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THE SCHOOL

A LEGACY OF ACHIEVEMENT

Established in 1847, Cumberland is one of the oldest law schools in the country.  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, Cumberland pioneered an instructional method based on intensive trial practice.  This laid the foundation for what is widely acclaimed as the nation's finest program in trial advocacy, as Cumberland teams excel in regional and national mock trial competitions.

In 1865, during the Civil War, the law school’s buildings were burned to the ground; yet, through sheer determination, the school continued its programs.  

Over the next six decades, Cumberland would produce a long list of distinguished graduates:

  • including two Supreme Court Justices
     
  • several governors (including current Florida Governor, Charlie Crist)
     
  • U.S. Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, known as the Father of the United Nations.  (photo compliments of "Cordell Hull Foundation")  

In 1961, Cumberland moved to the campus of Howard College, now Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama.  Since then, the school has flourished, attracting a faculty with significant practical experience and a diverse student body whose shared interest in the law creates a true sense of community.

As innovative as ever, the curriculum continues to break new ground in law study, including the use of technology in the courtroom, the only Center in the country for Biotechnology, Law, and Ethics, and the South's only
community mediation program.  With approximately 7,400 accomplished alumni in 50 states and abroad, Cumberland School of Law continues to make a name for itself.

Cumberland School of Law is located on the campus of Samford University, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Juris Doctorate Degree.  Cumberland has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1949 and has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1952.  Because all these certification requirements are met, a Cumberland graduate is eligible to take the bar examination in any state.

Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library

Adjoining the law school is the Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library, a valuable resource for law students and practicing lawyers alike.  Open and spacious, the library is designed to accommodate private study and discussion, housing 13 conference rooms, 474 study spaces, carrels with electrical connections, long tables, and comfortable seating. 

With more than 200,000 shelved volumes and 96,000 on microfiche, the library contains all judicial opinions and statutory codes, both federal and state. Students can
read law reviews from every American law school, as well as access the Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations, United States Hearings and Reports, and selected foreign common law rulings. 

Three computer labs and wireless laptop connections also offer instant access to additional resources, such as LexisNexis, Westlaw, e-mail, word processing, and the library catalogue.

Meet the Law Library Director, Professr Laughlin


Helpful Cumberland Navigator: Related Pages
Mission Statement
Why Cumberland
Faculty
Welcome to Birmingham
First Year
Second Year
Course Requirements
Curriculum
Joint Degrees
International Study
National Competition Results
Organizations
Rascal Day