Published on July 12, 2021 by Morgan Black  
Tabitha Ernst-Chadwick, current M.S.L. student
Tabitha Ernst-Chadwick, current M.S.L. student
Cumberland School of Law’s Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) has been included in the Princeton Review’s 2021 list of the Best Online Master of Studies in Law Programs. Cumberland’s program is listed among the top 31 programs for nonlawyers in the nation.
 
According to the Princeton Review, these programs support professionals “whose careers will benefit from legal training even though they are not required to be practicing attorneys.” For many candidates, an online legal studies degree might even be the smarter choice than in-person because “online programs offer flexibility, affordability, access to innovative technologies, students from a diversity of career backgrounds, and global opportunities.”
 
Cumberland’s program includes students from across the country, most of whom are deep into their professional careers. These students represent diverse backgrounds and are enrolled in Cumberland’s program to help elevate their compliance careers in industries such as financial services, health care, and higher education, and within the growing field of legal operations.
 
Current student, Tabitha Ernst-Chadwick, is the chief risk and compliance officer for Marine Federal Credit Union in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
 
She said, “Even with over 20 years of experience, this program has taught me there is so much more to learn! It has enhanced my knowledge and understanding exponentially. It is definitely challenging, but that’s one of the things I love about it. This program has pushed me to think differently and expand my horizons. I’m already applying the knowledge I’ve gained in my day-to-day work. The professors are extremely helpful and have a genuine interest in our success. And the networking with my classmates has been invaluable! Although it’s online, I feel like I’ve gotten to know my classmates, and I’ve learned as much from their thoughts and experiences as I have from the textbooks. I would certainly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in the law and self-development. No matter where you are in your career path, it’s worth it.”
 
Kerry McInerney, director of Cumberland’s graduate programs, is excited by the recognition. “This ranking is a testament to not only the quality of our curriculum and instructors, but also the quality of our students like Tabitha. With compliance officer identified among the top 50 jobs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, we are thrilled to be listed among other prestigious law schools as a leading master’s program. Our hope is that this recognition by the Princeton Review will encourage professionals in regulatory compliance and legal operations roles to pursue our program as they seek to elevate their careers.”
 
To learn more about Cumberland School of Law’s Master of Studies in Law program for nonlawyers, see here.
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.