On June 25, 1948, Congress established an office of the Judge Advocate General (TJAG) in the United States Air Force.

While this event was clearly the birth of the department, it really represented an interim step, providing the Air Force authority to administer its military justice system within the existing Air Force structure of the time until other legislation (what became the Uniform Code of Military Justice) could be developed and enacted.

In December 2004, the Air Force Judge Advocate General, Thomas J. Fiscus, accepted non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the UCMJ, for conduct unbecoming of an officer and obstruction of justice related to numerous unprofessional sexual relationships with subordinates.

The school provides instruction to new judge advocates and paralegals, in addition to offering approximately 30 continuing legal education courses.

The school publishes scholarly legal journals such as The Air Force Law Review, semiannually, and The Reporter online.

[1] The school also produces The Military Commander and the Law,[2] a publication that is invaluable not only to judge advocates, but commanders and first sergeants in handling the myriad of legal issues that arise with a squadron or wing, and for the continued enforcement of good order and discipline.