If Thomas Jefferson ever wanted to sunbathe between bouts of shaping our nation, this would have been the place. Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) offers a traditional program of legal education leading to the award of master's degrees and Juris Doctor degrees. The private school offers a three year full-time or a four year part-time program. Its campus is located in the historic Old Town section of San Diego. Thomas Jefferson School of Law has about 800 students and was founded in 1969 as the the Western State University College of Law. It achieved independence and accreditation with the American Bar Association in 1996. The school is building a new $40 million downtown campus.