How Legal Education Fails Minority Students

Thomas Jefferson Law School

Law School Announces Plan In Response To ABA Probation

A law school recently placed on ABA probation is relocating to cut down on financial costs.
Thomas Jefferson School of Law announced that it will be moving its campus to an office building, at 701 B Street, as part of a “Moving Forward” plan to minimize financial costs, Above The Law reports.
The law school was previously placed on ABA probation for a number of reasons, including financial troubles and low bar passage and employment rates among grads, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The Moving Forward Plan
Thomas Jefferson Law School’s dean, Joan Bullock, announced the “Moving Forward” plan earlier this year – an attempt by the law school to demonstrate a commitment to providing high-quality education to its students.
The plan is based on three core concepts: rightsizing, reallocation, and repositioning.
“The new campus is an important investment in strategic planning for the Law School, streamlining the educational experience for students and faculty alike,” the school’s press release reads. “701 B Street is central to the heart of a thriving downtown, and close to multiple transit options and housing. It is just blocks from the new Central Courthouse, the California Court of Appeals, federal court houses and many law firms.”
In turn, by moving to a new location, the school argues that it will be reducing its footprint and reallocating funds to provide scholarship opportunities for its students.
“Reduced footprint and overhead will empower the Law School to reallocate funds to provide scholarship opportunities for students – including the Law School’s comprehensive and guaranteed scholarship awards, some of which include full tuition and housing grants,” according to the press release. “Additionally, the new campus’ Class-A building aligns with the Law School’s student-first vision and its commitment to providing an even more meaningful and engaged learning environment. Repositioning with smaller classes will afford students more one-on-one attention and support from faculty and administration, helping better prepare students for the practice of law from their first year through graduation.”
Thomas Jefferson Law School has had a history of high debt among its graduates. The average debt for its class of 2017 graduates was $198, 962, according to U.S. News.
Sources: Above The Law, San Diego Union Tribune, Thomas Jefferson Law School, U.S. News