On-Line Learning at the Cumberland School of Law

The On-Line Learning Curriculum is an innovative complement to the traditional course offerings provided by the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University. Each of these Courses is uniquely designed as a self-contained, fully interactive law school class that is taught entirely on-line by one of Cumberland's regular faculty. Rather than use a model limited to video lectures in combination with readings and other static exercises, each of the Courses in Cumberland's On-Line Learning Curriculum is structured so as to "actively" engage each student in the learning experience by requiring interaction with the course professor as well as with other students in the course through a series of both synchronous ( "real time") and asynchronous activites. Moreover, students in every On-Line Learning Course at Cumberland are also provided individualized, personal feedback as they progress through the various Course Lesson modules.

Although Cumberland's On-Line Learning Curriculum does provide an instructional environment that incorporates many educationally beneficial aspects of the traditional "Socratic-style" law classroom, by their very nature on-line law courses are also, at least in some important respects, quite different from traditional face-to-face law courses. As a result, these innovative courses often do present some rather unique new learning challenges to students. In addition to requiring at least some minimal proficiency in a variety of basic computer skills, on-line courses may not be well suited to individual students who are not otherwise self-disciplined, or to those students who have difficulty with time management, or to students who do not have good basic study habits. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to evaluate their overall study habits carefully before enrolling in any course that is presented entirely on-line. Most of the Courses available through Cumberland's On-Line Learning Curriculum also include at least one "Sample" Lesson module. Any student who might be considering enrolling in one of Cumberland's On-Line Courses is strongly encouraged to work through a "Sample" Lesson first.

Cumberland School of Law is one of the oldest law schools in the country. Founded originally by Judge Abraham Caruthers, who met with Cumberland’s first seven students in his brother’s law office in Lebanon, Tennessee on October 1, 1847, Professor Caruthers took that first lesson from a slim book he had just written entitled, History of a Lawsuit, outlining the procedure for bringing a lawsuit. For more than 100 years thereafter, every entering class began with Caruthers' textbook, which eventually grew to more than 600 pages and eight editions.

Though the casebooks and teaching methods and even the physical location of the law school itself have changed with the times, Cumberland School of Law, a part of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, since 1965, still provides all of its students with a thorough grounding in basic lawyering skills as an important cornerstone of the Cumberland curriculum. Continuing in its distinguished tradition of legal education, Cumberland's On-Line Learning Curriculum remains committed to providing outstanding legal instruction by utilizing the electronic tools and resources now available to train students situated outside the traditional law classroom.

Samford University. Founded in 1841, Samford University is the largest independently supported university in the state of Alabama. Our serene suburban campus, with its rolling hills and stately Georgian Colonial architecture, provides the ideal college environment. But Samford is only minutes away from Birmingham, a diverse metropolitan area of 1 million people--a city rich in culture, history and spirit. Cumberland School of Law is one of eight different schools at Samford University, which offers an outstanding education in 26 degree programs.