Dean’s Letter, Winter 2025
Dear Purdue Global Law School Students and Alumni:
I am pleased to share the following updates with you:
California Bar Exam: Now Primarily Remote
In February 2025, and for the foreseeable future, the California Bar Exam will be administered “remotely and in-person at vendor-run test centers.” This means that applicants can elect in their bar applications to either (a) take the exam using their own internet connections and computers with functioning webcams for proctoring or (b) take the exam at a testing facility located in their state where they will be provided with a computer to use.
Previously, the California Bar Exam could only be taken in person at a testing center located in the state of California. Where the old delivery system allowed for “hard copy exam material,” the new delivery system does not — unless a bar applicant is approved for an “accommodation for a disability-related functional limitation.” For the new exam, applicants will have access to “virtual scratch paper” and may bring a dry-erase whiteboard within the size limits of 8.5 by 11 or 9 by 12 inches.
This change in delivery is also accompanied by a new bar exam schedule. Traditionally, the California Bar Exam was administered across two days as follows:
Day One (always the last Tuesday of February and July) consisted of 3 essays in the morning session (3 hours, about 1 hour per essay) and 2 essays plus a performance test question in the afternoon (3.5 hours because the performance test question takes about 90 minutes).
Day Two (always the last Wednesday of February and July) consisted of 200 multiple-choice questions, divided into 100 questions in the morning session (3 hours) and another 100 questions in the afternoon session (also 3 hours). The timing amounts to 1.8 minutes per question.
Within each session, test takers were free to allocate their time as they saw fit. For example, during the Day One morning session, a test taker could spend more than an hour on one essay, and then adjust their pace accordingly for the other two essays to ensure completion of the session within the 3-hour limit.
Under the new schedule, the three components remain the same (essay, performance test, multiple-choice questions), but the “sessions” have been divided into smaller parts. Each essay is a “session,” followed by a short break. Likewise, the multiple-choice questions are segmented into 4 “sessions” of 50 questions — rather than 2 sessions of 100 questions — with short breaks between them. Once a session is completed, test takers will not be able to go back and access the questions within that session.
Additional details can be found on the California Bar Examiners website. If you still have questions or want tips on preparing to take the California Bar Exam in the new format, please contact Quentin Huff, director of bar support, at quentin.huff@purdueglobal.edu.
Bar Exam Milestone
In February, tens of thousands of law school graduates sat for the bar exam in various states. Purdue Global Law School has approximately 30 first-time test takers sitting for the California Bar Exam — one of our largest cohorts in years. For the first time in our school’s history, we have graduates sitting for their first bar exam outside of California in both Indiana and Connecticut. Additionally, one of our alumni will be sitting for the bar exam in Utah (after successfully petitioning the Supreme Court of Utah for a waiver). I wish all of our test takers across the country the best of luck on the bar exam.
Purdue Global Law School Adds a Director of Employment and Community Outreach
In January 2025, Purdue Global Law School welcomed Kimberly Kass, a resident of Valparaiso, Indiana, to serve in the newly created full-time position of Director of Employment and Community Outreach (DECO). In this role, she will develop relationships with potential employers and externship supervisors in Indiana and elsewhere, help our students and graduates pursue employment opportunities, explore and grow other opportunities for pro bono and volunteer work, and deepen Purdue Global Law School’s ties to the legal community.
Kim brings a wealth of relevant experience to the role. She spent over a decade at Valparaiso School of Law working in career services and as an academic support professional, and she spent several years as a Learning Coach for BarBri. She also has significant practice experience, both at law firms and as in-house counsel, and she has served on the Indiana Pro Bono Commission and on the Board of Northwest Indiana Volunteer Attorneys, among other roles.
"I am honored to be part of the Purdue Global Law School team,” Kim shared. “I look forward to assisting the school's law students and graduates in their career endeavors and collaborating with the legal community in Indiana and beyond.”
I am delighted to welcome Kim to the Purdue Global Law School community and know that she will be an invaluable asset to our students and graduates.
Purdue Global Law School Spring Regional Mixers
I am excited for our next round of in-person mixers across the country this spring. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27. These social events are a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow students, alumni, faculty, and staff, enjoy complimentary food and drinks, and strengthen your network within the Purdue Global Law School community.
New Scholarship Opportunities
I am pleased to announce two new scholarship opportunities available to Purdue Global Law School students. These scholarships are designed to support the next generation of Purdue Global Law School leaders, helping them continue their academic journeys with the financial support they need to succeed.
The first scholarship is the Veterans' Scholarship, made possible by alumnus Matthew Corso (JD ‘24). Up to four scholarships will be awarded to students who are currently enrolled in a Purdue Global Law School Juris Doctor (JD) or Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) program and work — or plan to work — with the veteran community.
The second scholarship is a Merit Scholarship which recognizes the academic achievements of JD and EJD students who have achieved the highest CGPA in their respective programs after their penultimate term. This scholarship is ongoing and will be awarded each term.
Congratulations to Our Alumni
In closing, I’d like to congratulate four outstanding Purdue Global Law School alumni who were recently sworn into the California bar: Allen Paul Heffel (JD ‘23), Karina Gonzalez (JD ‘22), Michelle Rosewy-Peart (JD ‘17), and Father Anthony Pillari (JD ‘23). I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in their respective legal fields.
Thanks, and all the best,
Martin Pritikin
Dean and Vice President
Purdue Global Law School