Online JD Program
Earn Your Law Degree Online Through Our Online JD Program.
The online JD program at Thomas Jefferson School of Law is designed to be a flexible online law degree that enables you to sit for the California bar exam immediately after graduation. Study on your schedule, and count on our dedicated and accessible faculty to bring their expertise and rigorous curriculum to you.
Our JD program offers a rich variety of courses, concentration areas, clinical programs, and Law Centers and Fellowships. Classroom instruction is combined with hands-on experiential learning to ensure you’re prepared for your law career upon graduation.
Our JD program provides students with an essential foundation for exploring a career in private practice, public interest, government, litigation, corporate law, and more. Whatever your law career goal, we’ll help you design a path to success.
The Online JD is available to residents of California and other select states. Contact the Office of Admissions for more details regarding residency eligibility.
Online JD Program Details
The online JD program requires 80 units (85 for students matriculation Fall 2024), including core and elective offerings. Flexible options allow you to complete the full-time program in three years or the part-time program in four years.
Classes are held remotely. Each course features asynchronous study at your pace based on interactive videos and weekly assignments, which include quizzes, practice essays, and discussions.
You can also attend synchronous weekly live-Zoom sessions to work through additional review exercises, reinforce concepts, and interact with other students and your professors in real time. Our online law degree program uses a combination of self-study and peer-to-peer interaction designed to enhance learning outcomes.
Not able to attend a live session? Watch the video recording.
The flexible asynchronous modality of our online JD program allows students to tailor their academic and student experience in a way that best fits their work and family obligations.
Watch the videos below to view a sample of our course content:
Sample of Constitutional Law Lecture
Sample of Criminal Procedure Lecture
Pre-Orientation Final Tips from Academic Success Department
The online JD program features smaller classes and low student to faculty ratios to ensure individualized attention for each student.
Interested in taking some classes live in the classroom in our Downtown San Diego Campus? You can earn up to 15 units toward graduation through live classes.
Learn In The Classroom, In The Courtroom, And On Real Legal Cases.
You’ll study the foundations of the American legal system with experienced teachers who have practiced and researched extensively in the subjects they teach. In many clinics, internships, and externships, you’ll have the opportunity to get hands-on courtroom experience, work with real clients, and perform pro bono and community-service work.
You may choose to study law abroad in France as part of our Nice Summer Law Program or participate on our competition teams.
Top students may earn the privilege of working on the TJSL Law Review, an academic journal that has been continually published for more than 50 years and compete as part of a team in Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Competitions
Our Online Law Degree Fits Your Needs.
Online JD programs are a great choice for anyone interested in becoming a lawyer who doesn’t have the ability to attend in-person classes. Our online JD program is perfect for recent college graduates, working professionals, and those looking to make a career change. Earn your JD degree online without the relocation challenges that come with moving away from jobs, community, and family.
If you’re looking for an online law school in California, get the best of both worlds at TJSL. As an online student, you’ll be part of a supportive community and have access to the academic and administrative resources available to all students. Plus, you may choose to earn up to 15 of the 80 required units attending live classes on campus.
Admissions & Application Information
The application process to TJSL’s online JD program is simple and free. From eligibility, to application status, to important dates and deadlines, get all the information you need to be successful. Our Admissions staff is standing by to help you. Contact us at admissions@tjsl.edu if you need help at any point in the application process.
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have earned an associate’s degree or higher from an accredited institution by their first day of classes at TJSL. Applicants must submit an LSAT score.
Comprehensive Curriculum
Our curriculum at Thomas Jefferson School of Law provides the foundation you need for a successful legal career. It includes required classes covering each subject tested on the California Bar Exam, as well as experiential learning opportunities
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will demonstrate:
- Knowledge And Understanding Of Substantive And Procedural Law
- Legal Analysis and Reasoning
- Legal Research
- Written and Oral Legal Communication
- Exercise Of Proper Professional And Ethical Responsibilities To Clients And The Legal System
- Other Professional Skills Needed For Competent And Ethical Participation As A Member Of The Legal Profession
Your Online Law Degree Starts Here
A law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law is just the beginning. Join our more than 7,000 alumni and pursue your JD degree online at a law school filled with opportunities from competition teams to live client clinics and a law review.
Online JD Program Residency & Licensure
Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s degree-granting authority, in connection with its JD students’ qualifications to take the California Bar Examination and obtain admission to practice law in California, is based upon its accreditation by the Committee of Bar Examiners.
| WHAT STATES CAN I RESIDE IN FOR THE ONLINE JD PROGRAM? | WHERE CAN I BE LICENSED? |
|---|---|
| California | Upon graduation, students are academically eligible to sit only for the California licensing bar exam. Complete details for licensure requirements for the State of California can be found at the State Bar of California website here. Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be licensed to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. |
| OTHER CURRENT ELIGIBLE STATES FOR RESIDENCY: Students may reside in the following states outside California: Arizona Colorado Florida Hawaii Illinois Indiana Kentucky Maryland Montana Nevada New Hampshire Tennessee Texas Washington NOTE: The ability to earn academic credit for externships may be limited by state regulations. | A person who is licensed by the State Bar of California (see above) may be eligible for licensure outside of California in some states. Any student who intends to seek licensure to practice law outside of California at any time during their career should contact the admitting authority for information regarding its education and licensure requirements prior to enrolling at this law school. For a state by state review, see the National Conference of Bar Examiners Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements Domestic Legal Education Requirements Chart. NOTE: Effective July 1, 2024, new Department of Education regulations require all incoming students planning to enroll in the Online JD Program to show that you understand the licensing requirements by attesting that by the date of enrollment, (a) you reside in California or (b) you reside in an eligible state (see column at left) outside of California and you intend to seek employment in California upon completion of your studies at the Law School. |
Required Notifications of Complaint Process
| California | An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to file a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at: 1741 N. Market Street, Suite 225 Sacramento, CA 95834 http://www.bppe.ca.gov Phone: (916) 574-8900 Fax: (916) 263-1897 |
| Maryland | TJSL is subject to investigation of complaints by the Office of the Attorney General or the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Complaints should be directed to: Maryland Higher Education Commission 6 North Libery Street, 10th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410) 767-3300 collegiatecomplaint.mhec@mayrland.gov |
Accreditation Information
Thomas Jefferson School of Law is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California and WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be licensed to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek licensure to practice law outside of California at any time during their career should contact the admitting authority for information regarding its education and licensure requirements prior to enrolling at this law school.
Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California 180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105-1639, (415) 538-2000 www.calbar.ca.gov
Thomas Jefferson School of Law is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.
In compliance with California B&P Code Section 6061.7(a), Thomas Jefferson School of Law provides the following information about its JD program: 2024 Annual Disclosure.