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We offer residential and online JD degrees as well as graduate LLM degree programs in American Legal Studies and in Practice Skills. Located in the heart of San Diego, California, Thomas Jefferson is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California and by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Flexible law programs allow students to enroll full- or part-time, attend classes in the daytime, evening, or online, and start in the Summer, Fall, or Spring. Students also may accelerate graduation and earn their degree in as little as two and a half years. Our curriculum includes fellowship programs in Criminal Law as well as Intellectual Property Law, Entertainment, and Sports Law. It also includes a three-week summer abroad program on the French Riviera in the city of Nice. Many students want the experience of representing real clients as part of their training in law school. Thomas Jefferson offers its students many opportunities to do this in its live client clinics on campus and its externship program in which students work with lawyers in law offices off campus. Explore Our Law Degree Programs Residential JD Program Online JD Program LLM Programs Summer Study Abroad Program Experienced Faculty As industry professionals, our faculty draw from a wide range of experiences. Some have litigated before the World Court and U.S. Supreme Court, and others have authored books and produced research published in leading journals and cited in courts across the country. You can literally learn from professors who wrote the book . Meet Our Faculty Law Degree Programs At Thomas Jefferson School of Law Residential JD Program Our residential JD program includes core and elective offerings including live client clinics, Law Review, and Moot Court and Mock Trial teams. Full-time students typically graduate in three years, and part-time students in four. Graduates of the JD program are immediately eligible to take the California bar examination. Learn More About Our JD Program Online JD Program Our online JD program includes core and elective offerings including live client clinics, Law Review, and Moot Court and Mock Trial teams. Full-time students typically graduate in three years, and part-time students in four. Graduates of the JD program are immediately eligible to take the California bar examination. Learn More About Our Online JD Program LLM Programs Our LLM programs are 24 units, typically take one year to complete, and require a JD, LLB, or equivalent first degree in law. Students may choose to earn an LLM in American Legal Studies, which generally enables foreign law graduates to sit for the California Bar Exam, or Practice Skills. Learn More About Our LLM Programs Our San Diego Location Our campus is located in the heart of downtown San Diego. We are situated directly across the street from the California Court of Appeal and within a short walk of other courthouses, many of the city’s leading law firms, and federal, state, and local government offices. San Diego is an ideal location in which to study the law. As America’s eighth largest city, it provides students with a vast range of professional opportunities, both while in law school and after graduation. It is also immensely livable. It offers what many consider to be the finest climate in the continental United States and is a recreational paradise, with 70 miles of beaches and both mountains and the desert only a couple of hours away. Learn More About Our Location Hear What Our Students & Alumni Have To Say When I attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law, I was met with an environment that challenged me to be my best. The professors were leaders in their field, whose teaching nurtured my love of the law and made me excited to practice law as an attorney. The career services counselors were invaluable in helping me prepare for the legal career I wanted.” Yahairah Aristy, Alumnus ‘04 – Deputy Public Defender & TJSL Adjunct Professor Marist College and Roosevelt University TJSL is still one of a handful of law schools that has given a chance to many students that would have not otherwise had an opportunity to attend law school, and excel in the practice of law. My law degree helped me build a successful law practice focusing on emerging issues while helping people day-in and day-out.” Ikechukwu Emejuru, Alumnus ‘09 – Employment, Commercial, Civil Rights, and Consumer Litigation Virginia Commonwealth University I chose to go to Thomas Jefferson because I was looking for a law school where the faculty and staff cared about my success not only as a law student, but also as a person. I found that here and it has helped me grow in many areas of my life. The tight-knit community has helped the challenges of law school be much more bearable. The small class sizes make it easy to interact with my professors and fellow students. There is a true sense of community at Thomas Jefferson and you can see that by the way students interact with each other and by the way faculty care about students.” Michael Mateo, San Diego, CA; Grand Canyon University I began meeting judges and attorneys within the San Diego area during my second week of school. I had the opportunity to volunteer at our school-hosted Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) competition and watch students from other prestige law schools argue great scenarios against our own TJSL students. Through mentorships, organization meetings and guest speakers, there will be miles of opportunities for you to emphasize your success to not only get you set up, but also to plug you into opportunities. The faculty and staff’s constant willingness to help your journey is invaluable.” Jordan Collinsworth, Student Bend, OR; Weber State University, B.S. The Patent Program at Thomas Jefferson School of Law provided me with invaluable experience working with clients, drafting patent applications, and handling filings on EFS Web. This experience set me apart from other young professionals in the field of Intellectual Property law and allowed me to hit the ground running at my first job without having to go through the typical learning curve that most new hires face.” Hollie Kucera, Student in the Patent Clinic, Electrical Engineer I transferred to Thomas...