A history of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law
By: Kenneth J. Vandevelde
Publisher: The California Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: San Diego, Calif
Language: eng
Number of pages: 435
ISBN-13: 9780615658773
Subjects: History; Law schools; Thomas Jefferson School of Law; Western State University College of Law (San Diego, Calif.)
Description: "The Thomas Jefferson School of Law originated in the 1960s as the San Diego branch campus of a for-profit, non-ABA accredited Orange County law school that served principally part-time evening students. Although it was proud of educating working adults and produced some outstanding alumni, its attrition rates ranged between 50 and 75 percent and its pass rate on the California bar exam sometimes fell below 25 percent. In a half dozen years during the 1990s, the law school radically transformed itself. It separated from its parent, adopted a new name, became the first for-profit law school to gain ABA accreditation, and converted to a nonprofit. Admissions applications soared tenfold resulting in a nationally based student body second in California only to Stanford's for geographic diversity, the academic dismissal rated dropped below 10 percent and its California bar pass rate climbed above 75 percent. Graduates received offers from prestigious law firms in New York, Los Angeles and other cities. The law school was ranked 5th in the nation for the quality of academic life and 55th worldwide for the number of its faculty publications downloaded by scholars and practitioners. This story demonstrates what can be achieved through a commitment to excellence and a belief that people matter."--Page 4 of cover.
Table of contents: title: Part One : Western State University College of Law of San Diego, 1969-1995. Founding Western State University College of Law ; The early years ; Obtaining CBE and WASC accreditation ; Changing ownership ; Unsuccessfully seeking ABA accreditation ; Making a comeback ; Reforming the academic program ; Changing deans ; Deciding to apply for ABA accreditation ; Adopting a new name ; Preparing for the ABA site evaluation ; Separating from Western State University; title: Part Two : Thomas Jefferson School of Law, 1995-2005. Obtaining provisional ABA approval ; Improving the strength of the student body ; Building a stronger campus community ; Struggling to raise the bar passage rate ; Converting to a nonprofit law school ; Obtaining full ABA approval ; Solving the bar passage rate problem ; Creating institutional governance for a nonprofit law school ; Ensuring financial stability ; Nurturing the faculty, staff and students ; Promoting diversity ; Expanding the campus ; Enhancing academic quality and reputation.