Photo Arielle Foster
Competitive FLEP Program Leads Army Soldier to Cumberland School of Law 
Arielle Foster enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2018 as a paralegal specialist, beginning her military legal career, and she will graduate this spring from Cumberland School of Law. Selected for the military’s highly competitive Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), Foster reached a goal she had been working toward since early in her Army career. 
Photo Turner Woodfin
EJ Turner’s Journey from City Hall to Cumberland School of Law, and Back Again
EJ Turner has built a career rooted in public service. When he graduates from Cumberland School of Law this May, his path will become full-circle, taking him from City Hall to earning a law degree and back to city leadership—mirroring the journey of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, a fellow Cumberland graduate.
Photo Russell Burt
Competitive FLEP Program Equips Air Force Captain for Impactful JAG Corps Career
A commitment to service has shaped every stage of Russell Burt’s career—and now, that commitment is taking a new form through legal training, with his graduation from law school on the horizon.
 
Photo Brady Heard
Answering the Call: A Veteran and First Responder Who Chose Law as His Next Mission 
Brady Heard’s journey from military service and emergency response to law school reflects a lifelong commitment to serving others—now carried forward through advocacy, resilience and trust in the legal field.
Photo Standifer Award
Cumberland School of Law Recognizes Student Award Recipients, Standifer Receives University Award for Character and Service
Among the law school award honorees, second-year law student Elizabeth Standifer received a prestigious university-wide award in recognition of exemplary character, service and leadership.
Photo Justice and Mercy
Cumberland School of Law Reports Nearly 95 Percent Employment Rate for Class of 2025
Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law continues to demonstrate strong employment outcomes, with 94.9% of Class of 2025 graduates who were eligible for employment securing positions 10 months after graduation.
 
Photo Catie Bovey
Bridging Worlds: Former Nurse Preparing to Make Impact in Law
From clinical care to legal counsel, Catie Bovey, a member of Cumberland School of Law's class of 2026, is blending expertise to serve others in new ways.
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Samford’s Alicia Gilbert Emerges as Expert in Ongoing 340B Litigation
Research by Alicia Gilbert, assistant professor at Cumberland School of Law, is shaping national conversations on lawsuits redefining drug-industry oversight.
Photo Cooley Sisters
Two Paths, One Journey: Cooley Sisters Graduate Together from Law School
Sisters Sydni and Skyla Cooley graduate together from Cumberland School of Law after navigating law school, loss and growth while serving as each other’s constant support.
 
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Cumberland School of Law Receives $1 Million Gift to Endow Fellowship in Real Estate Law, Names Inaugural Student Fellow
Gift from alumnus Deno P. Dikeou will support students interested in engaging in real estate, policy analysis and related educational pursuits. Second-year law student Cameron Givianpour has been named the inaugural student fellow.
Photo Robinson Hall Spring Flowers
Cumberland School of Law Faculty Scholarship Citations, Jan. 1-March 31, 2026
The scholarship of Samford University Cumberland School of Law faculty members is frequently cited in numerous legal disciplines. The following is a list of faculty authored works cited from Jan. 1-March 31, 2026, and sourced by Westlaw Precision, Lexis+ AI, and HeinOnline.
Photo Roberts Tracey
Samford Law Professor Shapes National Debate on IRS Fraud Enforcement in Supreme Court Case
Cumberland School of Law Professor Tracey Roberts was recently cited in Bloomberg Law’s coverage of a pivotal tax enforcement case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, Hirsch v. U.S. Tax Court.
 
Photo Mason King NFL Combine
Inside the NFL Combine: Mason King’s Externship at the Intersection of Law and Athletics
Mason King, a third-year student at Samford University Cumberland School of Law, is spending his final spring semester as a legal extern and marketing/operations assistant with United Athlete Sports, providing a hands-on experience at the intersection of law, athletics and compliance.
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Cumberland School of Law Recognizes Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship
Cumberland School of Law faculty were recognized for their impact in the classroom, mentorship of students and contributions to legal scholarship.
Photo Robinson Hall Spring Floral
Cumberland School of Law Trial Advocacy Program Ranks in Nation’s Top 10 for 7th Consecutive Year
U.S. News & World Report once again ranks Samford University Cumberland School of Law among the best law schools in the nation, ranking the school No. 9 in the nation for Trial Advocacy training.
 
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Colonial Dames Honor Samford Students for Exceptional Research on Early American History
The Birmingham Center of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America recognized outstanding student scholarship at its annual American Independence Awards luncheon in March.
Photo Carter Crum SEC
Preparing for a Career in College Athletics: Carter Crum’s Legal Externship with the SEC
Carter Crum, a second-year Cumberland School of Law student, has been participating in an externship with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) this spring, benefiting from hands-on learning at the intersection of athletics, law, business and compliance. 
Photo Trials and Tribulations 2026
Cumberland School of Law Trial Team Finishes as National Semifinalist in Trials and Tribulations Competition  
Members of Samford University Cumberland School of Law’s national trial team finished as national semifinalists in the Trials and Tribulations National Trial Competition, March 13-15, competing against 21 teams from some of the top ranked law school trial advocacy programs in the country.