Juris Doctor
Cumberland School of Law’s Juris Doctor combines academic and practical training to prepare you for a meaningful legal career.
95% Employment Rate
Class of 2024
#6 in the Nation for Best Quality of Life
The Princeton Review (2024)
#4 in the Nation for Best Trial Advocacy
U.S. News & World Report (2025)
Is the Juris Doctor for Me?
The Juris Doctor (JD) is the flagship degree of Cumberland School of Law. It combines rigorous academic training with practical skills development to prepare students for a wide range of careers in law, public service and leadership. This degree offers a balanced curriculum of legal theory, ethical responsibility, experiential learning and professional development. The JD consists of 90 credit hours and typically requires three years of full-time study to complete.
“If being a lawyer is your calling, then Cumberland School of Law is your choice.” —Randall Woodfin, JD ’07, mayor of Birmingham, Alabama
What Makes Us Different
Our Juris Doctor program features numerous opportunities for students to get involved, grow in their academic pursuits as well as outside the classroom, all on their way to pursuing a meaningful legal career.
Academic and Bar Success
Through our Academic and Bar Success program, students are supported from day one through the bar exam and beyond. With personalized resources, workshops and mentoring, the program promotes academic achievement, professional growth and overall well-being.
Academic Centers
Cumberland School of Law hosts two distinguished academic centers dedicated to advancing justice in specialized legal fields. The Center for Children, Law and Ethics and the Land Use and Natural Resources Law Center provide students with opportunities to engage in impactful scholarship, policy analysis and real-world legal practice.
Advocacy
Our nationally ranked advocacy program provides students hands-on training in trial, appellate and alternative dispute resolution skills. With a strong emphasis on real-world experience and competition, the program prepares students to become confident, effective legal advocates.
Career Development
Our in-house Career Development Office offers students job search training, career planning and hands-on workshops. Through career fairs, networking events and personalized coaching, students gain access to a strong alumni network and vast array of legal job opportunities.
Clerkships
Our judicial clerkship program prepares students to pursue prestigious clerkships with judges at the state and federal levels. Through personalized advising and mentorship and application support, students gain the tools needed to navigate the highly competitive clerkship process.
Clinics, Externships and Public Interest
Through clinics, externships and public interest opportunities students actively serve their communities beginning with their first-year orientation. This commitment shapes compassionate, service-minded legal professionals—throughout law school and beyond.
Esteemed Faculty
Our esteemed faculty bring extensive real-world experience and advanced degrees from top law schools, enriching students’ education with practical insights and scholarly expertise.
Student Journals
Cumberland School of Law students lead two respected publications—the American Journal of Trial Advocacy and the Cumberland Law Review—both offering valuable experience in legal research, writing and editing.
Study Abroad
Through our study abroad opportunities, students gain global legal perspectives in countries like England, Scotland and Iceland. These programs immerse students in different legal systems and cultures while also providing enriching international experiences.
Robust Student Life
Cumberland School of Law offers a vibrant, collegial community with over 35 student organizations that help students build lifelong connections while refining their legal skills.
“The best thing about Cumberland School of Law is the support students receive. I have never been turned away after asking for help. This is true for staff, professors and even other students. This allows me to be comfortable expressing the things I’m interested in—personally and professionally—which has allowed me to take advantage of opportunities I might not have had the chance to otherwise.” —Elizabeth Mojica, Third-year Law Student
Juris Doctor Curriculum
Our traditional JD curriculum is enhanced by numerous specialty programs that make the Cumberland School of Law experience unique.
Courses and Tracks
Our exhaustive course offerings include a variety of electives and tracks available to help guide your curriculum, offering valuable direction if you have a specific legal field in mind. Numerous courses extend beyond these specialties, allowing for a well-rounded legal education.
Joint Degrees
Eight joint degree programs allow JD students to broaden their perspectives and become equipped for specialized careers. Students apply to the complimentary degree program in the spring of their first year, and most programs can be completed in the same three years.
Legal Research and Writing
Our Legal Research and Writing program equips students with practical skills in legal research, analysis and effective communication with lawyers, clients and judges. Through small-section instruction and hands-on practice students build a strong foundation in legal research and writing.
Pre-1L Summer Program
The Pre-1L Summer program gives incoming students a head start with two elective courses—Foundations in Law and Public Law Process—totaling five credit hours. Early exposure to legal research and core concepts helps students adjust to law school and Birmingham before the fall semester.
