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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ox/G439hi12I9d95GFwx/UQZrp9ZHFbw2cJEGazTQspY7yqXTr1uu5fy9BDUBlyB
 eMyTa6fQThOwGwb9BiX65w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001230923-04-000002.txt : 20040122
<SEC-HEADER>0001230923-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040122114258
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001230923-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHENK JOSEPH A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230923

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14947
		FILM NUMBER:		04536943

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MADISON AVE
		STREET 2:		12TH FL.
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MADISON AVE
		STREET 2:		12TH FL.
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JEFFERIES GROUP INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084580
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				954719745
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW  YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-284-2550

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JEF HOLDING CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990419
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-20</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084580</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JEFFERIES GROUP INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JEF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230923</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHENK JOSEPH A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JEFFERIES &amp; COMPANY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>520 MADISON AVE., 12TH FL.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28506</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>169666</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquisition of shares under the Jefferies Group, Inc. 2003 Incentive Compensation Plan in lieu of cash compensation in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Does not include 1,535 shares indirectly held by the Reporting Person by the Trustee of the Jefferies Group, Inc. Employees' Stock Ownership Plan for the benefit of the Reporting Person, does not include 9,271 shares indirectly held by the Reporting Person by the Trustee under the Jefferies Group, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan for the benefit of the Reporting Person, and does not include 40 shares indirectly held by the Reporting Person as custodian for his children's accounts.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Roland T. Kelly, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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