Phillip Bohl Students

Adobe Acrobat Pro and Editing PDFs

We are often asked about a reduced cost or free license for Acrobat Pro for students, faculty and staff.

If you are using a Pepperdine University-owned computer, chances are it already has Acrobat Pro installed according to the University’s site license with Adobe.

If you are not using such a computer (note that the Law Library lab computers and the CDO student computers have Acrobat Pro installed), and you need/want to edit PDFs, you will need to find/install your own PDF editor.

Pepperdine University does not have special pricing for Acrobat Pro for use on a personally-owned computer.

HOWEVER, there is a regular Adobe educational discount that students, faculty, and staff would qualify for. That product is significantly reduced from their regular pricing. 
You can link to the educational pricing for Adobe Acrobat here:  https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pricing/students.html

Note that Adobe has made their entire Creative Cloud product very attractively priced when compared with the price for just Acrobat alone. For just a few dollars more a month you can have access to many more premium products from Adobe. If that isn’t interesting to you… then you will probably want to investigate other solutions…

You should also note that most word processors and other software will output in PDF format.  Granted, that won’t help much when you want to edit or modify PDFs but there are alternatives to Acrobat Pro that may be helpful to you and will be much cheaper.

There is a free service from Adobe called Acrobat online where you must create an account with Adobe to use their “free” software.  We have not tested this but it appears that they will use your Adobe account information to market paid services to you: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/pdf-editor.html

Finally, you may find some success in online guides/websites that review PDF editors. As an example, Toms Guide is a pretty well established site that we refer to now and then.  They have a guide to PDF editors that may be helpful to you if you don’t want to pay for the Acrobat Pro subscription or sign up for Adobe marketing with their “free” offering: https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-pdf-editors

Finally, if you have a Mac, you will find that the built-in product “Preview” is a great tool for annotating your PDFs if that is all you need to do.

Free and discounted software for students: https://lawtech.pepperdine.edu/free-and-discounted-software-for-students/

Clara Keuss Students

Editing Zoom Transcripts

You can learn how to create transcripts in Zoom in our Turn on Zoom Transcripts page. After these transcripts have been created, they can be edited and updated. Please see these instructions on how to edit transcripts.

Sign in to Pepperdine.Zoom.us

Go to pepperdine.zoom.us then click “Sign In.” You will be directed to Pepperdine’s CAS, where you can log in using your Pepperdine credentials.

Click Recordings

On the left-hand navigation menu, click “recordings.” Click the name of the recording you would like to edit. You will see a list of recording files.

To edit the name of the recording, click the pencil icon next to the name, which will allow you to type in a new name.

Click the “play” icon on the recording.

Click the “play” icon in the middle of the recording. This will open up the recording in a diagnostics screen, where you may edit phrases.

Edit your Transcript

There should be a running transcript bar on the side of your video. You can hover over a phrase with your mouse and click edit, allowing you to change the wording of the written transcript.

On the video itself, you can click the “scissors” icon to clip sections of the video.

Note that editing will not affect the original recording, but when students download a recording it will be the full-length version.

To edit, once you have clicked the “scissors” icon shown above, click on the arrows on either end of the video playback range to move them closer or further away. When you click save, the blue section will be set as the new payback range.

IF YOU NEED ANY TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO INFORMATION SERVICES AT (310) 506-7425 OR SUPPORT@LAW.PEPPERDINE.EDU. GOOD LUCK!

Phillip Bohl Services, Students

DO NOT Update your Computer’s operating system before Using ExamSoft Examplify!

There are times over the course of the school year when Microsoft and Apple release updates to their operating systems. Please DO NOT apply these updates immediately if you are planning to use your computer to take mid-term and final exams, because some may not be compatible with ExamSoft.

Please check with this site: lawtech.pepperdine.edu or our vendor’s site: examsoft.com before your update your OS.  If you have questions, please do not hesitate to check in with the support desk in the Harnish Law Library or send an email to support@law.pepperdine.ed

Pepperdine Caruso Law uses a secure exam software to administer exams from ExamSoft.com. This software is sensitive to changes in operating systems because it is designed to ensure a totally secure exam environment.  When there is a change to your OS, ExamSoft may no longer function properly.

If you have a Microsoft Windows computer, Windows 10 is your “OS” or operating system.  If you have an Apple Mac computer, then you are running some variant of macOS (pronounced “mack oh ess”).

Clara Keuss Students

Finding Law Course Emails in Gmail

Each law course has its own unique email address. To find the email linked to your course, please follow the instructions below.

1. Start a New Message in Gmail

To search for an email address, log in to your Pepperdine email server, and then start a new message. In the by line, you will be able to search for an email already in the server.

2. Type in Law number and Course Number

In the to line, type in the law number and course number, and it will auto-populate. For example, typing “law181.01” should generate the email address attached to that course. Make sure you take note of the current semester, and choose the correct semester in the email address.

IF YOU NEED ANY TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO INFORMATION SERVICES AT (310) 506-7425 OR SUPPORT@LAW.PEPPERDINE.EDU. GOOD LUCK!

Clara Keuss Students

Students with Issues Accessing Zoom Through Courses

You may have issues accessing Zoom through Courses, and receive an error page (shown below). If this is the case, follow the instructions on this page to fix the problem.

1. Clear Your Browser Cache

First, you will need to clear browsing data and history. See this post for instructions.

2. Update Chrome

Ensure that your Chrome browser has been updated so that it can run the necessary programs. See this page for instructions.

3. Activate Zoom

Next, activate your Zoom account by following these instructions.

4. Reboot Your Computer

After following steps 1-3, reboot your computer to refresh all pages and save your work.

5. Try Courses Again

Now, go ahead and try accessing Zoom from the Courses page again. If you still have issues accessing, please contact the IS desk using the information below.

IF YOU NEED ANY TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO INFORMATION SERVICES AT (310) 506-7425 OR SUPPORT@LAW.PEPPERDINE.EDU. GOOD LUCK!

Phillip Bohl Students

Tablets in Law School? Not So Much.

While the tablet revolution is changing the way many people think about computing and has turned upside down many aspects of how companies deliver services, these changes have not fully made it into the law school experience.

It’s true that with a keyboard, a tablet can be a great tool for typing, even outlining in a law school class but a tablet still is not a system that is supported for computer-based examinations here at Caruso Law.

At Caruso Law, students are not required to use a computer for exams but we do encourage it and you will find that we use the same system that the California Bar Exam uses (as well as many other state jurisdictions).

The iPad, Android Tablets, and any other tablet-based systems are strongly discouraged for law students as a primary computing platform.

It is our intention to guide law students toward the best possible computing experience during their time in law school. As a law student you have a significant challenge in front of you (law school).  Because of the intense nature of the law school experience you should have the best computer suited for your needs.  This is not to say that you should not own a tablet at all, rather feel free to add a tablet to your stable of tools that includes a reliable laptop.

When taking notes in class, preparing outlines for study, drafting documents, and especially when taking exams, law students should have a reliable laptop computer. Tablet systems have come a long way but are not supported for the administration of exams at Pepperdine University School of Law.

Law students are strongly encouraged to acquire and maintain a reliable laptop computer while in law school.  Use of a tablet system (iOS, Android, Windows RT on an MS Surface (cheap but ancient and not supported anywhere anymore)) is strongly discouraged and is not supported for exam administrations.

David Dickens Faculty, Pedagogy Tips, Resources, Services, Students, The Basics

CALI Lessons

CALI Lessons IconCALI [The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction] is a  resource provided by Pepperdine School of Law for students that includes over 1,000+ interactive online tutorials written by law professors, on 50+ subject areas. This includes, but is not limited to topics such as, 1L-First Year Lessons, 2L-3L Upper Level Lessons, Administrative Law, Tax Law, Constitutional Law, Legal Research, Property Law, Civil Procedure, and Environmental Law. These interactive tutorials are an excellent resource to enhance your studies. You may find that one or more of your professors will require you to use CALI lessons in the course of your studies.

CALI Registration Code: In order to take advantage of the CALI interactive online tutorials, you will need to register with the CALI service.  You will need the institutional registration code to do so. The Pepperdine School of Law CALI registration code is available in the Law Library at the Computing Support Desk at the Public Services Desk or you can send an email requesting the registration code to CALI-INFO@law.pepperdine.edu.

Quick Start:  Once you have your registration completed using the above referenced code, you may find this Quick Start Guide helpful.

CALI also provides additional services including (but not limited to):eLangdell Icon

  • eLangdell: Free eBooks for Legal Education – before purchasing textbooks, consider checking out this resource to see if your textbook is available for free.
  • Classcaster: Free blogging and podcasting tools/network designed for law professors to supplement their course materials and link them to other colleagues around the country.

HOTMAIL Banned: As of August 22, 2012 the CALI organization has banned Hotmail Email Accounts due to a large number of spam issues. If you used a Hotmail Email Account to log in to CALI you have the following two options:

(1) Send an email to webmaster@CALI.org with your name and a non-Hotmail email address that you wish to use with your CALI account.  The switch over will have to be done manually, so it’s entirely foreseeable that the process may get clogged up. If you want instant gratification and access….

(2) Create a new account using a non-Hotmail email address.  Please note, if you do choose this option, you will lose all access to previous lesson run information. You will also need to obtain a valid authorization code. Speak with someone at the Computing Support Desk at the Public Services Desk for this information.

Phillip Bohl Faculty, Students

Law School Computer/Technology Recommendations

If you are just starting out at Law School, or heading back to school and looking to upgrade your system, please review the below information before purchasing your new laptop!

Nearly all Pepperdine Caruso Law Students use laptops for class, exams, and homework. While laptops are not required, they can be a very valuable tool in law school.  The following recommendations take into account services and applications that are often used in conjunction with Caruso Law classes and other curricular and extra curricular activities.

The Information Services team at Caruso Law provides assistance in configuring your laptop for the network. Please think very carefully before choosing a laptop brand or other hardware/software choice outside the recommended list, as you may be limiting your potential sources of support.

As a law student your laptop computer is a key tool.  Please keep this in mind as you think about how you will use it, the software you install on it, the websites you visit with it, the files/attachments you choose to download and where you store it when you are not using it.  You will want it to be functioning at optimum levels.  Theft, drops, malware, and other untoward variables will detract from your laptop’s ability to help you succeed in law school.

Below are the minimum Computer/Technology Recommendations:

  • Internet: Strongly recommend a rock solid internet connection with a minimum 20 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up.  This exceeds the minimum requirements for synchronous Zoom sessions (the absolute minimum is 600 kbps in both directions while recommended minimum is 1.5 mbps) but note that if you share your internet connection you will need more bandwidth to ensure a reliable, continuous connection.  Also please note that the age of your hardware (router, modem, cabling, computer) will play a significant role in reliability.
  • Manufacturer/Model: Dell Latitude Series/Apple MacBook Pro or MacBook Air
  • Display: Minimum 11” screen – for improved readability, consider 13” or larger
  • Operating System: Windows 10 /OS X 10.15 or better
  • Processor: Intel i5 Processor or faster (or equivalent AMD)
  • RAM: 12GB – 16GB is recommended
  • Solid State Drive (SSD): 120GB or higher
  • Integrated WiFi or WiFi adapter: Newer is often if not always better
  • Media Drives: None necessary
  • Battery Life: 4-6 hours, much longer is much better.  MORE UP TIME.
  • Spare Laptop Charger: If you plan to bring your laptop with you, keep one for home and one for travel.  If you lose one you have a spare.  NO DOWN TIME.
  • Warranty: 3 year parts/on-site labor. LESS DOWN TIME.
  • Security Lock: Don’t ever walk away from your laptop if it isn’t secured.  LESS DOWN TIME
  • Malware Protection Software: Make sure you have Anti-Malware installed.  Use the firewall that is build into your computer’s operating system.  MORE UP TIME.
  • Personal Printer: We strongly recommend HP Printers with an extra toner cartridge.  NO DOWN TIME.

The Dell Latitude series is designed for a professional enterprise user and is not what you will find in a consumer-focused retail store.  We have found these systems to be very reliable and strongly recommend them to both students and faculty for their personal computing needs.  This recommendation is not meant to dissuade you from other manufacturers or even other lines of Dell computers, however, we know this line to be a great fit for a law student who needs a solid, reliable system for three years of challenging work (plus the Bar exam).

We do not recommend tablet-based systems. Nor do we recommend netbooks or Chromebooks.  You are certainly welcome to buy them but we don’t believe they will meet your needs in law school. Essentially, you can bring any device you want to law school. However, if you want to take exams and keep pace with the challenges of law school, you should purchase a high-quality, business class laptop, not a cheap off-brand version found on sale at a big box retailer. Remember, you want a system that is reliable and will last you through completing the BAR exam. You don’t want a machine that may crash in the middle of an exam!

MacBook ProThe Pepperdine University Computer Store (an online referral site) offers generous discounts to Pepperdine University students on software (MS Office is no cost to Pepperdine students and employees) and hardware. These discounts are often more than the typical education discounts that you will find online. The Computer Store can be accessed 24/7 online.

For purchasing as an enrolled Pepperdine student, please visit the Pepperdine University IT Department’s discounts for students web page or call Pepperdine University Tech Central at (310) 506-4811.

Please note that using a computer on the University network requires that you agree to the University Computer and Network Usage policy.

Phillip Bohl About Us, Students, The Basics

Security: Protect Your Laptop and Yourself!

sophosbadgeViruses, worms, ad-ware and spyware, and theft, are examples of SEVERE risks to your computer in a public, networked environment. You MUST PERFORM THE STEPS LISTED BELOW if you wish to use your computer at Pepperdine or you could face repercussions including loss of network access, data loss, and system failure.

  1. Maintain up-to-date virus protection software on your computer. The University’s IT department supports Sophos for faculty and staff. For students, University IT recommends Microsoft Defender (no cost) for Windows and Sophos AntiVirus for Macs (home version, no cost).
  2. Regularly install all Critical Updates from http://update.microsoft.com. You should begin checking Microsoft Update constantly, starting now. You can also configure your Windows computer to check automatically for updates every time you connect to the Internet. NOTE: if you have a Mac, you will want to check with ExamSoft before updating your Mac’s operating system because of the potential for conflicts with Examplify — causing you problems with taking your exams on your computer.
  3. Keep your browser up to date! A great browser-based tool for checking how current your web-related tools are is Qualys Browser Check.
  4. Keep your computer’s operating system and office products up-to-date
  5. Do not install peer-to-peer file-sharing software or other high-risk programs. Attempt to eliminate any programs that might already be installed by running a spyware/adware removal product such as Spybot Search & Destroy or Ad-aware.
  6. Buy and use a computer security cable for your computer to lock it down when it is not attended. (Alarm-equipped cables are NOT recommended.) We highly recommend that you never leave your belongings alone, especially in quiet areas like the Law Library, as the School of Law is open to the public. Kensington has a website that will help you find a security cable that was made for your laptop. Note that there are currently at least three different kinds of security cable ports on laptops today so you’ll want to pay attention and select the one that fits your laptop. (Pepperdine Caruso Law does not endorse or recommend Kensington locking cables to the exclusion of other  similar solutions, however we have had very positive experience with Kensington security cables for over two decades and find that their products are reliable).
  7. Do not click on links in unsolicited email messages.
  8. Do not open an email attachment unless you are expecting it or have checked with the sender.