New students joining Thomas Jefferson will follow a carefully planned sequence of courses. Our goal is to introduce
and build on foundational material in a way that maximizes student understanding and prepares students for the
California Bar exam.
Along the way, students have increasing opportunities to enroll in elective courses in which they can learn vital
practice skills, deepen their specialized knowledge, and pursue their intellectual and professional passions.
Students Starting in the Fall or Spring
Programs of study for students starting in the Fall or Spring are set out below. Programs of study for students
attending part-time during the day may also be available -- interested applicants should inquire further with the
Admissions department. Students who elect the Early Start option will follow the program of study for students
entering in the Fall, except that they will not have to take Criminal Law and may choose to take an approved
elective instead.
Early Start Summer Program Option
Students admitted for the Fall can elect the Early Start Program option.
Criminal Law |
3 units |
Introduction to Law |
1 unit |
Client Interviewing and Counseling |
2 units |
Full-time students will normally take all three courses.
Part-time students will normally take the first two courses.
Program of Study
Students may complete some of the courses listed above during the optional Summer term instead, enabling them to
substitute other courses (including elective courses) during the Fall and Spring terms.
Fall Entering Full-Time Three-Year Program of Study*
Students who start as full-time students will take the following sequence of courses over six semesters. They
will complete 67 units of required courses and a minimum of 13 units of elective courses. Students must earn at
least 6 units in qualifying skills courses.
First Semester
Contracts |
5 units |
Torts |
5 units |
Learning Skills |
1 units |
Legal Writing |
3 units |
Third Semester
Business Associations |
3 units |
Constitutional Law I |
3 units |
Criminal Procedure |
3 units |
Property |
5 units |
Fifth Semester
MBE Mastery |
3 units |
Wills and Trusts |
3 units |
Community Property |
2 units |
California Civil Procedure |
2 units |
Between 1 and 5 elective units
Second Semester
Civil Procedure |
5 units |
Criminal Law |
3 units |
Legal Writing II |
3 units |
Professional Responsibility |
3 units |
Fourth Semester
Evidence |
4 units |
Constitutional Law II |
3 units |
Between 4 and 8 elective units
Sixth Semester
Remedies |
3 units |
Bar Exam Fundamentals |
3 units |
California Evidence |
2 units |
Between 3 and 7 elective units
Fall Entering Evening Part-Time Four-Year Program of Study
Students who start in the Fall semester as part-time evening students will take the following sequence of courses
over eight semesters. They will complete 67 units of required courses and a minimum of 13 units of elective
courses. Students must earn at least 6 units in qualifying skills courses.
First Semester
Torts |
5 units |
Learning Skills |
1 units |
Lega Writing I |
3 units |
Third Semester
Contracts |
3 units |
Property |
5 units |
Fifth Semester
Constitutional Law I |
3 units |
Community Property |
2 units |
Criminal Procedure |
3 units |
Up to 2 elective units
Seventh Semester
California Civil Procedure |
2 units |
MBE Mastery |
3 units |
Wills and Trusts |
3 units |
Up to 2 elective units
Second Semester
Civil Procedure |
5 units |
Legal Writing II |
3 units |
Fourth Semester
Constitutional Law II |
3 units |
Criminal Law |
3 units |
Evidence |
4 units |
Sixth Semester
Business Associations |
3 units |
California Evidence |
2 units |
Professional Responsibility |
3 units |
Up to 2 elective units
Eighth Semester
Bar Exam Fundamentals |
3 units |
Remedies |
2 units |
Up to 4 elective units
Spring Entering Full-Time Three-Year Program of Study
Students who start in Spring semester as full-time students will take the following sequence of
courses over six semesters. They will complete 67 units of required courses and a minimum of
13 units of elective courses. Students must earn at least 6 units in qualifying skills courses.
First Semester
Civil Procedure |
5 units |
Criminal Law |
3 units |
Learning Skills |
1 units |
Legal Writing I |
3 units |
Professional Responsibility |
3 units |
Third Semester
Constitutional Law II |
3 units |
Evidence |
4 units |
Legal Writing II |
3 units |
Between 1 and 5 elective units
Fifth Semester
California Evidence |
2 units |
MBE Mastery |
3 units |
Remedies |
3 units |
Between 3-7 elective units
Second Semester
Contracts |
5 units |
Property |
5 units |
Torts |
5 units |
Fourth Semester
Business Associations |
2 units |
California Civil Procedure |
2 units |
Constitutional Law I |
3 units |
Criminal Procedure |
3 units |
Wills and Trusts |
3 units |
Up to 2 elective units
Sixth Semester
Bar Exam Fundamentals |
3 units |
Community Property |
3 units |
Between 5-11 elective units
Spring Entering Evening Part-Time Four-Year Program of Study
Students who start in Spring as part-time students will take the following sequence of courses
over eight semesters. They will complete 67 units of required courses and a minimum of 13 units
of elective courses. Students must earn at least 6 units in qualifying skills courses.
First Semester
Civil Procedure |
5 units |
Learning Skills |
1 units |
Legal Writing I |
3 units |
Third Semester
Criminal Law |
3 units |
Evidence |
4 units |
Professional Responsibility |
3 units |
Fifth Semester
Business Associations |
3 units |
California Evidence |
2 units |
Constitutional Law II |
3 units |
Up to 2 elective units
Seventh Semester
MBE Mastery |
3 units |
Remedies |
3 units |
Up to 4 elective units
Second Semester
California Civil Procedure |
2 units |
Legal Writing II |
3 units |
Torts |
5 units |
Fourth Semester
Contracts |
5 units |
Property |
5 units |
Sixth Semester
Constitutional Law I |
3 units |
Community Property |
2 units |
Criminal Procedure |
3 units |
Up to 2 elective units
Eighth Semester
Bar Exam Fundamentals |
3 units |
Wills and Trusts |
3 units |
Up to 4 elective units