The Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA) has officially announced reaccreditation for Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. First accredited in 1949, Cumberland School of Law is among only 200 law schools in the nation to achieve such prestigious recognition by the ABA for the traditional Juris Doctor degree.

Dean Corky Strickland said, “We are pleased that Cumberland continues to be fully approved by the ABA. Our committed faculty and staff work tirelessly and diligently to prepare the next generation of Cumberland lawyers dedicated to professionalism and service. ABA approval assures Cumberland lawyers are eligible for admission to the bar in any state.”

The ABA operates to serve its members and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative of the legal profession. For more than a century, ABA accreditation has been synonymous with the highest standards in legal education. A substantial and serious process, fully approved law schools undergo a full site evaluation every 10 years after initial approval, which can sometimes take up to three years to complete.

J. Michael Hardin, Samford’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, added, “As a former academic dean, I know the preparation for these reviews is no small task. I extend my congratulations to Dean Corky Strickland for leading the school through this rigorous process. Because of this accreditation extension, Cumberland School of Law is equipped to continue the quality education that is crucial for developing the next generation of leaders in our legal workforce.”