Thomas Jefferson School of Law

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On November 1, 2024, alumni gathered to celebrate TJSL. The recipient of the Judicial Service Award was Hon. David G. Brown, who gave an insightful and motivational speech about the San Diego veterans community and words of hope for everyone. The recipient of the Outstanding Service to the Community Award was Omid Rejali, who gave an inspiring speech, including a beautiful quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. TJSL also honored Professor Kenneth Vandevelde, inducting him to the TJSL Wall of Fame, to recognize his many contributions to the TJSL learning community.

Mark your calendars for the 15th annual Judicial Mixer and Alumni Awards Reception on Friday, November 1 at 6 pm! RSVP now to [email protected]

On October 18-20, Thomas Jefferson School of Law hosted the 2024 National Sports Law Negotiation Competition. It was, the largest in the competition’s 14 years, including 40 teams from law schools throughout the United States and Canada. In this competition, teams compete by negotiating problems involving various aspects of the business of sports. They are judged based on their preparation and negotiation skills.

This year, a team from Stetson University College of Law prevailed in the final rounds to win the competition over finalist teams from Brooklyn Law School, Cardozo School of Law, and Thompson River Law School.

The Thomas Jefferson School of Law team, consisting of Lisa Dukellis-Mitchener and Mariah Houston and coached by Patricia Letts, tied for 15th place out of 40 teams.

TJSL Alum Javier Vargas (2014) talks about how his father influenced him to become a public servant and has put his TJSL law degree to work in the District Attorney’s Office, showcasing how Hispanic Americans were an important aspect of the history of California. TJSL celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrates the achievements of Javier Vargas, and all alumni of Hispanic heritage.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Deputy DA Javier Vargas In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting the stories of DA employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service. In this vid...

The 22nd Women and the Law Conference, Perspectives on Judging, welcomed distinguished judges and over 50 attendees on September 27, 2024. Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecturer Judge LaDoris Cordell kicked off the event with a wonderful presentation based on her acclaimed book, Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change It. Distinguished state and federal judges followed, each offering inspirational stories of their path to the bench as they illustrated the significance of having diverse perspectives on the bench. We are grateful to Judge Cordell as well as esteemed panelists Judge Nadia Keilani, Judge Lilys McCoy, Judge Jinsook Ohta, Judge Paula Rosenstein, and Judge Renee N.G. Stackhouse. The conference was thought-provoking and inspirational.

Read more here: https://www.tjsl.edu/news-and-events/recap-of-the-22nd-women-and-the-law-conference-and-ruth-bader-ginsberg-lecture/

Photo credit: Starr C. Lopez

Registration is now at open for Perspectives on Judging, TJSL’s 22nd Women & the Law Conference on Friday, September 27th starting at 12:30pm. The conference, co-sponsored by Lawyers Club & San Diego County Bar Association, features accomplished judges sharing their perspectives on judging and the path to the bench.

The conference will begin at 12:30pm with Judge LaDoris Cordell’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture: Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change it. She will give a personal account of her tenure on the bench and the challenges that she faced as a woman of color. She will also propose ways to make our legal system fairer and just.

Afternoon panels of distinguished San Diego judges will then offer their unique perspectives on judging, discussing their road to the bench, how their background impacts their approach to judging, and judging on nontraditional courts. Esteemed panelists include: Judge Nadia Keilani, Judge Lilys McCoy, Judge Jinsook Ohta, Judge Paula Rosenstein, Judge Renee N.G. Stackhouse, Judge Rohanee Zapanta, and Kimberly Papillon, an expert on judicial decision-making. All participants are invited to a reception from 4:45 – 5:45.

1 hour of MCLE Elimination of Bias Credit available for attendees of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture.

22nd Women in the Law Conference & Ruth Bader Ginsberg Lecture - Thomas Jefferson School of Law Registration is now open for the 22nd Women in the Law Conference & Ruth Bader Ginsberg Lecture at Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Dr. Dawn Dekle, Dean and President of Thomas Jefferson School of Law, wrote an insightful opinion piece for the San Diego Union-Tribune on her return to America, and American higher education, after serving as president of three major universities abroad.

Opinion: I returned to America after 25 years of living abroad. Here’s why. “How can I send my daughter to college in the U.S.A.? President Trump just announced a suspension of immigrants from Nigeria, and has publicly said vulgar and offensive things about my country.& #82…

Our students have had a wonderful first week of class! We have enjoyed welcoming our new students to Thomas Jefferson, with 52 students in our residential program and 68 students online. We cannot wait to see what they will achieve!

Save the date for Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s 22nd Women & the Law Conference, Perspectives on Judging: Friday, September 27, 2024, starting at 12:30pm. The conference will be followed by a reception.

Perspectives on Judging will bring together current and retired members of the judiciary to explore critical aspects of the judicial system.

The conference will begin with Judge LaDoris Cordell’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture: Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change it. She will give a personal account of her tenure on the bench and the challenges that she faced as a woman of color. She will also propose ways to make our legal system fairer and just. Judge Cordell is the latest in a long line of accomplished speakers who have been honored as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecturer, a lecture series Justice Ginsburg generously established for Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2003.

Panels of distinguished judges will then offer their unique perspectives on judging, discussing their road to the bench, how their background impacts their approach to judging, and judging on nontraditional courts. Esteemed panelists include: Judge Nadia Keilani, Judge Lilys McCoy, Judge Jinsook Ohta, Judge Paula Rosenstein, Judge Renee N.G. Stackhouse, Judge Rohanee Zapanta, and Kimberly Papillon, an expert on judicial decision-making.

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Dawn Dekle as the new President and Dean of TJSL. Dean Dekle has been President of three universities, including the American University of Nigeria, Orkhon University in Mongolia, and American University in Iraq. She earned her JD from Stanford, a Ph.D. from Dartmouth, and an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M.

Teejan Saady (2023) has accepted an Associate Attorney position with Sauvey Law Group, an estate planning firm located in Irvine, CA.

Emely Santana (2022) has accepted a position as an Immigration Attorney at the Law Office of Michael S. Juarez, P.C. in their New Rochelle, NY office.

Congratulations to Virginia Flores (2024) and Vanessa Felix Corona (3L) for being selected as 2024 San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association Bar Stipend recipients! They were honored at an event in May hosted by the organization.

Vanessa Felix-Corona (3L) was awarded a scholarship by the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego at their annual dinner last week. Congratulations, Vanessa!

Azadeh Mohajer (2022) has started as an Associate Attorney with Hoover Krepelka, LLP, a Family Law firm located in San Jose, California.

Isaac Rodriguez (2023) has accepted a position as an Associate with Union Law Group where he will be practicing Immigration Law.

Congratulations to the December 2023, May 2024, and projected August 2024 graduates of Thomas Jefferson School of Law! Our graduates were celebrated at a ceremony at the Balboa Theater on May 12, where alumna Lorena Slomanson (2003) gave the commencement address. Valedictorian Cynthia Santos Barbosa (2023) gave the JD Graduate Address prior to the conferring of degrees. Congratulations again to our graduates!

Congratulations to 2023 and 2024 Graduates - Thomas Jefferson School of Law Thomas Jefferson School of Law hosted its commencement exercises on Sunday, May 12, at the Balboa Theater in downtown San Diego. The event honored December 2023, May 2024, and projected August 2024 graduates of the law school’s Juris Doctor, Masters of Law, and Doctor of Science of Law programs. A...