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Thomas Jefferson School of Law

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To avoid disbursement delays the MPN is required for any first-time TJSL borrowers applying for a Federal Stafford Loan and Graduate PLUS loans. All MPN’s are completed online at www.studentloans.gov.

Federal law requires that all federal loan borrowers receive loan entrance counseling before your loans can be disbursed. Entering students and continuing students who are first-time borrowers must complete the mandatory entrance counseling session at www.studentloans.gov. The online session will contain information on the student borrower's rights and responsibilities. Electronic confirmation will be sent to the school by the Department of Education.  

Access Web Counseling

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application must be completed if you intend to apply for a Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Plus Loan, or Federal Work-Study. Thomas Jefferson School of Law must be listed as one of the schools to receive the information from the federal processor. The government will send the information electronically to the Law School's Financial Aid Office. They will also send a Student Aid Report (SAR) to the student. You may check on the status of your FAFSA by calling 1-800-4-FEDAID and selection option #1. 

The FAFSA is valid for one award year, which begins with the fall semester (header) and ends with the summer term (trailer). Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s FAFSA school code is 013780.

Apply to FAFSA Online

Federal Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program provides students the opportunity to work part-time while attending law school. To qualify for a Federal Work-Study position, you must demonstrate financial need and have Federal Work-Study as a part of your financial aid offer. This need-based program is designed to provide jobs to help students with educational expenses. In addition to the regular eligibility requirements, the program requires that participants be in good academic standing. The pay rate for on campus Federal Work Study is $16.30 per hour.

To apply for Federal Work-Study complete the on-line student forms or come in to the Financial Aid Office for more information.  

There are many types of financial aid available from Thomas Jefferson School of Law that can assist you in covering the costs of your legal education.

The major sources of funding that may be available to you include: scholarships, federal loans, work-study, outside scholarships, and private education loans.

If you anticipate needing financial aid, you should seek counseling from the office as early as possible. You don’t need to wait until you have been accepted to law school to apply for any financial aid programs. An applicant who delays completing financial aid forms risks missing deadlines and jeopardizing his or her eligibility for assistance.

The sections listed on the side navigation provide a general overview of the types of financial aid offered. Please be advised that this information is subject to change at any time without notice.

Practice in California

Thomas Jefferson School of Law is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. The legal education provided by Thomas Jefferson School of Law meets all requirements under the rules and regulations pertaining to admission to the practice of law in California. 

In accordance with the California Business and Professions Code and the regulations of the State Bar of California, a student who intends to seek admission to practice law in California must meet all eligibility requirements set forth in the Rules of the State Bar, Title 4 Division 1, Chapter 2 and California Code, Business and Professional Code – BPC Sec. 6060.  An application of admission to the California Bar consists of an application for registration, an application for determination of moral character, an application for any required examination, and payment of the required fees.

In addition to the determination of moral character required by the State Bar, Thomas Jefferson School of Law also considers the moral character of each applicant during the admissions process. Each applicant must disclose all required information on their application and if admitted, has the continuing duty of disclosure through graduation. 

California requires that students intending to practice in California register with the State Bar of California within 90 days of the commencement of their law studies. Registration forms for the State Bar of California are available online at www.calbar.org.

Practice Outside of California

Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be admitted to practice law in jurisdictions other than California.  A student who intends to seek admission to practice law outside of California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding its education and admission requirements. 

See also the National Conference of Bar Examiners Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which includes this state-by-state review. 

International Students

If you received your college degree outside the United States, you must have your transcript(s) evaluated by a professional evaluation service to make sure you have the equivalent of a U.S. undergraduate degree. The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) offers a Credential Assembly Service to evaluate your transcript. Transcript evaluations for transfer students and non-JD students may also be evaluated by World Education Services (WES).

Applicants from non-English speaking countries must also provide their TOEFL or IELTS exam results. Our school code is 4973.

Please visit the LSAC website for more information: www.lsac.org

If you received a law degree outside the United States and are interested in seeking admission to a U.S. bar, you may seek admission to the JD Program as a transfer student. You may also be interested in our LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree in American Legal Studies (ALS). The LL.M. in ALS is a one-year program for candidates who seek a U.S. law degree, potentially leading to eligibility to sit for the bar exam in California.

If you have not yet applied to Thomas Jefferson School of Law, please click here.

Important Information:

This page is designed to help answer your questions regarding the steps to take for pursuing your legal studies at our campus if you are neither a U.S. citizen nor a resident alien. We understand that the transition to law school and living in the United States can be challenging. Our Student Services team is ready to help manage this process and we look forward to working with you as you relocate to San Diego.

Transfer Students: International students currently enrolled in an educational program in the United States may transfer to a new learning institution. Students interested in transferring to Thomas Jefferson School of Law should complete the admissions application process through our Admissions Office. Upon notification of admission, you must alert the Student Affairs Office of your intent to transfer. While each school has its own process, the home school (the school you are seeking to transfer from) will need to release you and update you as a transfer on the SEVIS website. An official from your home school should contact our Student Affairs Office to inform us of the release and/or you can provide us with a document reflecting the completion of the transfer. Once the transfer information is complete, we will contact you about the issuance of an I-20 document.

Requesting an I-20 for F-1 Student Status: International students are required to obtain an I-20 document to study in the United States. Thomas Jefferson will only issue the I-20 after an individual has been admitted. Upon receipt of an "offer of admission letter" from our Admission Office, our Student Affairs staff works directly with each student to communicate the information needed to support the request for an I-20 document. The admission letter will disclose the financial obligations for studying at the law school. Students should be prepared to provide financial records that demonstrate the ability to finance their studies in the United States.

Please note: F-1 students must maintain full-time status throughout their law school career.

I-20 Document: The I-20 document supports the F-1 student status. This form is very important and should be treated similarly to a passport. This document will be needed when making an appointment for a visa to enter the country, as well as when arriving into the United States. Upon receipt of the I-20, students should carefully review it to ensure accurate information (name, birth date, and all other information). If there is a discrepancy, please notify the Student Services Office immediately. Please Note: F-1 students may enter the country 30 days prior to the start of classes, as indicated on your I-20 document.

Visa Appointments: Non-resident aliens and non-U.S. citizens are required to obtain a visa prior to entering the United States. However, Canadian citizens are not required to obtain a visa prior to entering the country. Students who are not Canadian citizens should contact the United States Consulate Office within their home country for more information. Visa appointment times can vary; therefore, it is recommended that students make an appointment as soon as possible. For information regarding the nearest Consulate Office, go to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html. This website will also provide you with information on what documents are needed for the appointment, as well as the wait time for an appointment at the Consulate Office in the student's home country. Prior to the meeting at the Consulate's Office, students will need to pay fee I-901, which can be paid online at http://www.fmjfee.com/. There may be additional fees accessed for the visa application as each country is different; therefore, please check the Consulate website stated above for further information.

In general, a visa application requires the following:

• A valid passport (six months remaining)
• An I-20
• Proof of funding (bank statements, letters of support, etc.)
• Photographs for the Visa
• Payment of Visa application fees
• Visa application forms (D-156, D-157, and D-158 as required)
• Payment of I-901

Once issued, the visa will be stamped into the student's passport. The visa has an expiration date that indicates the period of time the student can enter the United States.

Entering the United States: Students are required to go through United States immigration and customs inspection when entering the United States. All documents will be reviewed by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. The I-20 document will be stamped and an I-94 form will be issued. The I-94 document will indicate the date of entry, your status in the United States, and the day you will leave the United States. It is extremely important that your I-20 and I-94 stamps reflect your F-1 status; therefore, please check the documents prior to leaving the United States Customs area. If your stamp reflects any other status (such as visitor) notify the CBP immediately so that the documents can be corrected.

Orientation and Checking in at Thomas Jefferson School of Law: Once you are settled in San Diego, make an appointment with President & General Counsel Karin Sherr to set up your school check-in. Check-in appointments will include welcoming you to the campus, completing your international student file, registering you in the SEVIS website, providing information on maintaining your F-1 status and orienting you to beautiful San Diego, CA. Students are also required to attend the law school's orientation, about which the Admissions Office will mail information to each student.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT is designed to provide students with additional educational opportunities through externships. Students interested in pursuing an externship for CPT should contact the Student Affairs Office.

Optional Practical Training (OPT): Optional Practical Training is designed to provide work experience to students in the legal community. This experience can be received in school or after degree completion. Students interested in OPT should contact the Student Affairs Office for further information.

At Thomas Jefferson School of Law Career Services, we make it easy for employers in the legal profession to find the right candidate among our students and graduates.

You can submit a posting directly to our office using our online form or by emailing us at careerservices@tjsl.edu.  

We will assist you in finding the right person to fill any of your needs, from a first year associate, to lateral attorney, law clerk, extern, pro bono volunteer of any other need you may have.

Need help with your postings? Contact Career Services at careerservices@tjsl.edu or 619.961.4319.

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of Thomas Jefferson School of Law to afford equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyles), creed, color, religion, sex (including transgender, gender, gender identity and expression), national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, physical and mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, or other characteristic protected by law. Our students, as well as our applicants, employees, and others with whom we do business, will not be subjected to sexual, racial, religious, ethnic, or any other form of unlawful discrimination or harassment. The law school will not condone such conduct, whether committed by an administrator, faculty member, staff person, agent, contractor or student. Nor will it permit discrimination to affect any employment, admissions, or academic decision.

An exception to our policy of non-discrimination is granted to representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense who may discriminate on a basis not permitted by our policy. This exception is made in order to avoid the loss of federal funds that would otherwise be imposed by the 1996 Solomon Amendment.

The Career Services center is a resource for alumni, whether you are looking for your first job in law or seeking a mid-career change. Our dedicated professionals, all with law experience, will help in the job search and provide the support services help you land the job. These include networking opportunities, interview coaching and personal one-on-one counseling.

To set up a counseling appointment or more information contact Career Services:

Phone: (619) 961-4319  

E-mail: careerservices@tjsl.edu