in Washington, D.C.

[3] Intended only as a temporary facility, it was deactivated in 1946 during the general demobilization following World War II.

In October 1950, another temporary school was activated at Fort Myer, Virginia on land that is now a part of Arlington National Cemetery.

In August 1951, the Army accepted an offer from the University of Virginia to move the school there permanently.

[3] The University of Virginia was selected due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., and because it had the largest law library in the South at the time.

[7] An addition to the building, designed by Bohlin, Powell, Larkin, and Cywinski in collaboration with Johnson, Craven, and Gibson, was completed in 1991.

Each academic department has at least one faculty member who is a judge advocate in the Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force.

The JAG School is generally considered the most exclusive graduate service academy within the U.S. Federal Government.

[2] Accredited by the American Bar Association, the course prepares experienced military attorneys for supervisory duties and other positions of increased responsibility within their respective services.

International military students have come from Egypt, Nigeria, Israel, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other nations.