-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SG5WL/Z1a1vTVlsQtgGdCuyxo8bYEiNERH1K6gj4eB4iJhli/X0UvjzPNcOJIDpv
 5FCXchV4UPbqgWnUBfB6MA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001211677-04-000003.txt : 20040122
<SEC-HEADER>0001211677-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040122171200
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001211677-04-000003
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:			HANDLER RICHARD B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211677

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14947
		FILM NUMBER:		04538345

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MADISON AVE.
		STREET 2:		12TH FLOOR
		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>0001211677</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANDLER RICHARD B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JEFFERIES &amp; COMPANY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>520 MADISON AVE., 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</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>62110</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2622812</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <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="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>600000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3222812</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </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 52,400 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Acquisition of shares under the Jefferies Group, Inc. 2003 Incentive Compensation Plan as part of the Reporting Person's 2003 and 2004 compensation for no cash consideration in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Does not include 52,400 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</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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