Online Law Student Profiles

‘You can always learn more’

Karen Ware believes it’s always good to keep an open mind and that you can always learn more. That would explain why she holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, a JD, an MBA, and is currently pursuing an online Master of Laws (LLM) in Dispute Resolution degree at Pepperdine. Over the years, working as an in-house lawyer for large corporations, she became more interested in mediation and arbitration, and felt she needed additional education in those areas.

“While I was aware of all these things and had touchpoints about all of these dispute resolution mechanisms, I definitely needed to learn more substantively as well as the emotional aspect of it, too.”

A forward-looking approach to dispute resolution

In her current role, Karen heads up a team of intellectual property lawyers. She has noticed a shift from a lot of IP litigation to more arbitration, and she would like to see more mediation that isn’t court-mandated. This forward-thinking approach is what drew her to the LLM program. 

“There’s got to be a better way than just spending tens of millions of dollars on these litigation matters. Some of them could come to a better outcome sooner without spending as much money.”

Attracted by Pepperdine’s reputation and values

To Karen, the LLM program at Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law stood out from other online programs because of the school’s mission and values. In her legal career she has been confronted many times with people and companies that are cutthroat and push back against making legal and/or ethical choices. 

“On top of rankings and reputation, I really loved what the school stands for. I wanted a place where they value ethics and value the right way to do things.”

Shaking up the status quo

Her classmates in the LLM program come from all sorts of backgrounds, fields, and countries. They include lawyers, non-lawyers, and people of all different ages. For Karen, who has been in the same job for almost 10 years, it’s been eye-opening to see other ways of thinking and doing. 

“I think it’s valuable to be exposed to that diverse network often. I think it helps us all be better.”

“Pepperdine University’s Master of Laws (LLM) in International Commercial Arbitration immediately stood out during my academic search as the ideal program to align with my professional goals. As a sitting Judge, my primary objective was to enhance my dispute resolution capabilities within the specialized field of commercial law. The program’s premier global ranking, combined with the university's low student-to-faculty ratio, ensured a closer, collaborative learning environment where I could engage deeply with Professors. Furthermore, the campus's exceptional location overlooking Malibu Beach provides an inspiring and conducive environment for rigorous, high-level Study. 

My experience at Pepperdine was tremendously rewarding and transformational. The courses prioritized practical exercises designed to develop real-world skill sets. Beyond the classroom, I had the opportunity to attend key professional programs, including a workshop organized by the Southern California Mediation Association and the 19th Fordham Conference on International Arbitration and Mediation in New York (November 2024). Additionally, I had the privilege of completing an externship with
Professor Jack Coe Jr., a leading U.S. International Arbitrator, where I conducted foundational research for a sourcebook on Investor-State Mediation. The University is a uniquely small commnunity with incredible opportunities to network and blend with fellow students and Faculty. The University has a wide range of academic and socio- cultural student organizations which offered me as an international student a platform for interaction and a structured exploration of the American culture and environment. The program has exponentially advanced my career and enabled me to drive meaningful judicial reform. While I am currently stationed in the Criminal Division, I have actively applied my mediation skills to conduct sessions in the Civil Division, significantly accelerating access to justice and reducing the case backlog. Furthermore, I was honored to be designated by the Honorable Chief Justice as the Coordinator of the Malawi-Pepperdine University partnership, aimed at advancing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms nationwide.

In this capacity, I also head the Task Team on the Implementation of Plea Bargaining. Under my leadership, the Task Team recently facilitated the issuance of Practice Direction No. 1 of 2026, by the Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi, a milestone framework enabling the criminal justice system to utilize plea bargaining effectively to expedite justice and decongest prisons. So far, the Malawi Judiciary in collaboration with Criminal Justice stakeholders has used this Practice Direction to conduct camp courts at Lilongwe and Zomba Central Prisons, resulting in the disposal of about 48 cases. Additionally, I have expanded my impact to academia, serving as an Adjunct Lecturer at Mzuzu University, where I instruct in International Law and related courses.”

A Crossroad

Philadelphia native Ted Gavin found himself at a crossroads in 2018. For 23 years, he had been working to help turn around distressed companies. He was nearing the end of his term as president of the American Bankruptcy Institute, and he and his wife had decided to relocate to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. 

“I had always wanted to go to law school, and I was running out of time and excuses not to. So when I saw an ad for the Master of Legal Studies program at Pepperdine, I was intrigued. It fulfills an education need that I would like to have and also a future need for how I want my career to continue to develop.”

Gaining Legal Expertise and Credibility

Ted started the MLS program with a concentration in dispute resolution, and when Pepperdine Caruso School of Law began offering the MLS/MDR dual degree program, he decided that was the best path for him.

“I would like to add mediation to the list of things that I do, and so having a law degree and a formal legal background was something that I felt was necessary to have credibility in that market. I’m well known in my professional space, but I’m not an attorney and most of my referrals come from attorneys.” 

The Fantastic Experience of In-Person Residency

In his second MLS residency on Pepperdine’s campus, Ted participated in a mock mediation in which students played roles in a large commercial litigation. Rather than lean on his extensive experience as an expert witness, Ted pushed himself to try the opposing role and argue summary judgment for the insurance company. He loved every minute of it.

“I enjoyed working with the students to help build their confidence in things that I did every day for work, and I enjoyed building the case, building the narrative, getting up and doing the oral argument and dealing with the questions. It was just a fantastic experience. Nothing is as good as being in the same physical room with your cohort and to have that experience with the faculty.”

Lasting Connections with Faculty

As an online student, Ted developed strong relationships with the law school faculty, in part thanks to his residencies. In fact, he hired his contracts professor to represent him on a work project because of his expertise in entertainment law, and Ted has referred cases and gotten referrals from the professor who coached him in his second MLS residency. 

“With any educational experience, you get out of it what you put into it. I had the benefit of engaged professors, and I’m an engaged student, and you make those connections and those connections last.”

Pursuing Her Third Master’s at Pepperdine

Bonnie Dubier has lived all over the U.S., moving from state to state with her minister parents growing up. She started her career in marketing and advertising and worked as a theater actress before landing in Newport, North Carolina, 18 years ago, where she currently works in criminal defense. She is enrolled in Pepperdine’s online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) and the Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) programs, and is also pursuing her MBA.

“I’m really grateful for Pepperdine’s staff that does all of the informational sessions and recruits students to the programs because they’re very persistent. They don’t give up on you, they make sure you get your application in by the deadline, and because of that, I am now on to degree number three.”

Clarifying Her Future Career Path

At a crossroads a few years ago, Bonnie got her paralegal technology degree. Everyone told her she should become a lawyer, but at her stage of life—married with kids—relocating to attend law school wasn’t an option. Then she found Pepperdine’s online MLS program.

“It was meant to be. The program gave me insight into what I want to do, and it clarified for me what I don’t want to do, and that was probably the biggest thing I took away from it.” 

Unexpected Applications

Bonnie found that her classes were so interesting, she just kept going, enrolling in the MDR program as well. The curriculum is directly applicable to her work with clients from different backgrounds and cultures, as well as in building business relationships. She also discovered an unexpected personal benefit: learning to better communicate with her sons, both of whom are on the autism spectrum.

“I did my final project on that in the Psychology of Conflict class, and it’s been just a complete 180 in dealing with my kids. It’s taught me so many techniques and skills to communicate with them effectively.”

A Changed Person

To any prospective students considering the online MLS, MDR, or MBA, Bonnie would say that if she can do it, anyone can do it. Considered a “misfit” for a long time, she says her experience in the programs have changed her as a person. Bonnie was selected by a school committee made up of faculty to give the commencement speech at graduation last January. 

“It was so amazing to get that honor, and I’m so thankful for Pepperdine. I am where I am today because of Pepperdine.”

Why did you decide to pursue an MLS?

“I decided to further my education at Pepperdine so that I may be able to help people in their time of need. Pepperdine has given me the skills to handle many complex litigation issues.”

Why did you choose this online program over other programs?

“I chose Pepperdine for its core values and beliefs. Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values. I enjoy being at a university where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.”

What surprised you most about the online learning experience?

“In the beginning, I was not optimistic about being a part of online courses. I feared that I would have countless issues with technology and would have no way to fix them, but Pepperdine has been there to help every step along the way. Not to mention, there have not been any real problems.”

What has been your favorite class so far and why?

“My favorite course in the program thus far has been Constitutional Law. Learning how a document can be alive and always changing has really grown my appreciation for it.”

Do you have any advice for prospective students?

“I would recommend that every student reach out to their professors and tell them their goals and how they can help them accomplish them.”

A lifelong love of learning and the law

While Rachel Sile is from northern Virginia and works in Washington, D.C., she lived on the West Coast for many years when she was in the Marine Corps. Driving up and down Route 1, she would often see Pepperdine’s campus. Today, she works for the administration offices of the U.S. Court System as a technology business management analyst, and previously worked in cybersecurity. As someone who has always loved learning and considered law school, Rachel sought out an advanced degree program that suited her interests.

“I gravitated toward Pepperdine because of the full depth and breadth of law in general and not just a specific niche. I liked the idea of being expansive in my personal life as well as my professional life.” 

Looking ahead to the second half of her life’s journey

Rachel had started an MBA program elsewhere but had to put it on hold to devote her attention elsewhere for a while. Given her stage of life, she began rethinking what she wanted from a master’s program. She and her husband were now empty-nesters, and learning how to navigate through the terminology of wills and estates seemed more practical than taking only business courses.

“My husband is going to be retiring in eight years and I get to start a second career, so enrolling in the MLS program was an opportunity for me to explore some things I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in the second half of my journey.”

A better grasp of writing and her customer base

Both Rachel and her employer have already reaped the rewards of her ongoing education. In particular, Rachel cites her Legal Writing for Non-Lawyers course with teaching her—an IT person—how to write and learning how to translate her colleagues’ procurement requests or labor requirements into what’s needed for the judiciary as a whole. 

“I have a much more profound understanding of my customer base and what my customers have to go through in order to get things done to fulfill the mission of the judiciary, which is equal justice under the law, and so I’ve been able to take and refine the work that we do in order to procure things into much more sound legal documents.”

Challenging, but in a good way

Though it’s hard for her to pick favorites, Rachel especially enjoyed Intro to U.S. Law and Constitutional Law. She has found some classes to be extremely challenging, but in a good way. And she can’t say enough about the MLS faculty.

“The professors have been amazing. I haven’t had a bad professor. I’m actually finishing up a Ph.D. application—I’m going to continue on because I love the legal field now so much—and I’ve had professors offer to write me a recommendation.”

“This program has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of dispute resolution and the power of productive communication. My experience at Pepperdine has given me the confidence and skills to be an effective problem solver in my career.”