Purdue Global Law School students shine, display legal knowledge during recent competition

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Growing up in the Philippines, Brian Gatus dreamed of pursuing a career in law. However, the father of six said family responsibilities required him to put that ambition on hold — until 2020.

“The pandemic was a turning point, reminding me how quickly life can change and inspiring me to finally pursue my legal aspirations,” Gatus said.

Gatus now lives in Los Angeles, where he serves as head of procurement for a Southern California utility company. He completed his coursework at Purdue Global Law School in December and has plans to sit for the California bar exam in February and participate in commencement ceremonies in May.

Gatus’ turning point in 2020 has led to significant success in his career and educational experience, including a recent national competition he participated in with classmate Carlos Cepeda-Ojo.

Gatus and Cepeda-Ojo represented Purdue Global Law School at the National Criminal Procedure Tournament at the University of San Diego School of Law in November 2025.

The duo secured a top eight finish and earned the fourth place Brief Award. The competition focused on Fourth Amendment law.

Their success exemplifies the level of education, experience and preparation they and other students are receiving at Purdue Global Law School. Theirs was one of 30 teams represented, with Purdue Global Law School being the only fully online law school to participate in the competition.

Proving the quality of an online legal education

Cepeda-Ojo is a third-year law school student who has worked as a paralegal in Renton, Washington, for over 10 years, and has a deep commitment to helping people. While investigating options for a legal education, he discovered that Purdue Global Law School offered the high-quality, flexible education he needed, having been priced out of traditional law schools.

Cepeda-Ojo said success in the moot court competition confirmed his faith in Purdue Global Law School’s online curriculum, noting their achievement proves that nontraditional students can excel, even against conventional law school students.

“This experience really confirmed my expectations of the quality of programs at Purdue Global Law School,” Cepeda-Ojo said. “Our programs are both substantially equivalent and more comprehensive in quality compared to ABA-accredited schools.”

Gatus emphasized how the law school’s rigorous coursework and preparation, spearheaded by their coach, Kelley Mauerman, Purdue Global Law School’s associate dean of experiential learning, was essential to their achievement.

“Moot court stands as the pinnacle of my law school experience,” Gatus said. “The opportunity to represent Purdue Global Law School has been a highlight and a testament to the quality of education and community at Purdue Global Law School.”

A team effort

Mauerman, who has coached moot court teams for over 15 years, praised Gatus and Cepeda-Ojo’s performance, calling it the most impressive display by any of the teams she’s coached. She noted the challenges for the Purdue Global Law School team of having to practice entirely virtually and meeting in person for the first time on the night before the competition.

Gatus and Cepeda-Ojo credit their coach and the dedicated support of the law school’s faculty and leadership, including Martin Pritikin, dean and vice president, and Shaun Jamison, associate dean of academic affairs, who dedicated time to their 13 practice rounds.

For Gatus and Cepeda-Ojo, the tournament was more than a competition — it was a powerful validation of their hard work and dedication.

“This experience has motivated me more than ever to complete my degree and fulfill my goal of becoming licensed in Washington,” Cepeda-Ojo said.

About Purdue Global Law School

Purdue Global Law School is part of Purdue Global, the public, nonprofit, online school for working adults backed by Purdue University. Founded in 1998, Purdue Global Law School was the first to offer students a traditional law school program in an affordable, online format. For more information, please visit PurdueGlobalLawSchool.edu.