From the Dean
Welcome from Cumberland School of Law Dean Blake Hudson
After 15 years in the legal profession, I am still on the path of pursuing my purpose. My path has led me through the practice, research and teaching of environmental, natural resources and land use law. I pursued environmental law because of my love for family forestland in south Alabama. Through my experiences growing up on that land, I found my purpose: to develop and advocate legal and policy solutions for better management of valuable lands and resources.
My love for that south Alabama forestland recently played a role in spurring me further along my path. My deep care for this state led me back home to become the dean of Cumberland School of Law.
As dean, I want to help provide greater access to legal education for a wider range of the population. Access to a legal education changed the trajectory of my family. My father was the first in our family to go to college, and I was the first to attend law school. Without others helping me believe that a career in law was a possibility, I never would have pursued it. It is a purpose that you can pursue, too. Whether you are a first-generation college student, have a background that is underrepresented in the profession or come from a family of lawyers, there is a place for everyone at Cumberland School of Law.
For 175 years, Cumberland School of Law has educated a talented community of students with knowledge and practical skills, equipping them to become highly competent, ethical lawyers committed to professionalism and service. Hallmarks of a Cumberland education are practical application approaches to legal education and a culture of community.
Cumberland School of Law has deep roots in trial practice, with an exceptional, nationally ranked program in trial advocacy. We also offer expanded opportunities in transactional, regulatory and international law, among a wide variety of other practice areas.
A Cumberland education not only prepares you for legal practice, but also for impacting the lives of others. Cumberland’s student body is collegial and supportive. While our faculty are excellent teachers and legal scholars, they care deeply about our students, their success and cultivating personal relationships with them. We want every member of our law school—faculty, staff and students—to care deeply not only for each other, but also for the broader community we serve in the city of Birmingham, the state of Alabama and beyond.
Come visit us, connect with me and our admissions team, and meet faculty and students. Let us help you find your purpose at Cumberland School of Law.
Blake Hudson
Dean and Professor of Law