The Cumberland School of Law at Samford University
EDU
March 2, 2019
Law School Admissions
Application
| Director of admissions |
Jennifer Y. Sims |
| Application deadline |
February 28 |
| Full-time program application fee |
$50 |
| Part-time program application fee |
$50 |
| Besides the fall semester, can enter in |
N/A |
Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)
| Acceptance rate |
41.9% – Medium |
| Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants |
3.29 |
| Median LSAT score for all program entrants |
155 |
Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)
| Acceptance rate |
41.9% |
| LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) |
152-157 |
| Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) |
2.97-3.53 |
| Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants |
3.29 |
| Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants |
155 |
Admissions & Enrollment (Part-time)
| Acceptance rate |
N/A |
| LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) |
N/A |
| Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) |
N/A |
| Median undergraduate GPA for part-time program entrants |
N/A |
| Median LSAT score for part-time program entrants |
N/A |
Law School Academics
Academic Program Details
| Academic calendar |
Semester |
| Joint degrees offered |
| J.D./M.P.H. |
J.D./M.S. Environmental Management |
| J.D./M.B.A. |
J.D./M.P.A. |
| J.D./M.Acc. |
J.D./M.A.T.S. |
| J.D./M.Div |
J.D./M.S. |
|
| Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school) |
| Semester-long and summer externships; Judicial Externships; Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy program; The Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics; Cumberland Community Mediation Center; Summer study abroad program – In Sidney-Sussex College in Cambridge, England. |
| Programs/courses offered in |
| appellate advocacy |
intellectual property law |
| clinical training |
international law |
| dispute resolution |
tax law |
| environmental law |
trial advocacy |
| health care law |
|
Curricular Offerings (Overall)
| Classroom course titles, beyond the first-year curriculum, offered last year |
112 |
| Seminars |
17 |
| Positions available in seminars |
226 |
| Positions available in simulation courses |
466 |
| Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses |
N/A |
| Student activities (as provided by the school) |
| The Cumberland Public Interest Project; The American Journal of Trial Advocacy; The Cumberland Law Review; The Moot Court Board; The Trial Advocacy Board; The Cordell Hull Speakers Forum; Student Bar Association; American Constitutional Society; Black Law Students Association; Christian Legal Society; Cumberland Community Service; Cumberland Democrats; Federalist Society and Women in Law. |
Curricular Offerings (Full-time)
| Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) |
54 |
| Is there typically a full-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? |
No |
| Typical size of first-year “small section” |
N/A |
| Positions filled in full-time program seminars |
176 |
| Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses |
397 |
| Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses |
N/A |
| Full-time students involved in field placements |
49 |
| Full-time students involved in law journals |
91 |
| Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions |
46 |
| Full-time students enrolled in independent study |
115 |
Curricular Offerings (Part-time)
| Typical first-year part-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) |
N/A |
| Is there typically a part-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? |
No |
| Positions filled in part-time program seminars |
N/A |
| Positions filled in part-time program simulation courses |
N/A |
| Positions filled in faculty-supervised part-time program clinical courses |
N/A |
| Part-time students involved in field placements |
N/A |
| Part-time students involved in law journals |
N/A |
| Part-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions |
N/A |
| Part-time students enrolled in independent study |
N/A |
Faculty Profile (Fall 2011)
| Student-faculty ratio |
18.0:1 – High |
| Full- and part-time faculty |
48 |
| Full-time minority faculty |
17.4% |
| Part-time minority faculty |
8.0% |
| Total faculty |
53 |
| Total faculty (men) |
67.9% |
| Total faculty (women) |
32.1% |
| Total faculty (minorities) |
15.1% |
Class Size
Law School Ranking
|
|
|
(2) Ranking by Specialties
#81 in Law Firms Rank Schools
#4 in Trial Advocacy
|
Law Ranking Scores
| Score |
32 |
| Peer assessment score (out of 5) |
1.8 |
| Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) |
2.9 |
| GPA (25th-75th percentile) |
2.97-3.53 |
| Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants |
3.29 |
| LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) |
152-157 |
| Median LSAT score for all program entrants |
155 |
| Acceptance rate |
41.9% – Medium |
| Student-faculty ratio |
18.0:1 – High |
| Graduates known to be employed at graduation |
44.2% – Low |
| Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation |
78.2% – Low |
| Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
94.0% – High |
| State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar |
AL |
| Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
78.4% |
Law School Student Body
Student Body (Overall)
Student Body (Full-time)
| Enrollment (full-time) |
489 |
Student Body (Part-time)
| Enrollment (part-time) |
N/A |
| Gender distribution (part-time) |
N/A |
Attrition Rates for Full- and Part-time Students (2010-2011)
| First-year students discontinuing law school |
2.4% |
| Second-year students discontinuing law school |
9.2% |
| Third-year students discontinuing law school |
N/A |
| Fourth-year students discontinuing law school |
N/A |
| Male students discontinuing law school |
4.3% |
| Female students discontinuing law school |
3.7% |
Law School Cost
Financial Aid Contact Information
| Financial aid director |
Lane Smith |
| Financial aid phone |
(205) 726-2905 |
| Financial aid application deadline |
March 1 |
Expenses
| Tuition and fees |
Full-time: $34,848 per year
Part-time: $20,714 per year |
| Room and board |
$13,500 |
| Books |
$2,000 |
| Miscellaneous expenses |
$6,402 |
| Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? |
Yes |
| Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? |
No |
| Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? |
No |
| Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? |
Yes |
Grants (Full-time students)
| Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition |
18.0% |
| Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full |
9.8% |
| Students receiving grants of full tuition |
6.3% |
| Students receiving grants of more than full tuition |
1.4% |
| Median grant amount |
$18,000 |
| Grant range (25th–75th percentile) |
$4,000–$30,900 |
| Full-time students receiving grants |
35.6% |
Grants (Part-time students)
| Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition |
N/A |
| Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full |
N/A |
| Students receiving grants of full tuition |
N/A |
| Students receiving grants of more than full tuition |
N/A |
| Median grant amount |
$0 |
| Grant range (25th–75th percentile) |
$0–$0 |
| Part-time students receiving grants |
N/A |
Indebtedness
| Average indebtedness of 2011 graduates who incurred law school debt |
$115,335 |
| Proportion who borrowed |
77.7% |
| Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2011 J.D. graduates? |
No |
Law School Library
Library Information Resources
| Print titles (excluding nonbook titles) |
39,697 |
| Microform titles |
62 |
| Electronic titles |
14 |
| Other non-book titles |
635 |
| Total titles |
40,408 |
| Volumes (excluding microforms) |
203,605 |
| Volume equivalent microforms |
125,975 |
| Total volumes and volume equivalents |
329,580 |
| Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable |
0 |
| Library’s online catalog or website includes links to electronic titles or databases made available by another campus library or consortia |
Yes |
Library Schedule of Operation
| Number of hours per week library is open on a regular schedule |
105 |
| Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule |
56 |
| Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule |
0 |
| Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule |
41 |
| Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule |
56 |
| Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule |
7 |
| Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule |
43 |
| Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty are on an abbreviated schedule |
38 |
| Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule |
0 |
| Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule |
0 |
| Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule |
38 |
| Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule |
4 |
Information Technology
| Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations |
law school information technology department, law school library, university information technology department |
| Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) |
3 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) |
200 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms |
0 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs |
0 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school |
0 |
| Does the law school have a wireless network? |
Yes |
| Wireless network is available |
in the law library, in classrooms, in computer labs, in administrative/faculty offices and work areas, elsewhere in the law school |
| Does the school require entering students to own a computer? |
No |
Physical Library Facilities
| Net square feet of space assigned for library purposes |
42,500 |
| Total seats available for library users |
474 |
| Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) |
The law school and law library, connected by a passageway, are located on the campus of Samford University which is known for its Georgian-Colonial architectural style. The law school, in addition to its classrooms and seminar rooms, has 3 fully-equipped courtrooms. The law library has four levels for access to a variety of study spaces. All areas are handicap accessible. |
Law School Careers
Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)
| State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar |
AL |
| Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
94.0% – High |
| Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
78.4% |
Class of 2010 Graduates
| Total graduates |
156 |
| Graduates known to be employed at graduation |
44.2% |
| Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation |
78.2% |
Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Graduation
| Graduates whose employment status is unknown |
3.8% |
| Graduates whose employment status is known |
96.2% |
| Graduates known to be employed at graduation |
44.2% |
| Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program |
6.4% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work |
42.9% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work |
2.6% |
Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months
| Graduates whose employment status is unknown |
4.5% |
| Graduates whose employment status is known |
95.5% |
| Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation |
78.2% |
| Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program |
5.1% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work |
9.0% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work |
3.2% |
Starting Salaries of Graduates Employed Full-time (Class of 2010)
| 25th percentile private sector starting salary |
$60,000 |
| Median private sector starting salary |
$70,000 |
| 75th percentile private sector starting salary |
$100,000 |
| Percent in the private sector who reported salary information |
38% |
| Median public service starting salary |
$47,500 |
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)
| Percent employed in academia |
0.8% |
| Percent employed in business and industry |
15.6% |
| Percent employed in government |
6.6% |
| Percent employed in all judicial clerkships |
7.4% |
| Percent employed in law firms |
63.9% |
| Percent employed in public interest |
5.7% |
| Percent employed in an unknown field |
0.0% |
Employment Location (Class of 2010)
| Graduates employed in-state |
67% |
| Graduates employed out-of-state |
31.2% |
| Graduates employed in foreign countries |
0% |
| Number of states where graduates are employed |
10 |
| New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) |
0.0% |
| Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) |
0.0% |
| East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) |
0.0% |
| West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) |
0.0% |
| South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) |
10.7% |
| East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) |
80.3% |
| West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) |
3.3% |
| Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) |
1.6% |
| Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) |
2.5% |
| Employment location unknown |
1.6% |
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
| Career services operations |
STAFF: Director, Associate Director, and Program Support Specialist SERVICES: Career Counseling, Fall & Spring On-Campus Interview Program, Practice Interviews, Career Skills Training, Job Fairs, Online Job Postings for students and alumni RESOURCES: Computer Lab, Library/Resource Room with fax/copy machine availability, Interview Suites, and reciprocity with ABA law schools. |
Job Type
| Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) |
78.3% |
| Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions |
86.2% |
| J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) |
15.0% |
| J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions |
66.7% |
| Professional other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) |
5.0% |
| Professional other – percent employed in full-time positions |
66.7% |
| Non-professional other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) |
1.7% |
| Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions |
0.0% |
