Earn Your Master of Laws (LL.M.) | Samford University

Advance your legal career with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Samford University. Specialize in key areas of law and gain the expertise needed to excel in the global legal landscape.

LLM

Master of Laws

Advance your legal expertise with a fully online LLM.

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Is This Program for Me?

The Master of Laws (LLM) is designed for professionals who have already earned a Juris Doctor. Delivered 100% online, this program will expand your expertise and help you stand out in today’s complex regulatory and compliance landscape.

Students can choose from one of four in-demand concentrations:

Financial Services Health Law Higher Education Legal Operations

Master of Laws: Financial Service Regulatory Compliance

The knowledge and skills you will gain through this program will enable you to advance your career with financial institutions such as banks and credit unions, securities brokers, information technology and related vendors, national and community banks, regulatory agencies and law firms. Students and graduates may have job titles such as compliance officer or risk management director or may work in some other capacity in the industry. In addition to general degree outcomes, students will:

Learn best practices for balancing the safeguards for corporate security and consumer protection in a broad range of regulations concerning money laundering, financial fraud, privacy and more.

And be able to provide leadership in the enhancement of consumer protection and quality improvement.

Courses

The financial services regulatory compliance curriculum focuses on understanding and applying the complex laws and regulations governing the post-2008 American financial services industry including the Bank Secrecy Act, Dodd-Frank Act, UDAAP laws, and the CFPB. Compliance program development and enforcement within the broader risk-management framework is an integral component. The future of the regulatory environment, international implications, and advances in payment systems and technologies are also addressed.

View the Curriculum

Master of Laws: Health Law and Compliance

This concentration will help you advance in compliance-related roles in the fields of health care administration, nursing, medicine, compliance, and human resources. In addition to general degree outcomes, students will:

- Learn to implement the basic components of an effective corporate compliance program.
- Learn to implement safeguards for privacy and security pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Be able to continuously adapt to the evolving health system in the United States.
- And, be able to provide leadership in the enhancement of patient safety and quality improvement.

Courses

The program includes course work in health law, regulatory affairs, public policy, insurance, and healthcare administration, with a particular emphasis on health care compliance.

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Student Benefits

The Compliance and Certification Board (CCB) offers free conference registration to current students and credentialing exam eligibility upon graduation.

Accreditation

The concentration in health law and compliance is accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)®. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for any of the following credentialing exams offered by the Compliance Certification Board without having to meet the typical work experience or CEU requirements: Healthcare Compliance (CHC)™, Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)®, Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC)® Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP)®.

Master of Laws: Higher Education Law and Compliance

This concentration is designed for professionals interested in the laws, regulations, and compliance considerations that impact higher education. Students will learn the practical compliance skills necessary for advancement in a variety of higher education-related careers and will:

- Be able to evaluate programs and policies for potential risk and identify corrective measures.
- Learn to apply best practices for ensuring the privacy of student data.
- Be able to respond to government and accreditor reporting requirements.
- And, be able to continuously adapt to the evolving regulatory framework of higher education in the United States.

Courses

The curriculum is designed for compliance officers, Title IX officers, ADA support and financial aid personnel, accreditation managers, higher education administrators, attorneys and others interested in developing their expertise in the field of education law and compliance.

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Student Benefits

The Association of Title IX Administrators (atIXa) offers complimentary student membership and discounted conference registrations.

Master of Laws: Legal Operations

This concentration is designed for law firm professionals who seek career advancement by developing expertise in the growing field of legal operations. This program will prepare students for career opportunities as firm administrators, mass tort or complex litigation attorneys, and law firm marketing or finance professionals. In addition to general degree outcomes, students will:

Be prepared for leadership roles in a variety of law office settings.
Understand the business of law and ways to positively impact profitability.
Be able to apply and adapt the formal processes and principles of project management to the legal environment.
Be able to apply process improvement techniques and strategies for the benefit of the firm.
Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities of a manager with respect to electronically stored information.
Be able to identify and evaluate resources necessary for effective management of litigation and e-discovery.
And be able to recognize and respond appropriately to ethical issues including complicity, breach of confidentiality, improper communication, and conflicts of interest.

Courses

The courses address specialized ethical considerations inherent in the management of litigation and electronically stored information (ESI).

View the Curriculum

Student Benefits

The Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP) offers automatic eligibility to sit for the CeDP exam upon graduation, as well as discounted membership and other certifications.

The Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS) offers a discounted certification exam package to graduates.

Law Students Outside

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Master of Laws, you will be able to:

Access and navigate U.S. legal databases to locate statutes, regulations and court decisions.
Analyze policy and compliance issues from ethical, legal and economic perspectives.
Evaluate cost-effectiveness and outcomes to inform decision-making.
And communicate complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing, using industry-specific terminology.

Career Preparation

Through real-world coursework and practical training, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to excel in specialized legal environments. You’ll graduate ready to collaborate effectively with attorneys, compliance experts, and other legal professionals, while mastering the specialized competencies essential for career success. Our graduates work in a variety of compliance-related fields and corporations.

Student Outside

“Cumberland School of Law’s LLM program was an incredible and invaluable experience. I have aspired to be a health care attorney since my first law school summer clerkship.”

“Today, I practice in the areas of health care regulatory compliance and transactional law. I would not be where I am today without my LLM from Cumberland. From the intriguing courses to the exceptionally experienced and engaged professors, I highly recommend Cumberland’s online program for any professional seeking to complement and enhance their expertise to obtain a desired career or elevate a current career.”

—Mitchell Surface, JD/LLM ’21, Associate, Maynard Nexsen, Health Law and Compliance

“I believe my LLM in higher education law and compliance from Cumberland School of Law gave me a depth of knowledge to effectively ‘punch above my weight’ in higher education law.”

“I knew if I wanted to set myself apart in such a competitive field, I would need to have something that showed I was committed to this industry and to working toward being an expert in it. The hiring committee was intrigued that Cumberland School of Law offered an LLM in higher education law and compliance, and I believe it has played a role in my career advancement.”

—Steven Boydstun, JD ’17, LLM ’22, former General Counsel, University of Montevallo, Higher Education Law and Compliance

“I have a keen interest in the intersection of the profession of law and business of legal enterprise.”

“When I learned that I could get an LLM in this area of study—increase my professional value while feed my curiosity—I knew Cumberland was the program for me. The course work is practical and intended to translate to success in the business of operating a law firm. Law school taught me to think like a lawyer. Earning my LLM from Cumberland School of Law taught me to think like a COO."

—Jill Rothstein, JD, LLM ’20, Executive Director, State Bar of Wisconsin, Legal Operations

Admission and Application Requirements

Key Dates for Fall 2026

Application Open: Sept. 2, 2025
Application Deadline: July 15, 2026
FAFSA Deadline: July 15, 2026
Fall 2026 Term Begins: Aug. 24, 2026

1. Completed Application

All applicants must complete and submit an application. All materials must be submitted through the online system which includes detailed instructions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to log into his or her application to confirm that all required materials have been received.

2. Official Transcript

All applicants must provide an official transcript indicating the award of a Juris Doctor or be currently enrolled as a Juris Doctor student at Cumberland School of Law (3.0).

Transcripts are considered official only when sent directly from the issuing institution to Samford University. We require official transcript(s) from all previously attended undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate institutions. Transcripts may be submitted in the following ways:

Email (Preferred): Transcripts may be sent electronically from the institution to admission@samford.edu.
Electronic Services: Transcripts may also be sent through authorized electronic transcript services such as:
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Parchment
- Scrip-Safe
- Or any other secure electronic transcript delivery service
Please select Samford University as the recipient during the ordering process.
Mail: If electronic delivery is not available, official transcripts may be mailed to:

Samford University

Office of Admission

800 Lakeshore Drive

Birmingham, AL 35229

Please allow ample time for transcript orders to be processed.