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(Please compare this to its source, I cut out over 90% of the wikipedia article. Lots of redundancies and facts about it when it was in Tennessee.)
 
 
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'''Cumberland School of Law''' is an ABA accredited law school and the 11th oldest law school in the U.S. It was founded on [[July 29]], [[1847]] in Lebanon, Tennessee at Cumberland University.  Since [[1961]], the school has been located at [[Samford University]] in [[Homewood]].
[[Image:Cumberland School of Law logo.png|right]]
'''Cumberland School of Law''' (founded [[July 29]], [[1847]] in Lebanon, Tennessee) is the law school at [[Samford University]] in [[Homewood]]. It is the 14th oldest active school of law in the United States and has trained many important figures in American jurisprudence, including two Supreme Court justices and scores of lower court judges and Congressional representatives. The dean is former federal judge [[John L. Carroll]]. Current enrollment is 489, taught by a faculty of 48 professors.


The school has the distinction of having trained two United States Supreme Court Justices, placing it just behind Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Michigan in that respect. The school also has the distinction of having trained Nobel Peace Prize recipient Cordell Hull, the father of the United Nations, over forty-five U.S. Representatives, and numerous Senators, governors, and judges.
The school offers a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Comparative Law, a special program designed to instruct foreign lawyers on the basic legal principles of the United States. The school also offers six dual-degree programs and sponsors four research centers, including a "Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics" which partners with [[UAB]].


Cumberland is well known for its emphasis on Trial Advocacy. In 2008, a Cumberland team won the American Association for Justice National Student Trial Advocacy Competition in Fort Lauderdale. 256 teams competed in in this competition, which is generally considered the most prestigious trial advocacy competition in the country. Also in 2008, Cumberland made the finals of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy competition. It was 1 of 4 from 30 teams in its region that went to the national finals in Chicago. Cumberland won 3rd best brief in the region and the team finished ahead of Florida, Loyola of Los Angeles, LSU, Denver, Cincinnati, Arizona, Texas Tech, Florida A & M, Baylor, Case Western, Seattle, Southwestern and Chicago-Kent. In 2007, student teams from Cumberland won both the Criminal Justice Trial Competition held in Hamden, Connecticut and the Lone Star Classic Mock Trial Competition in San Antonio, Texas.
Cumberland is well known for its emphasis on trial advocacy. ''U. S. News and World Report'' ranks Cumberland 142nd overall, but rates its trial advocacy program as 4th in the United States for [[2012]]. The ''Princeton Review'' has ranked the school highly in its annual publications.  
 
The 2007 Princeton Review features Cumberland in its 2007 edition of "Best 170 Law Schools." Of the 11 ranking lists, Cumberland ranked 6th in the country for faculty performance and accessibility and 7th in the country for overall quality of life. The 2006 Princeton Review ranked the school 6th in its "Professors Rock (Legally Speaking)" category and 7th in its "Best Quality of Life" category.
 
The school offers two degree programs: the 90 hour Juris Doctor (J.D.), and the Master of Comparative Law (M.C.L.), which is designed to instruct foreign lawyers on the basic legal principles of the United States. The school also offers six dual-degree programs.
 
==Current Facts==
 
The Fall 2007 entering class consisted of 159 students selected from an applicant pool of over 1200. The class has an average LSAT of 157 and average GPA of 3.27. The top 75th percentile of the class has an LSAT of 159 and 3.52 GPA. The incoming class also has the distinction of having highest percentage of women (48%) in school's 160 year history history.
 
Cumberland has two publications: the ''[[Cumberland Law Review]]'' and the ''[[American Journal of Trial Advocacy]]''.
 
The law library is a 42,500 net square foot building with over 300,000 volumes and microform volume equivalents.
 
The school also has four research centers.
 
Cumberland's Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics studies the ethical implications of biotechnology and has attracted speakers such as atmospheric scientist John Christy, medical ethicist Gregory Pence, and U.S. Representative Artur Davis. The Center's location is convenient because of the proximity of the pioneering UAB medical center. Birmingham is also one of the major emerging biotechnology markets with more than 90 biotech-related businesses in Alabama alone.


Cumberland has two publications: the ''[[Cumberland Law Review]]'' and the ''[[American Journal of Trial Advocacy]]''. Its 42,500-square foot [[Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library]], opened in [[1996]], holds over 300,000 volumes in print and microfiche. Its plaza is dominated by a bronze statue of [[Justice and Mercy]].


== History ==
== History ==
The Cumberland School of Law was founded in [[1847]] at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. By [[1858]] it was the nation's largest law school. Its campus was destroyed during the [[Civil War]], but it reopened quickly in [[1865]] and moved into the newly-built Caruthers Hall in [[1878]]. By the turn of the century, the school's curriculum had fallen out of the main stream of legal education. It still offered a one-year course of studies at a time with the American Bar Association was arguing that three years were needed. The program continued without accreditation, waning in prestige, though continuing to graduate attorneys who went on to prominent positions.


Cumberland School of Law was founded on [[July 29]], [[1847]] in Lebanon, Tennessee at Cumberland University. For a complete history of the school while in Tennessee, see the article at Wikipedia, link below in the references section.
A dog named "[[Rascal]]," who had attended classes throughout the year, was awarded an honorary degree in "canine jurisprudence" in [[1933]]. In [[1949]], under the leadership of Dean [[Arthur Weeks]], the school finally earned accreditation from the ABA. By the end of the 1950s, however, the school was on the brink of financial collapse.  


In [[1961]] the school was sold from Cumberland University to Samford. It is only one of two law schools in the United States to have been sold from one University to another (the other being the sale of the law school from the University of Puget Sound to Seattle University).
Weeks, who had left to practice in Birmingham, convinced [[Howard College]] to make an offer to purchase the school and relocate it. The $125,000 purchase was made in [[1961]] and the move completed in time for graduation day in [[1962]]. Weeks resumed the position of dean, serving until [[1972]]. [[Memory Leake Robinson Hall]], the first dedicated building for the school at Howard's Shades Valley campus, was completed in December [[1963]].


===Long range plan of 2005===
The [[Cordell Hull Speakers Forum]], established in [[1974]] in honor of the Cumberland-educated United Nations founder, has brought nationally-prominent figures to Samford's campus.
In December [[2005]] Cumberland adopted a long term plan for the school.  One call of the plan is to gradually downsize the number of students who attend in order to provide smaller classes and closer individual attention to students.  In 1995 the entering class was 212 and in 2007 that number was reduced to 159.


===Present===
In December [[2005]] Cumberland adopted a long term plan for the school. One call of the plan is to gradually downsize the number of students who attend in order to provide smaller classes and closer individual attention to students.
In 2007, student teams from Cumberland won both the Criminal Justice Trial Competition held in Hamden, Connecticut and the Lone Star Classic Mock Trial Competition in San Antonio, Texas.


In 2008, a Cumberland team won the American Association for Justice National Student Trial Advocacy Competition in Fort Lauderdale. 256 teams competed in in this competition, which is generally considered the most prestigious trial advocacy competition in the country.
==Deans==
* Nathan Green Jr, 1903–
* Andrew Martin
* Edward E. Beard
* William R. Chambers
** Albert Williams (acting) 1933–1935
* Albert B. Neil
** Samuel Gilreath (acting) 1947–1948
* [[Arthur Weeks]], 1947–1952
** [[Donald Corley]] (acting) 1972–1973
* [[Donald Corley]], 1974–1984
** [[Brad Bishop]] (acting) 1984–1985
* [[Donald Corley]], 1974–1984
* [[Parham Williams]], 1985–1996
* [[Barry Currier]], 1996–2000
** [[Michael D. Floyd]] (acting) 2000–2001
* [[John L. Carroll]], 2001–2013)
* [[Corky Strickland]], 2014–2022
* [[Blake Hudson]], July 1, 2022–


Also in 2008, Cumberland made the finals of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy competition.  It was 1 of 4 from 30 teams in its region that went to the national finals in Chicago. Cumberland won 3rd best brief in the region and the team finished ahead of Florida, Loyola of Los Angeles, LSU, Denver, Cincinnati, Arizona, Texas Tech, Florida A & M, Baylor, Case Western, Seattle, Southwestern and Chicago-Kent.
==Notable alumni==
* [[Robert Aderholt]], U.S. Representative
* [[Roger Bedford]], [[Alabama State Senate]]
* [[Sharon Blackburn]], Chief Justice of the [[United States District Court of the Northern District of Alabama]]
* [[Mike Bolin]], Alabama Supreme Court
* [[Karon Bowdre]], Associate judge for the Northern District of Alabama
* [[Gregory Burdine]], [[Alabama House of Representatives]]
* [[John L. Carroll]], 1974, federal judge and Cumberland dean
* [[Benjamin Cohen]], U.S. Bankruptcy Court
* [[James Cohn]], U.S. District Court Judge
* [[LeRoy Collins]], Governor of Florida
* [[Joel Dubina]], Chief Justice of the [[11th U.S. Court of Appeals]]
* [[Paul Greene]], U.S. Magistrate Court
* [[Joe Hubbard]], Alabama House of Representatives
* [[Cordell Hull]], 1891, United States Secretary of State
* [[Chervis Isom]], 1967, real estate attorney
* [[Howell Jackson]], U.S. Supreme Court
* [[J. Michael Joiner]], [[Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals]]
* [[Marc Keahey]], Alabama State Senate
* [[Horace Lurton]], U.S. Supreme Court
* [[Charles Malone]], Chief Justice of the [[Alabama Supreme Court]]
* [[Julian Mann III]], North Carolina Chief Administrative Law Judge
* [[Phil McCallum]], President of the Alabama State Bar
* [[John Ott]], U.S. Magistrate Court
* [[Craig Pittman]], Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
* [[Jim Pratt]], President of the [[Alabama State Bar]]
* [[James J. Robinson]], U.S. Bankruptcy Court
* [[Martha Roby]], U.S. Representative
* [[Dennis Ross]], U.S. Representative
* [[Greg Shawl]], Alabama Supreme Court
* [[Terri Willingham Thomas]], Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
* [[William C. Thompson]], Chief Justice of the [[Alabama Court of Civil Appeals]]
* [[Cam Ward]], Alabama State Senate
* [[Randall Woodfin]], Mayor of [[Birmingham]]


==Institution==
==References==
 
* Langum, David J. & Howard P. Walthall (1997) ''From Maverick to Mainstream: Cumberland School of Law, 1847-1997''. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press ISBN 0820318922
The law school emphasizes practical skills and integrity. The current dean, former federal judge [[John L. Carroll]] states that:
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cumberland_School_of_Law Cumberland School of Law]" ( August 16, 2008) ''Wikipedia'' - accessed August 29, 2008
<blockquote>"The prevailing philosophy is simple: Practical skill outweighs raw knowledge, and application transcends erudition. If the goal were to produce great law students, the tenets might be exactly the opposite. Our goal is to produce exceptional lawyers. That’s why Cumberland’s curriculum emphasizes the core competencies of legal practice: research, writing and persuasion."</blockquote>
* Velasco, Eric (April 8, 2012) "Cumberland School of Law celebrates 50 years at Samford University." ''Birmingham News''


As of 2006, the law school had 495 enrolled students.
==External links==
 
* [http://cumberland.samford.edu/ Cumberland School of Law] at samford.edu
==References==
*Cumberland School of Law. (2008, August 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:03, August 29, 2008 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cumberland_School_of_Law&oldid=232247990]


[[Category:Cumberland School of Law alumni|*]]
[[Category:Professional schools]]
[[Category:Samford University]]
[[Category:Samford University]]
{{GFDL}}
[[Category:1847 establishments]]

Latest revision as of 10:10, 16 April 2022

Cumberland School of Law logo.png

Cumberland School of Law (founded July 29, 1847 in Lebanon, Tennessee) is the law school at Samford University in Homewood. It is the 14th oldest active school of law in the United States and has trained many important figures in American jurisprudence, including two Supreme Court justices and scores of lower court judges and Congressional representatives. The dean is former federal judge John L. Carroll. Current enrollment is 489, taught by a faculty of 48 professors.

The school offers a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Comparative Law, a special program designed to instruct foreign lawyers on the basic legal principles of the United States. The school also offers six dual-degree programs and sponsors four research centers, including a "Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics" which partners with UAB.

Cumberland is well known for its emphasis on trial advocacy. U. S. News and World Report ranks Cumberland 142nd overall, but rates its trial advocacy program as 4th in the United States for 2012. The Princeton Review has ranked the school highly in its annual publications.

Cumberland has two publications: the Cumberland Law Review and the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. Its 42,500-square foot Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library, opened in 1996, holds over 300,000 volumes in print and microfiche. Its plaza is dominated by a bronze statue of Justice and Mercy.

History

The Cumberland School of Law was founded in 1847 at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. By 1858 it was the nation's largest law school. Its campus was destroyed during the Civil War, but it reopened quickly in 1865 and moved into the newly-built Caruthers Hall in 1878. By the turn of the century, the school's curriculum had fallen out of the main stream of legal education. It still offered a one-year course of studies at a time with the American Bar Association was arguing that three years were needed. The program continued without accreditation, waning in prestige, though continuing to graduate attorneys who went on to prominent positions.

A dog named "Rascal," who had attended classes throughout the year, was awarded an honorary degree in "canine jurisprudence" in 1933. In 1949, under the leadership of Dean Arthur Weeks, the school finally earned accreditation from the ABA. By the end of the 1950s, however, the school was on the brink of financial collapse.

Weeks, who had left to practice in Birmingham, convinced Howard College to make an offer to purchase the school and relocate it. The $125,000 purchase was made in 1961 and the move completed in time for graduation day in 1962. Weeks resumed the position of dean, serving until 1972. Memory Leake Robinson Hall, the first dedicated building for the school at Howard's Shades Valley campus, was completed in December 1963.

The Cordell Hull Speakers Forum, established in 1974 in honor of the Cumberland-educated United Nations founder, has brought nationally-prominent figures to Samford's campus.

In December 2005 Cumberland adopted a long term plan for the school. One call of the plan is to gradually downsize the number of students who attend in order to provide smaller classes and closer individual attention to students.

Deans

Notable alumni

References

  • Langum, David J. & Howard P. Walthall (1997) From Maverick to Mainstream: Cumberland School of Law, 1847-1997. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press ISBN 0820318922
  • "Cumberland School of Law" ( August 16, 2008) Wikipedia - accessed August 29, 2008
  • Velasco, Eric (April 8, 2012) "Cumberland School of Law celebrates 50 years at Samford University." Birmingham News

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Cumberland_School_of_Law&oldid=188994"