Thomas Jefferson School of Law

By | January 6, 2023

Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) was founded in 1969 by San Diego attorneys as a non-profit institution dedicated to providing an excellent legal education to students from diverse backgrounds. The school was initially accredited by the American Bar Association in 1972 and has since established itself as one of the top law schools in the United States. Over the years, TJSL has grown in size and stature, offering a wide range of programs such as J.D., LL.M., and M.S. degrees, as well as certificate programs for those who wish to pursue specialized legal studies. The school also offers dual degree programs with other universities and study abroad opportunities for international students. TJSL is committed to providing an excellent education that prepares its graduates for success in their legal careers, while also encouraging them to become active members of their communities through service projects and internships. In addition to its academic excellence, TJSL is committed to creating an inclusive environment that promotes diversity and respect for all individuals regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Thomas Jefferson School of Law is located in the state of California. As one of the leading law programs, Thomas Jefferson School of Law has a high average LSAT score of 149-153 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $65,000 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Admissions: Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Thomas Jefferson School of Law has an acceptance rate of approximately 50%, with the median LSAT score for admitted students being 149. The school has an enrollment of over 500 students and is dedicated to providing a quality legal education to its students. The school also offers a wide variety of student organizations, clubs, and activities that allow for both personal and professional growth. Additionally, Thomas Jefferson School of Law offers several courses in specialized areas such as international law, business law, and public interest law. Furthermore, the school provides several joint degree programs which allow students to pursue two degrees simultaneously such as a Juris Doctor (JD) combined with either a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Science in Taxation (MST). Lastly, the faculty at Thomas Jefferson School of Law is comprised of highly accomplished legal professionals who are dedicated to providing their students with the best educational experience possible.

Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants 2,979
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances 1,533
Overall acceptance rate 51.5%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled 306
Number of full-time program applicants 2,587
Number of full-time program acceptances 1,339
Full-time acceptance rate 51.8%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled 305
Number of part-time program applicants 395
Number of part-time program acceptances 194
Part-time acceptance rate 49.1%
Number of first-year part-time students enrolled 90
Fall 2019 GPA and LSAT Scores
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students 2.7-3.19
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students 148-153
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students 2.71-3.22
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students 149-153
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for part-time students 2.63-3.1
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for part-time students 147-152

Careers: Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar CA
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers 70.3%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers 70.7%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates 227
Graduates employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 92.1%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary $50,000
Median private sector starting salary $65,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $80,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 33%
Median public service starting salary $60,000
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia 3.0%
Percent employed in business and industry 22.0%
Percent employed in government 9.0%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 6.0%
Percent employed in law firms 47.0%
Percent employed in public interest 3.0%
Percent employed in an unknown field 10.0%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge 0.0%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state 71%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 1%
Number of states where graduates are employed 18
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 0.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 2.1%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 3.2%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 0.5%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 2.1%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 0.0%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 1.6%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 72.1%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 8.9%
Employment location unknown 8.4%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations To help students and graduates successfully plan a job search, the 5 career services staff offer individual career counseling, resume and cover letter review, videotaped mock interviews, and job strategy advising sessions. Career skills seminars, speaker programs and panel presentations are scheduled throughout the year to provide students with essential information.
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 55.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 15.0%
Professional/other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) 12.0%
Nonprofessional/other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) 7.0%