Lane Hines Woodke, assistant professor of law at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, is a coauthor of the newly released second edition of Experiencing Employment Discrimination Law, published by West Academic. The updated volume takes a distinctly practice-oriented approach, guiding students through real-world discrimination issues using structured questions and applied exercises.  

Designed as a teaching tool and a resource for future practitioners, the book introduces six core “threshold questions” that help students analyze whether an employment discrimination violation may have occurred. It incorporates brief, practice-relevant cases and hands-on “Leaning into Practice” scenarios, offering a streamlined, engaging alternative to traditional casebooks.  

Woodke brings more than two decades of federal litigation experience to the project. Before joining Cumberland School of Law in 2023, she served for 21 years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, including 11 years as chief of the Civil Division. She handled all aspects of civil litigation for the district and developed extensive expertise across employment discrimination, civil rights and complex federal practice.  

Earlier in her career, Woodke practiced at Huie, Fernambucq & Stewart in Birmingham and clerked for the Honorable Sharon Lovelace Blackburn of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. She holds a degree in political science and a Juris Doctor, both from the University of Alabama.  

At Cumberland, Woodke teaches courses relevant to civil litigation including civil procedure, pre‑trial practice and employment discrimination—areas directly reflected in the applied, student‑centered pedagogy of Experiencing Employment Discrimination Law. Her contribution to the book strengthens Cumberland’s commitment to preparing practice‑ready lawyers through experiential learning grounded in real‑world legal challenges. 

“Today’s workplace is more complex than ever,” Woodke said.  “Issues of discrimination don’t always arise in obvious ways, and both new lawyers and seasoned practitioners need the ability to recognize subtle patterns and ask the right questions from the start. This book gives students practical tools they can immediately apply—helping them understand not just what the law is, but how it operates in real people’s lives. My hope is that it equips future lawyers to navigate these challenges with clarity, confidence and compassion.”