About Samford University and Cumberland School of Law

Samford University is a premier nationally ranked Christian university. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranks Samford third among regional universities in the South, and Samford is recognized as the top-ranked university in the state of Alabama in national rankings published by Forbes Inc., The Economist and The Wall Street Journal. Samford enrolls 5,509 students from 45 states and 30 countries in its 10 academic units: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford also fields 17 NCAA Division I teams that compete in the tradition–rich Southern Conference.

Cumberland School of Law has a rich history of more than 170 years of legal education and is the 11th oldest law school in the U.S.  Cumberland's online masters programs are accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).  

About the Online LL.M. Program

Cumberland's online Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree is designed for attorneys interested in furthering their legal education. The LL.M. program is a fully online, 30 hour master's degree program that is designed primarily for lawyers interested in pursuing a graduate degree that complements their current practice or opens doors to a new area of practice.  

LL.M. students complete one class per term for the first fall and spring, followed by two classes per term for each term thereafter, finishing the degree in two years of part-time study.  You may choose from one of four specialized, career-enhancing concentrations.  Click on any of the concentrations below to learn more about each one:

• Financial Services Regulatory Compliance 
• Health Law and Policy 
• Higher Education Law and Compliance
• Legal Project Management

About Online Learning at Cumberland School of Law

Our asynchronous model for online classes means that you can log in and complete your coursework on your own schedule - studying when and where it's convenient for you. Following the on-campus orientation prior to the first week of class, all coursework can be completed from any location with your laptop and a reliable internet connection.  

Applying to the Online LL.M. Program

Our simple, online application walks you through the process with detailed instructions.  After submitting an application and all required materials have been received by our office, applicants will receive a decision within two weeks.  

Minimum Requirements for LL.M. Admission:

• Must have earned a J.D. 
• One letter of recommendation from a former faculty member or professional colleague
• Personal statement indicating career plans and likelihood of success in graduate study
• Professional resume

Students with an undergraduate cumulative GPA lower than 3.0 are encouraged, but not required, to submit standardized test scores such as the GRE or GMAT.

Students whose qualifying degree was earned at a non-English speaking institution must demonstrate English proficiency by earning the score listed below on any one of the following exams. Only official score reports will be considered.

• TOEFL - 575
• TOEFL IBT - 90
• IELTS - 6.5

Important Dates:

• March 1, 2019 - Priority application deadline with no application fee
• June 30, 2019 - Priority deadline to submit FAFSA
• August 1, 2019 - Final application deadline, with $100 application fee
• One Saturday in Mid-August - Orientation (on campus or online)
• August 27, 2019 - Fall 2019 term begins