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CALIFORNIA LICENSED ATTORNEY, EDUCATION

Michelle Becker, 2011 Graduate

Michelle Becker is a self-described Southern California gal. After graduating in 1991 from the University of California Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in economics, she worked for many years in corporate America including at Phillip Morris USA and as the director of sales for Nature’s Made Vitamins. While working, Michelle went back to school to earn her MBA from the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate School in 1997.

Michelle also adopted twin girls from an orphanage in Romania. “They had development delays and the school districts were not eager to help.” Michelle decided to put the brakes on her career and focus on being an advocate for her daughters.

To fight on their behalf effectively, she decided that she needed a legal education. She looked at a number of traditional law schools in the greater Los Angeles area.

“I compared the coursework of the brick and mortars (to Purdue Global Law School) and all of the basic coursework was the same. Then I looked at the faculty and compared that. I kept coming back to Purdue Global Law School (formerly Concord Law School). From the online presence to the people I spoke with to the curriculum offered to the faculty, it was kind of a no brainer for me,” says Michelle.

She enrolled at Purdue Global Law School in 2006. According to Michelle, going to Purdue Global Law School is a “passion project” for students. “It is not something we are doing because we are pressured by parents or pressured by the need to earn money.”

Michelle graduated from Purdue Global Law School (formerly Concord Law School) in 2011 and passed the California State Bar Exam.

Today, she is special education attorney practicing in southern California fighting for children in the community as well as providing her services pro bono as a court appointed special advocate for children in foster care. She also does pro bono work for the Alliance for Children’s Rights.

“There are many parents out there with kids who are struggling in school. There could be a variety of reasons. However, the only way you know if your kid needs help and requires services from the school is to get kids assessed. Schools are reluctant to do that,” says Michelle.

“All kids deserve a shot. All kids can learn. If the school systems are not going to give them that shot, I will.”