Cumberland Book Clubs

As I will tell anyone who will listen, we have a very unique law school because of the wonderful relationship between the students and faculty. Last semester, some faculty decided that we could enhance that relationship even furhter by creating series of book clubs at the law school. Faculty members would volunteer their time to host groups of 8 students to discuss a work of fact or fiction of the faculty members' choosing. This would give the students the opportunity to get to know the faculty and would create an environment for the discussion of interesting and controversial issues. Thus were born the Cumberland Book Clubs. Seventeen faculty members agreed to participate and almost one-third of the student body participated.

I met with my book club for dinner on Monday night. I chose John Grisham's book, "The Appeal" for my club because I thought it would give us the opportunity to discuss mass torts and judicial selection. Our meeting was great. The students were well prepared, engaged and on top of their game. We had far reaching and respectful discussions about the fairness of our system for adjudicating civil wrongs and for selecting judges. We also discussed the case currently pending before the United States Supreme Court, Caperton v. Massey Coal.

The book club concept and the participation of our student gave me yet another reason to be proud that I am Cumberland's dean. It is a unique and wonderful law school.

I am about to get in my car and head to Dothan for an alumni event. More about that next time.