Thomas Jefferson School of Law is a great environment for military personnel, both veterans and active-duty. Our program is very flexible: You can start in January or August; attend part-time or full-time; and select day or evening classes. We also offer a strong academic support program.
This fall (2012), there are 44 veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel earning their law degrees at TJSL.
Dean Hasl says, “The law school has built an inclusive environment and the military is part of the diversity that is the strength of TJSL.”
Among TJSL’s student organizations is an active chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA) that helps military personnel better adapt to the law school environment and helps them understand benefits such as the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program. We are proud to be able to help offset the costs of law school for our military personnel through our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
TJSL is also proud of our many alumni who have served in the military. In fact, when the law school was founded in 1969 and throughout the 1970’s, a major portion of the student body was composed of Vietnam Veterans. Since then, the law school also has opened its doors to veterans of the two Iraq wars and the war in Afghanistan.
Thomas Jefferson students are active in the Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic (VLAC,) that provides legal services to clients of Veterans Village of San Diego. This is real hands-on experience for students, working with veterans on criminal cases, child-support, benefits and many other types of legal issues.
TJSL has an annual tradition on campus – a ceremony to honor our military personnel past and present, on Veteran’s Day.
As USMC Veteran Professor K.J. Greene says, “We want the military people who plan to go to law school to think of us first.”
