Dear Students and Alumni:

I am happy to be able to share the following updates with you:

Texas and Florida End Exclusive Reliance on ABA

In January, the Texas Supreme Court and Supreme Court of Florida made waves by issuing orders amending their bar admission rules. Under these amendments, instead of bar exam eligibility turning on having attended a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), it now depends on whether one attended a law school approved by the state.

In one sense, these are groundbreaking moves. They signal an important shift away from the deference that had been given to the ABA in almost every state for decades. And after California, Texas and Florida are two of the most populous states in the country. Moreover, the state supreme courts of Ohio and Tennessee have also indicated a willingness to entertain similar moves. Now that Texas and Florida have taken the plunge, there is good reason to believe these states — and possibly others — will follow suit.

On the other hand, it is important to clarify that in the short term, these amendments do not create new licensure opportunities for our students or graduates. The courts have not yet established the processes or criteria by which non-ABA law schools can apply to be added to the states’ approved schools lists. Once those standards are established, Purdue Global Law School would still need to apply and be approved; the timing and outcome of its applications are not guaranteed.

That said, these are still exciting developments. They are further indication that the licensure dam is starting to break. We are optimistic that in the coming years, additional states, and/or the ABA itself, will finally allow our graduates to sit for their bar exams upon graduation. We will, of course, keep you updated when we know more.

Expanding Law Education Access in Indiana

Purdue Global Law School’s online model is helping address Indiana’s shortage of lawyers by expanding access to legal education for working adults and residents in underserved or rural communities, where traditional campus-based programs are less accessible. The flexibility and affordability of the program allow students who might not otherwise attend law school to pursue legal careers while staying in their communities. This approach aims to bolster legal representation in the state’s “legal deserts” by reducing barriers to entry and increasing the number of qualified attorneys practicing locally. Since July 2024, when the Indiana Supreme Court approved a waiver measure that allows our graduates to sit for the state’s bar exam, Purdue Global Law School has seen an enrollment increase of over 700% from Indiana.

Exciting Moot Court Competition Results

This past November, Carlos Cepeda-Ojo (JD '26) and Brian Gatus (JD '25) represented Purdue Global Law School at the 2025 National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Tournament at the University of San Diego School of Law. Competing in six rounds over two days, they advanced to the Quarterfinal Round, ranking in the top 8 of 30 teams, and earned the Fourth Place Brief Award.

Distinguished Speaker Series

Join us for our spring webinar, Nuclear Verdicts: When Jurors Go Wild, with Dr. Ellen Leggett on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 12:00 pm PT (3:00 pm ET). Dr. Leggett is one of the nation’s leading jury trial consultants with more than 35 years of experience. In discussion with Dean Pritikin, Dr. Leggett will share invaluable insights into what captures jurors’ attention, what most often provokes their frustration, and the key factors that drive juries to deliver multi-million — and even billion-dollar — verdicts against defendants. Licensed attorneys may receive 1 CA general Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Credit for attending this webinar. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Learn more, and register to attend.

Thanks, and all the best,

Martin Pritikin
Dean and Vice President
Purdue Global Law School

About the Author

Martin Pritikin, JD

Martin Pritikin serves as Dean and Vice President at Purdue Global Law School (formerly Concord Law School). The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the view of Purdue Global Law School.

Dean's Column