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THE MISSION
For nearly 30 years, I have had the pleasure of serving
as a professor, associate dean and now dean of
Cumberland School of Law. I have come to know the school
and its long history of achievements, the most
important of which is its proven ability to train students
to become successful, practicing lawyers dedicated to
serving their clients and their community.
of Cumberland School of Law is to educate
a diverse community of students with knowledge
and practical skills, equipping them to become
highly competent, ethical lawyers committed to
professionalism and public service.
I often describe the law school as an unusually sane and humane place to study law. It is that and a great
deal more. At Cumberland School of Law, we take legal theory and scholarship very seriously, but we
recognize that practicing law entails application of the law to benefit people and business. Our mission,
therefore, has always been to equip students with the knowledge and skills to be competent, effective and
ethical lawyers upon graduation. As the demands and needs of law practice evolve, we work vigilantly to
stay attuned to the needs of legal employers and to assure that our graduates have the tools to excel in
21st-century practice.
You will discover as I have that this is a special community. The student body is collegial and supportive
in a way not usually encountered in law schools. Faculty are not only exceptional teachers and respected
scholars, but they also care deeply about their students and cultivate personal interaction with them.
As you make your decision about where to attend law school, I invite you to visit, attend some classes and
speak to our students. A campus visit is the best way to fully understand the benefits of a Cumberland
School of Law education. The admission staff stands ready to facilitate your visit or to assist you in any
way they can.
Henry C. “Corky” Strickland
Dean and Ethel P. Malugen Professor of Law
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CONTENTS
18-21
EXTERNSHIPS, PRO BONO
WORK AND PUBLIC SERVICE
8
FIRST-YEAR
CURRICULUM
11
SECOND- AND
24
CAREER
PREPARATION
THIRD-YEAR CURRICULUM
16
ADVOCACY TRANING
23
INTERNATIONAL STUDY
28
FACULTY
Produced by Samford Office of Marketing and Communication
Samford University complies with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination, including applicable provisions of and amendments to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act, Executive Order 11246, Title IX of the ­Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act, the Age Discrimination Act of
1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in admission or access to,
or treatment or employment in, its programs or services. Inquiries and concerns regarding this policy may be directed to the vice president for business affairs or general counsel, Office of Business and Financial Affairs,
200 Samford Hall, Birmingham, AL 35229, 205-726-2811. This notice is available in alternative formats upon request. Inquiries and concerns regarding this policy may be directed to the vice president for business affairs
or general counsel, Office of Business Affairs, 200 Samford Hall, Birmingham, AL 35229, 205-726-2811. This notice is available in alternative formats upon request.
Information in this admissions prospectus was compiled originally for fall 2015. This prospectus is published on a three-year term. The first draft was published fall 2015. Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law
reserves the right to revise, amend or change items set forth in this admission prospectus from time to time. Accordingly, readers should inquire as to whether such revisions, amendments or changes have been made
since the date of publication. Such revisions, amendments or changes may include, but are not limited to, the right to modify the requirements for admission or graduation, to change tuition, to modify or cancel course
offerings, to set minimum and maximum class sizes, to change designated instructions in courses, to change casebooks used, to alter regulations affecting the student body, to dismiss or drop from the law school any
student at any time, if such change is deemed in the best interest of the law school or the student.
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40 APPLICATION AND FINANCIAL AID
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Established in 1847, Cumberland School of Law is one of the oldest law
schools in the country. We equip future lawyers with knowledge of the law and valuable
skills in a supportive environment where every student is valued. Originally located in
Lebanon, Tennessee, the school was founded by Judge Abraham Caruthers, an innovator
in legal education. In a time when legal study was conducted by apprenticeship or through
lectures, the law school pioneered an instructional method based on intensive trial
practice. Today, our curriculum and approach continue to break new ground with our use
of technology, success in law competitions and creation of specialized centers that meet the
needs of our community.
Widely acclaimed as
one of the nation’s
finest program
in trial advocacy
Close-knit,
supportive
community
WHERE GOOD PEOPLE BECOME
Eight joint-degree
programs, which
can be completed in
three years
Real-world
experience through
externships, pro bono
opportunities,
student organizations
and law competitions
Personalized
instruction and mentoring
by respected and
successful faculty
members
More than 8,300
accomplished alumni
in 48 states and
around the world
Learn more: samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/by-the-numbers
EXCEPTIONAL LAWYERS
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1 ST – YEAR CURRICULUM
During your first year at Cumberland School of Law, you
will examine fundamental legal concepts applicable to all
areas of practice, with an emphasis on legal analysis, legal
writing, research and lawyering skills.
First-year Requirements—Fall
First-year Requirements—Spring
Course
Credit hours
Civil Procedure I.............................2
Contracts I....................................3
Torts............................................4
Criminal Law.................................3
Lawyering and Legal Reasoning I.........3
Total...........................................15
Course
Credit hours
Civil Procedure II............................3
Contracts II...................................2
Real Property.................................4
Evidence.......................................3
Lawyering and Legal Reasoning II........3
Total...........................................15
EMPLOYERS REPORT THAT CUMBERLAND
SCHOOL OF LAW GRADUATES ARE GIVEN MORE
RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR FIRST JOBS THAN
THEIR COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE ATTENDED OTHER LAW
SCHOOLS. THIS SUCCESS IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRACTICAL SKILLS
TRAINING GAINED IN OUR LLR AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS.
Lawyering and Legal Reasoning
Lawyering and Legal Reasoning (LLR), unique to Cumberland School of Law, provides you with immediate,
hands-on, practical experience in basic lawyering skills. First-year students are divided into “law firms” with
faculty members serving as senior partners. You will work on a case that involves client interviews, writing
legal memoranda, negotiating with opposing counsel, drafting settlement agreements, conducting discovery
through interrogatories, drafting a motion for summary judgment and presenting the motion to a trial court
judge, writing an appellate brief, and presenting an oral argument to an appellate panel.
During LLR, you will learn to research, write, speak and—
most importantly—think like a lawyer.
First-year Summer Courses
First-year Summer Courses give you the opportunity to take two introductory courses for a total of
five hours of credit. This early introduction to law school will enable you to establish friendships,
study habits and relationships with professors in a smaller, more relaxed environment. Students
participating in the summer program praise their “readiness quotient” to tackle a full course load in
the fall.
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2 ND –
and
3 RD – YEAR CURRICULUM
As a second- and third-year student, you will take 15–16 credit
hours each fall and spring semester. We offer courses in the following specialized areas:
Business and Commercial Law • Entertainment Law • Environmental Law • Family Law and Estate Planning
Health Law • Intellectual Property • International Law • Litigation • Public Law • Skills Development • Taxation
Advocacy training is a cornerstone of our curriculum.
You will take practical skills courses with approximately 12 other students in the following:
Negotiation • Mediation • Case preparation • Trial evidence/jury selection • Technology use
Direct examination • Cross examination • Expert witnesses • Closing arguments
Second-year Requirement—Fall
Second- or Third-year Requirements
Course
Credit hours
Constitutional Law................................2
Course
Credit hours
Business Organizations...........................4
Wills, Trusts and Estates..........................3
Payment Systems or Secured Transactions....3
Professional Responsibility.......................2
Total................................................ 12
Second-year Requirement—Spring
Constitutional Law II.............................3
After attaining 30 credit hours, you will complete a writing requirement and a professional skills course in business
drafting, basic skills in trial advocacy, negotiation, advanced skills in trial advocacy, mediator practice, appellate
­advocacy, advanced appellate advocacy, pretrial practice, law office practice and management, health law transactions,
or estate and trust administration.
CARUTHERS FELLOWS ARE SECOND- AND
THIRD-YEAR STUDENTS SELECTED BY FACULTY TO SERVE AS MENTORS
TO FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS.
Joint-degree Programs
To help you broaden your perspective and prepare for a career in a specialized field,
Cumberland School of Law offers eight joint-degree programs:
Juris Doctor/Master of Accountancy
Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health
Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Theological Studies
Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Bioethics
Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration
Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Environmental
Juris Doctor/Master of Divinity
Management
Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration
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WHERE YOU EARN YOUR LAW DEGREE MATTERS
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Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library
• More than 200,000 shelved volumes, 96,000 on microfiche; contains all federal and state judicial opinions and statutory codes
• Law reviews from every American law school, the Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations, United States Hearings and Reports, and selected foreign common law rulings
• Designed to accommodate private study and discussion: 13
conference rooms, 474 study spaces, carrels with electrical
connections, long tables and comfortable seating
CUMBERLAND
SCHOOL OF LAW
FACILITIES
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John L. Carroll Moot Courtroom
• Features a 50-inch mobile display with annotation overlay and a
document camera for displaying hard-copy and 3D objects
• Used for guest speakers, award ceremonies, mock trials,
continuing legal education and
class meetings
• Seats nearly 200 people
Cumberland School of Law’s
eDiscovery Institute and Review
Center, located in Lucille Beeson
Law Library, provides students and faculty
unmatched opportunities to engage with
and understand the role
of technology in the legal system.
Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton
Advanced Advocacy Courtroom
• Features a 60-inch display with annotation overlay and a document camera
• Students can display content from notebook computers, interact with and annotate the information via the display
Trial Courtroom
• Used for mock trials and classes
• Equipped with smart boards for presentation, a computerized
projection and sound system, digital video and a plasma television
• Seats 66 people
All three courtrooms are used for the simulation trial final exam of the
Advanced Skills in Trial Advocacy course. It is common to find students in
advocacy skills with other students and coaches after hours.
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The law school’s comprehensive approach to advocacy training
teaches you to think strategically and tactically, in and outside the
courtroom. You can participate in trial and appellate advocacy competitions in your first year.
Courses are offered for every aspect of advocacy: mediation, negotiation, drafting, complex litigation and
client counseling.
ADVOCACY
TRAINING
A CUMBERLAND
SCHOOL OF LAW
FOUNDATION
Beyond your first year, your may take courses in scientific and advanced evidence, complex litigation, mediation and
negotiation, and legal drafting. These skills courses are limited to as few as eight students, ensuring your personalized
instruction. Students who successfully complete a prescribed curriculum can earn a certificate in trial advocacy.
Alabama state law allows third-year students to handle real cases under supervision.
Trial Advocacy Opportunities
At Cumberland School of Law, you have opportunities for realistic jury trial training above and beyond most law
schools. In the entry-level trial advocacy course, you will master the basics of each component of a trial. A full-time
faculty member will teach you how to perform each skill. Outstanding guest attorneys will provide you with real-world
demonstrations. Extensive, weekly hands-on exercises will allow you to practice and perform these skills until you master
them through bench and jury trials.
Do you want to take your trial skills to the next level and incorporate the latest courtroom technologies? The Advanced
Skills in Trial Advocacy is the ultimate in realistic trial skills training and culminates in a jury trial before a real judge
and jury of local citizens. Everything in this course is as realistic as possible, including direct and cross-examinations of
witnesses, physicians, law enforcement agents, forensic scientists, document examiners and arson experts. In the final
trial, you will use technology to present evidence and will watch juror deliberations via cameras.
Our comprehensive approach to advocacy training has led to rankings year after year as
one of the top 10 law schools in the country for trial advocacy.
Trial Advocacy Competitions
Our advocacy training includes our exceptional advocacy competition program. Beginning in your second semester, you
may compete in various school-sponsored trial, appellate and other competitions. As a second- or third-year student,
you may try out for teams that represent the law school at competitions throughout the country.
Cumberland School of Law is one of only a few law schools where students run intramural advocacy competitions. The
Trial Advocacy Board and the Henry Upson Sims Moot Court Board oversee the student-run intramural competitions.
Both boards have a chief judge, executive officers and members. The executive officers are responsible for scheduling,
recruiting judges, problem selection and distribution, rules, and score tabulation. Board members judge preliminary
rounds. The final rounds are judged by local attorneys and judges. Winners are eligible to represent Cumberland School
of Law in national trial, appellate and alternative dispute competitions.
Cumberland School of Law’s tremendous success at local, regional and national
competitions has contributed to our top ranking for trial advocacy.
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Cumberland School of Law Externship Opportunities
Corporate Externship I and II
Judicial Observation
Corporate legal offices, banking, construction, health, real These placements are in the office of a state court judge.
estate and patent offices participate in this program.
Students are required to work a minimum of 56 hours and
submit the following written work: a statement of goals at
the beginning of the semester, a weekly report of hours with
Externship I
Students enrolled in any externship for the first time must narrative description of activities, submission of a research
also enroll in this class component, which meets one hour paper and a reflective essay.
OUR STUDENTS LEARN
BY DOING
Birmingham, Alabama, is home to a thriving legal community with
more than 5,000 practicing attorneys, federal and state courts,
and government agencies. Externships allow you to work with
experienced lawyers and to apply what you have learned. These
opportunities provide a firsthand view of a particular area of
practice. You can enhance your advocacy skills through real-world
practice in prosecutor’s offices, legal services programs, judge’s
chambers and numerous other positions. Networking for future
career options is also a vital aspect of these experiences.
Externships are open to all second- and third-year students. Every student who wants an
externship has the opportunity to participate. Students work 120 hours during a semester
and receive two credit hours.
each week to address substantive topics such as negotiation,
trial and other lawyering skills; professionalism and ethical Litigation Externship I and II
issues; communication with supervisors and clients; work- Students may be placed in the district attorney’s office,
place problems; and other issues applicable to all externs. public defender’s office, Legal Aid Society and Legal
Services of Metro Birmingham. Some of these placements
Government Agency Externship I and II
require students to be certified under the Alabama Rule
Placements include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Internal
for Legal Internship and to have successfully completed the
Revenue Service, National Labor Relations Board and the Basic Skills in Trial Advocacy course.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Judicial Externship I and II
To be eligible for an externship with a federal judge,
­students must be on the American Journal of Trial Advocacy,
­Cumberland Law Review or have other evidence of superior
writing skills. Many judges and magistrate judges in the
Northern District of Alabama participate in this program.
Public Interest Externship I and II
Organizations such as the Coalition Against Violence,
Birmingham Volunteer Lawyer Program and the YWCA
Domestic Violence Clinic participate in this program.
Summer Externships
In addition to the offices listed above, the Office of Clinical Education also works with students to secure externships
outside the Birmingham area, helping them to network and broaden their experience in their field of interest.
Previous summer externships have included placement at the following:
• The United Nations
• The Hague
• Department of Justice, Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• University of Ohio, Athletics Compliance
• San Francisco Bay Keepers
• Solo practitioners and small law firms across the country
• Judge Advocate General’s Office
• Offices of attorneys general, states attorneys’ offices, public defenders’ offices and federal judges’ offices across 18 · CUMBERLAND SCHOOL OF LAW
the country
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OUR STUDENTS LEARN
BY DOING
GOOD
Public Service/Pro Bono Opportunities at
Cumberland School of Law
Help the Homeless Program
Help the Homeless Program is a partnership between Cumberland School of Law and the law firm of Baker Donelson.
Students research and answer questions as assigned by attorneys at weekly clinics for the homeless community. In
addition, students and attorneys hold attorney-for-the-day programs at District Court, where pro se litigants (selfrepresenting parties) can ask questions.
Pro Bono Week
Cumberland School of Law is an original partner with the Alabama State Bar taskforce in establishing Pro Bono Week
throughout the state. Law school representatives have chaired the Pro Bono Week Committee, and the school continues
to take a large leadership role. The law school hosts free clinics during the week, including wills and general needs
clinics that serve more than 100 people. Law students are paired with attorneys to perform legal work and act as witnesses
to documents.
Project Homeless Connect
Project Homeless Connect is held each spring for more than 1,000 people seeking assistance. Law students work with
attorneys to help local residents clear up outstanding warrants or legal problems.
20 · CUMBERLAND SCHOOL OF LAW
Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program
This fellowship program provides stipends to students who volunteer time at a public interest, government or nonprofit
entity. Students can work anywhere in the country as long as they work 6–12 weeks in jobs that require legal skills.
Other Opportunities to Get Involved
Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education
The Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education is dedicated to educating young citizens in the areas of civic
knowledge, skills and responsibilities. It is a nationally recognized resource and training center for teachers, school
resource officers and community leaders. There are two programs in which Cumberland School of Law students can get
involved: We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution and Cumberland Street Law.
Center for Children, Law and Ethics
The Center for Children, Law and Ethics produces influential scholarship, projects and advice on children’s issues.
Activities include advocating for children and families, consulting on best practices concerning children, training
­tomorrow’s child advocates, producing cutting-edge scholarship and media on children’s issues, and proposing policy
and practice changes that will benefit children and families. The center combines the interest and involvement of
­students; local, national and international advisers; and the well-known scholarship of professor David Smolin.
Cumberland Community Mediation Center
Established in 2005, the Cumberland Community Mediation Center offers free, confidential meditation to all
­communities surrounding the law school. The center’s cases come from Alabama’s largest county court system, J­ efferson
County, including Circuit Court, Family Court, District Court and Small Claims Court. On average, the center
­performs at least six mediations a month.
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INTERNATIONAL
STUDY
Cumberland School of Law offers opportunities for students to
study abroad, and for non-U.S. students to study on Samford
University’s campus. Students gain an international perspective by
studying and living in a legal system and culture different from their
own. These programs also enhance the international perspective
of host students by bringing students from other nations to
campus.
NORWICH, ENGLAND
Under a cooperative arrangement between Cumberland School of Law and Norwich Law School at the University of East
Anglia in Norwich, England, British law students spend a year at Cumberland School of Law after their second year of
legal studies. In return, two Cumberland School of Law J.D. graduates are awarded full-tuition scholarships for studies
toward an LL.M. degree at Norwich Law School, and various partial-tuition scholarships are awarded.
HYDERABAD, INDIA
Cumberland School of Law students can study for a semester in an Indian law school under a cooperative arrangement
between Samford University and NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, India.
CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND
Every summer, Cumberland School of Law administers a five-week study abroad program at Sidney Sussex College
in Cambridge, England. The summer program allows students to compare U.S., British and European Union law.
Additional participants of the Cambridge program are foreign-educated graduate lawyers, judges, prosecutors and legal
educators who are part of Cumberland School of Law’s master of comparative law (M.C.L.) program, who spend two
summers taking courses at Cumberland School of Law, learning about the U.S. legal system and culture.
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OUR FIRST-YEAR
STUDENTS
RECEIVE FIRST-RATE
CAREER PREPARATION
You will learn to create an effective legal résumé, excel in the
interview room and conduct a job search that is both thorough
and efficient.
Career Development Advisory Board (CDAB)
Early in your first year, we will group you with a CDAB member. CDAB members serve as mentors and advisers on issues
related to succeeding in law school, identifying and securing part-time, short-term and permanent legal work, and
building the legal and career development skills to maximize your marketability. Each CDAB member offers a unique
background and perspective on the job search.
Preparation for life after graduation begins in your first year:
• Mock interviews: Birmingham-area attorneys offer critiques to help you sharpen your interview skills
• Personalized career counseling
• Practice-related seminars teach skills critical to working as a lawyer, covering topics such as firm structures and business models, attorney timekeeping and billing, discovery devices, and settlement strategies and mechanics
• Informal lunches with lawyers who discuss their work and career paths
• Judicial clerkship seminars offer tips on obtaining positions
• On-campus interview programs with representatives of numerous law firms, corporations, public interest
organizations and government agencies
• Opportunities to participate in out-of-state job fairs
• Online access to job openings posted at the law school and many other American law schools
• A resource library of publications, informational files on firms and other prospective employers, job-hunting tips and graduate/study abroad programs
Career Development Office
The realities of the legal job market require that career decision-making be an ongoing, developmental process. Our
Career Development Office teaches you about the practical aspects of law practice, provides training on conducting
efficient and thorough job searches, and helps you match your skills, interests and experiences to the needs of the legal
market. Our goal is to provide you with professional development opportunities that enable you to obtain satisfying work
and make meaningful contributions to your employers beginning on day one. We use a step-by-step training program to
enable you to acquire the skills legal employers seek, conduct efficient job searches and forge a successful career.
24 · CUMBERLAND SCHOOL OF LAW
WE BEGIN WORKING WITH YOU BEFORE
CLASSES BEGIN AND CAN HELP YOU NARROW
CAREER CHOICES AND TAILOR PREPARATION
ACCORDINGLY. OUR STAFF MEETS EVERY
INCOMING STUDENT TO PROVIDE ADVICE ON
SUCCEEDING IN LAW SCHOOL.
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Bring your dog to law
school? If it’s Rascal
Day, yes!
Rascal Day is a favorite tradition at the law school,
honoring a mongrel pup named Rascal who faithfully
attended classes from 1933 to 1937. He was awarded the
rare degree of doctor of canine jurisprudence by the
students.
Every year, Rascal Day brings together students, faculty,
families, and, of course, dogs for a day of fun festivities
that capture the spirit of the Cumberland Law School
experience and its ability to develop well-rounded
lawyers.
GET INVOLVED
CUMBERLAND LAW REVIEW
Founded in 1970, this publication is designed to provide the legal community with comprehensive legal analysis of
national and regional topics authored by legal scholars, judges, attorneys and students. Every fall, the law review hosts a
symposium.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRIAL ADVOCACY
Founded in 1977, this journal is the oldest law review publication in the nation dedicated to the art of trial advocacy. It
serves the needs and interests of the courtroom advocate with analysis of the demands and issues of litigation faced by
practicing attorneys from prominent attorneys, judges and professors. Every spring, the journal hosts a symposium.
Our two student-edited law publications are cited on Westlaw® and LexisNexis®.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
American Journal of Trial Advocacy
Black Law Students Association
Christian Legal Society
Cordell Hull Speakers Forum
Cumberland Democrats
Cumberland Environmental Law Society
Cumberland Law Review
Cumberland Republicans
Cumberland Society of the Arts
Cumberland Student Bar Association
Federalist Society
Florida Student Bar Association
Henry Upson Sims Moot Court Board
Hispanic Interest Law Students Association
Honor Court
Intellectual Property Society
Joint-degree Students of Cumberland
Military Justice Society
Phi Alpha Delta
Public Interest Community Service Organization
Sports and Entertainment Law Society
Student Bar Association
Trial Advocacy Board
Women in Law
The Cordell Hull Speakers Forum, named for the Nobel Peace Prize winner and
Cumberland alumnus, is a student-run program that attracts nationally renowned
speakers in the fields of law, business, media and politics.
The Thurgood Marshall Symposium, sponsored by the Black Law Students Association, is
held in honor of Black History Month and features a lecture by a distinguished guest.
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FACULTY
Cumberland School of Law’s faculty is known for its care of students. Faculty
members possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, and have a passion
for sharing it. In addition to being accomplished scholars, all Cumberland
School of Law faculty practiced law before becoming educators. Faculty
members promote student interaction beyond the classroom by setting office
hours, and encouraging students to seek advice, counsel and conversation.
Andrew Robert Greene VISITING FACULTY
J.D., Catholic University of America School of Law
A.B., Georgetown University
Teaching and research interests: Environmental law, natural resources, sea/ocean/
coastal law, international environmental law, torts and property
J. Mark Baggett
Bob Greene joined the faculty in 2006 after a 36-year legal career focused principally
on federal and state environmental law. He served as deputy regional counsel of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV in Atlanta, Georgia, coordinating civil
enforcement matters and resolving legal and policy issues. After moving to Birmingham
in 1991, he was a partner in a prominent Alabama law firm representing major business
interests and heading the firm’s environmental practice group. He also chaired several
citizen committees, which led to the creation of the Freshwater Land Trust and Railroad
Park.
Teaching and research interests: Literature and language, legal research and writing
“I challenge students to put themselves in the shoes of their clients; what must be done
legally, ethically and humanely to resolve the problems that have brought the client in
the door? I often remind them of the words of John W. Davis: ‘We [lawyers] smooth out
difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men’s burdens and
by our efforts make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.’”
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND LAW
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
J.D., University of Alabama School of Law
M.A., University of Alabama
B.A., magna cum laude, University of Alabama
T. Brad Bishop
PROFESSOR
J.D., cum laude, Cumberland School of Law
M.A., communication and rhetorical theory, University of Alabama
B.A., speech and dramatic arts, Samford University
Teaching and research interests: Contracts, municipal court practice and procedure
Gov. Albert Brewer DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF LAW AND
GOVERNMENT AND PROFESSOR EMERITUS
LL.B., University of Alabama School of Law
A.B., political science and history, University of Alabama
In 2008, Greene was a Fulbright Scholar at the Odessa National Academy of Law in
Ukraine. He has been a frequent lecturer on environmental law topics at continuing
law education programs and abroad. He has served as chair of the Environmental Law
Sections of both the Georgia and Alabama state bars.
Michael E. DeBow PROFESSOR
J.D., Yale Law School
M.A., University of Alabama
B.A., University of Alabama
Teaching and research interests: Property, business organizations, administrative law, legislation
and local government
Brannon P. Denning
Teaching and research interests: Professional responsibility, law office practice and management,
Alabama constitutional law
ASSOCIATE DEAN AND PROFESSOR OF LAW
LL.M., Yale Law School
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Tennessee College of Law
B.A., magna cum laude, Sewanee: The University of the South
Judge John L. Carroll PROFESSOR OF LAW
Teaching and research interests: Constitutional law and the United States Supreme Court
LL.M., Harvard Law School
J.D., magna cum laude, Cumberland School of Law
B.A., Tufts University
Teaching and research interests: Mediation, evidence, trial practice, ethics and professionalism,
e-discovery and evidence
Alyssa DiRusso
WHELAN W. AND ROSALIE T. PALMER PROFESSOR OF LAW
J.D., University of Texas School of Law, Order of the Coif
B.S., Carnegie Mellon University, Phi Beta Kappa
Teaching and research interests: Wills, trusts and estates, estate and gift tax, estate and trust administration, taxation of
nonprofit organizations
LaJuana S. Davis PROFESSOR
J.D., Harvard Law School
B.A., Georgia State University
Teaching and research interests: Criminal law and procedure, appellate advocacy, business crimes,
interviewing and counseling and postconviction remedies, women’s rights, right to counsel
Jill Elysa Evans
PROFESSOR
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law
M.A., management, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University
B.A., University of California—Irvine
Teaching and research interests: Environmental law, torts
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FACULTY
Gregory K. Laughlin
LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
OF LAW
J.D., cum laude, University of Missouri School of Law, Order of the Coif
M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign
B.A., magna cum laude, Missouri State University
Teaching and research interests: Information access and control
Michael D. Floyd
PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
J.D., with distinction, Emory University School of Law, Robert W. Woodruff Fellow, Order of the Coif
M.S., with distinction, New York University
A.B., magna cum laude, Princeton University
Teaching and research interests: Commercial law, bankruptcy, consumer protection, real property, aging and the law
Edward C. Martin
PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF LAW SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY
J.D., University of Tennessee College of Law
Postgraduate studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Postgraduate studies, Middle Tennessee State University
B.S., University of Tennessee
Teaching and research interests: Torts, products liability, professional responsibility, damages, law and technology
William G. Ross
Robert J. Goodwin J. RUSSELL MCELROY PROFESSOR OF LAW
J.D., Washington University School of Law
B.A., University of Missouri
Teaching and research interests: Criminal law, evidence, scientific evidence
LUCILLE STEWART BEESON PROFESSOR OF LAW
J.D., Harvard Law School
A.B., with distinction, Stanford University
Teaching and research interests: Professional responsibilities, civil procedure, constitutional law, American legal history
Lynn H. Schuck LLR INSTRUCTOR
J.D., Cumberland School of Law
B.S., history, Samford University
Herman N. Johnson ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
J.D., Columbia Law School
M.A., international affairs, Columbia University
B.A., economics, Duke University
Teaching and research interests: Civil rights, civil procedure, employment law, equitable remedies, evidence,
complex litigation and federal courts
Paul Kuruk
PROFESSOR
LL.B., summa cum laude, University of Ghana
Barrister of law, Ghana Law School
M.S., law, Temple University School of Law
S.J.D., Stanford University Law School, Fulbright Scholar
Teaching and research interests: Commercial transactions, international business transactions, human rights
and trade
David J. Langum
RESEARCH PROFESSOR
S.J.D., University of Michigan Law School
LL.M., University of Michigan Law School
J.D., Stanford University Law School
M.A., history, San Jose State University
A.B., history, Dartmouth College
Teaching and research interests: Evidence, property, legal history (including the history of the
American West)
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Teaching and research interests: Legal research and writing; nonprofit organizations; wills, estates and trusts
D. Wendy Greene
PROFESSOR
LL.M., The George Washington University Law School
J.D., Tulane University Law School
B.A., cum laude, Xavier University of Louisiana
Teaching and research interests: Comparative slavery, constitutional law, critical race
theory, employment law, employment discrimination, equitable remedies, race relations
law, real property
Doris “Wendy” Greene is nationally known for her cutting-edge research and writing on
issues related to race, gender and law. In 2014, she was one of 12 named an “Emerging
Scholar” by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine.
A prolific speaker, Greene has presented her scholarship on comparative slavery and
race relations law, critical race theory, employment discrimination, and law and literature
at more than 50 academic conferences domestically and abroad.
“My published works fall into (and cut across) three general categories: employment
discrimination law, comparative slavery and race relations law, and critical race theory. In
particular, I am most excited about exploring marginalized yet significant issues—at the
intersection of race and gender—that impede one’s full inclusion and participation in the
workplace and in society at large. My aim is to proffer innovative, practical and theoretical
solutions to these socio-legal problems.”
She’s generous with her time as well as her talent. Greene chairs Cumberland School of
Law’s Faculty Development Committee, and is involved in the mentorship of aspiring and
junior law faculty in a variety of professional communities.
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FACULTY
Woodrow Hartzog
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
LL.M., with highest honors, The George Washington University Law School
J.D., cum laude, Cumberland School of Law
B.A., Samford University
Teaching and research interests: Privacy law, media law, Internet law, intellectual property
(copyright, patent and trademark), torts and contracts
LLR INSTRUCTOR
J.D., with honors, Cumberland School of Law
B.A., Florida State University
Andrea L. Shaw
Woody Hartzog is an internationally recognized expert in the area of privacy, media and
robotics law. He has been quoted or referenced in numerous articles and broadcasts,
including NPR, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and USA Today. His work has
been published in scholarly publications such as the Columbia Law Review, California
Law Review and Michigan Law Review, and popular national publications such as
Forbes, Wired, Bloomberg, New Scientist, The Atlantic and The Nation.
Teaching and research interests: Legal research and writing, environmental issues in real estate
He’s also a pretty terrific professor.
David M. Smolin HARWELL G. DAVIS PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
“I’m a traditional kind of professor in the classroom. I rely on Socratic dialogue and
old-fashioned case analysis. My research focuses on legal problems created by new
technologies. I try to make sense of how technology impacts people’s lives and identify
the proper role of the law in this context. I want to know whether, why and how the law
should protect privacy in the modern age.”
AND DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR CHILDREN, LAW AND ETHICS
J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law, Order of the Coif
B.A., New College of the University of South Florida
Teaching and research interests: Bioethics and biotechnology, intellectual property, international human rights,
children’s issues, family and juvenile law, constitutional law, estates and trusts, criminal law
Joseph A. Snoe
WHELAN W. AND ROSALIE T. PALMER PROFESSOR OF LAW
J.D., with honors, University of Texas School of Law
B.A., with honors, University of Texas
Teaching and research interests: Property, health care, partnership taxation, corporate tax, nonprofit organizations, land use planning, contract drafting and business concepts for nonbusiness majors
Henry C. Strickland III DEAN AND ETHEL P. MALUGEN PROFESSOR OF LAW
J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School
B.A., summa cum laude, Presbyterian College
Teaching and research interests: Alternative dispute resolution, civil procedure, conflict of laws, constitutional law,
remedies, arbitration and legal education
Howard P. Walthall LESLIE S. WRIGHT PROFESSOR OF LAW
LL.B., Harvard Law School
A.B., magna cum laude, Harvard College
Belle Howe Stoddard ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR,
LAWYERING SKILLS AND LEGAL REASONING
J.D., Cumberland School of Law
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Southeastern University
B.A., University of South Carolina
Teaching and research interests: Legal research and writing, appellate practice, conflict of laws
R. Thomas Stone, Jr.
PROFESSOR
Ph.D., University of Tennessee
LL.M., University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign
J.D., Emory University
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Teaching and research interests: Antitrust, business organizations, contracts, economic analysis of law,
government regulation of business
Teaching and research interests: State constitutional law, state and local taxation, commercial law, bankruptcy,
business organizations
LaVone R. Warren
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Mississippi School of Law
B.A., University of Alabama
Teaching and research interests: Business organizations, securities regulation
Deborah Young
PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR ADVOCACY
AND CLINICAL EDUCATION
J.D., cum laude, University of Michigan Law School
Corning Traveling Fellow
B.A., summa cum laude, University of Kentucky, Phi Beta Kappa
Teaching and research interests: Criminal procedure, evidence, trial advocacy
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ALUMNI
Cumberland School of Law has been preparing exceptional
lawyers for more than 165 years. Our 8,300+ alumni are junior
associates, associates, partners in major law firms and solo
practitioners. They also work for corporations, nonprofit agencies,
government offices and, increasingly, in nontraditional jobs that
require legal expertise.
WHATEVER YOUR GOAL,
CUMBERLAND SCHOOL OF LAW
CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE
CAREER SUCCESS.
Cumberland School of Law is proud to offer the Student Success Mentoring Program (SSMP), a unique program giving
students and alumni a stronger network for support and guidance. SSMP pairs students with outstanding alumni who give
them real-world insight into the practice of law.
Representative Martha Roby ’01
Martha Roby is serving her second term as representative in Alabama’s
Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to being elected to Congress, she worked as an attorney and served
as a city councilwoman in her hometown of Montgomery. Republican
leaders selected Roby as one of only four freshman members to serve on
the Majority Transition Team.
Roby later served as chair of a subcommittee on military oversight
and investigations, a rare honor for a second-term member of
Congress. She recently became a member of the House Committee on
Appropriations, which has oversight on government spending. She is
the first representative from the Second District to serve on this key
congressional committee.
In a recent commencement address, Roby urged Cumberland School
of Law graduates to give a high priority to public service in their careers
and to be ready for such opportunities. “The call may come when you
least expect it,” she said, “and it doesn’t necessarily mean elective office.
Public service is something beyond charity, and it’s an essential part of
American life.”
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MEET THE
MAGIC CITY:
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Nicknamed the Magic City because of its rapid growth after the city was
founded in 1871, the metro Birmingham area has a population of about
one million people in a seven-county area. Birmingham boasts incredible
opportunities for career, service, community and fun.
More than 5,000 practicing attorneys are located in the metropolitan area, with a large number of major law firms making their headquarters in Birmingham. Midsized and smaller firms, as well as solo practices, round out Birmingham’s
lively legal landscape, providing a multitude of convenient job opportunities for Cumberland School of Law students.
The New York Times calls Birmingham a “hot spot for residents and visitors.” Birmingham pairs a vibrant foodie culture with
an outstanding music and performing arts scene.
There are many fun (and often free) things to do and see in Birmingham. Here are some of our favorites:
Alabama Theatre
Pepper Place Farmer’s Market
Rickwood Field
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Railroad Park
Sidewalk Film Festival
Birmingham Museum of Art
Red Mountain Park
Sloss Furnace
Birmingham Zoo
Regions Field
Vulcan Park and Museum
Oak Mountain Park
To see more of what Birmingham has to offer, go to meetmagiccity.com
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SAMFORD
UNIVERSITY:
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN THE SOUTH
Samford University is Alabama’s top-ranked private university.
Samford was founded in 1841 and has an enrollment of nearly
5,000 students representing 44 states and 25 countries.
Samford offers 32 undergraduate and graduate degree
programs, with 155 undergraduate majors, minors and
concentrations.
With more than 50 Georgian-Colonial buildings set on a manicured 200-acre campus, Samford is an idyllic place
to earn your law degree.
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APPLY
Cumberland School of Law has rolling admission, and completed admission files are reviewed in the order in which they
are received. You are encouraged to submit your application early in the process.
Submit your application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) at samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/apply
Admission Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score (taken within the last five years)
• Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report through LSAC. Make arrangements for LSAC to receive and compile
letters of recommendations, transcripts from all colleges and universities attended and LSAT score in a CAS report.
• Cumberland School of Law’s official application, completed by the required deadline. A completed application
includes a personal statement, a résumé, any required addenda and a CAS report.
Financial Aid, Scholarships and Fellowships
Cumberland School of Law recognizes the rising costs of legal education, and makes every effort to manage costs and to
ensure students receive high-quality legal education. Federal financial aid and scholarships provided by the law school
are separate from one another. Federal financial aid is loans administered through the federal government. Scholarships
are funds provided by the law school based on merit.
Federal Financial Aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used to determine eligibility for need-based federal financial aid that is
administered by Samford University’s Office of Financial Aid.
•
•
•
•
•
Submit the FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov.
The federal school code for Samford University is 001036.
The priority FAFSA application deadline is March 1.
Federal Stafford Loans allow eligible students to borrow up to a maximum amount each academic year.
Federal Graduate Plus Loans supplement costs associated with your education up to the estimated law student
budget amount.
For additional information, contact Samford University’s financial aid office at 205-726-2905, 1-800-888-7245
or samford.edu/go/aid.
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CUMBERLAND SCHOOL OF LAW AWARDS
NEARLY $3 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS EACH
ACADEMIC YEAR. EVERY FULL-TIME
FIRST-YEAR LAW STUDENT IS AUTOMATICALLY
CONSIDERED FOR MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS.
Flex-Time Status
Designed for individuals who need to ease into the rigors of law school, the Flex-Time option enables you to
complete a law degree in five years or less. Flex-Time is ideal for nontraditional students, professionals with
flexible employment status who wish to maintain some level of employment while carrying a slightly reduced
course load or parents of school-age children who have additional responsibilities to tend to while in law
school.
Students attend classes during the weekdays alongside full-time students. There are no weekend classes.
Scholarships and Fellowships
The Scholarship Committee makes scholarship selections based on the information you provide in your
application. Scholarship awards are based on a variety of criteria, from overall outstanding scholarship,
leadership, academic achievement and diversity to various alumni-sponsored awards. Admitted students who
are selected to receive scholarship assistance are notified by email and phone.
No scholarships are available for flex-time students during their first two semesters of study.
It is in your best interest to apply to Cumberland School of Law by the Dec. 31 priority deadline.
Scholarships are offered in the form of full- or partial-tuition merit scholarships. Merit scholarships range
from a few thousand dollars to full tuition.
Second- and third-year students may be eligible to receive endowed, need-based, merit or leadership
scholarships, made possible through the generosity of Cumberland School of Law alumni and friends. There
are more than 50 leadership scholarships and numerous need-based awards annually.
A Peer Scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student as a gift from the graduating third-year class.
The Rodney Max Mediation Fellowship recognizes the interest, achievements and scholarship of Cumberland
School of Law students in the areas of mediation. The Max Fellow receives this yearlong award and works for the
director of the Cumberland Community Mediation Center.
The Jere F. White, Jr., Fellowship offers a unique learning experience to an entering student who demonstrates
superior academic performance, a strong record of service, and exceptional potential for professional and
personal leadership. The White Fellow receives a full-tuition scholarship, a $5,000 annual stipend, and
tuition and lodging for the summer Cambridge study abroad program at Sidney Sussex College in England.
In addition, the White Fellow joins law school faculty at the annual Southeastern Association of Law Schools
Conference following the second year of law school. The White Fellow is invited to join Cumberland School
of Law’s Inn of Court and to participate in the Works-in-Progress Colloquia. Preference is given to applicants
who have served in the military, Peace Corps, Teach for America or other programs benefiting underserved
communities.
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IS CUMBERLAND SCHOOL OF LAW THE RIGHT FIT FOR
YOU? VISIT CAMPUS IN PERSON AND FIND OUT.
Contact us to schedule a visit:
lawadm@samford.edu
or 1-800-888-7213
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