Graduate Law

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Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degrees
Master of Laws (LL.M.) with concentrations in
          Financial Services Regulatory Compliance (L.L.M.) 
          Health Law and Policy (L.L.M.) 
          Higher Education Law & Compliance (L.L.M.) 
          Legal Project Management (L.L.M.)  

Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) with concentrations in
          Master of Studies in Law, General Option (M.S.L.) 
          Financial Services Regulatory Compliance (M.S.L.) 
          Health Law and Policy (M.S.L.) 
          Higher Education Law & Compliance (M.S.L.) 
          Legal Project Management (M.S.L.)  

Certificates
Financial Services Regulatory Compliance Certificate 
Health Law and Policy Certificate 
Higher Education Law & Compliance Certificate 
Legal Project Management Certificate  

Joint Degrees
Juris Doctor/Master of Laws (J.D./LL.M.) with concentrations in
          Financial Services Regulatory Compliance
          Health Law and Policy
          Higher Education Law and Compliance
          Legal Project Management

Cumberland School of Law offers two graduate law programs: the master of laws (LL.M.), which has four concentrations, and the master of studies in law (M.S.L.), which has five concentrations. Additionally, the master of laws program can be combined with the juris doctor (J.D.) for a joint degree, incorporating the same four concentrations. The Law School also sponsors eight additional joint-degree programs in connection with the J.D. degree. For more information on the J.D. and the other joint degrees, see the Doctoral Law  section, as well as the law school website, http://samford.edu/cumberlandlaw.

The Law School also offers four online certificates in the following areas: financial services regulatory compliance, health law and policy, higher education law and compliance, and legal project management.

Accreditation

The master of studies in law with a concentration in health law and policy and the master of laws with a concentration in health law and policy are accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)®. Graduates of these programs will be eligible to sit for any of the following credentialing exams offered by the Compliance Certification Board: Healthcare Compliance (CHC)™, Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)®, Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC)®, and Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP)®. Since the American Bar Association does not accredit master’s degrees, these programs are not accredited by the A.B.A., nor are graduates of these programs eligible to sit for the bar examination.

Master of Laws (LL.M.)

The master of laws (LL.M.) degree is a fully online, 30-hour master’s degree program designed for attorneys interested in the laws, regulations, and compliance considerations that impact financial services, health care, or higher education, as well as for those who wish to develop their expertise in the growing field of legal project management.

Admission Criteria

Applicants will be considered for admission to this graduate program based on the following criteria:

1. Minimum GPA of 3.00.
2. For students in the stand-alone LL.M. program, completion of a J.D. degree or current enrollment in the J.D. program at Samford is required. For students pursuing the joint-degree program, completion of the first year of the J.D. curriculum, with a 3.00 minimum GPA, is required.
3. Two letters of recommendation from a faculty member or supervisor.
4. Personal statement indicating career plans and likelihood of success in graduate study.
5. Professional résumé.
6. Applicant video or video interview.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit will be applied to the 30 credits of required coursework.

Time-to-Degree Completion Plan

The LL.M. program can be completed in two academic years, including summers. Students in the joint-degree program must complete all requirements for both degrees concurrently.

Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.)

The master of studies in law (M.S.L) degree is a fully online, 36-hour master’s degree program designed primarily for non-lawyers interested in pursuing a specialized, career-enhancing graduate degree. Students will complete two, 3-credit classes per term for six consecutive terms, earning the degree in 24 months. Following the 12-hour core, students may choose from one of four concentrations, or design a personalized course of study by choosing from a variety of electives.

Admission Criteria

Applicants will be considered for admission to this graduate program based on the following criteria:

1. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 from a regionally accredited institution. GRE or MAT scores are required for students whose GPA is below 2.75.
2. Two letters of recommendation from a faculty member or supervisor.
3. Personal statement indicating career plans and likelihood of success in graduate study.
4. Professional résumé.
5. Applicant video or video interview.
6. Students with a J.D. degree may apply for advanced standing in order to enter the program in spring of year one, skipping fall of year one completely

Time-to-Degree Completion Plan

The M.S.L. program can be completed in two academic years, including summers.

Programs

• Financial Services Regulatory Compliance (L.L.M.)
• Financial Services Regulatory Compliance (M.S.L.)
• Health Law and Policy (L.L.M.)
• Health Law and Policy (M.S.L.)
• Higher Education Law & Compliance (L.L.M.)
• Higher Education Law & Compliance (M.S.L.)
• Legal Project Management (L.L.M.)
• Legal Project Management (M.S.L.)
• Master of Studies in Law, General Option (M.S.L.)

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

Courses

• MFRC 510 - Banking Law and Regulation in the U.S. (3)
• MFRC 520 - Consumer Protection Laws and Regulations (3)
• MFRC 530 - Mortgage and Securities Regulation and Compliance (3)
• MFRC 540 - Crime and Compliance: BSA/AML (3)
• MFRC 550 - E-Commerce and Payment Systems (3)
• MFRC 560 - Compliance Program Management for Banks and Financial Services (3)
• MFRC 570 - Regulatory Enforcement and Risk Management (3)
• MFRC 600 - Financial Services Regulatory Compliance Capstone (3)

• MHLP 510 - Introduction to Law and Public Policy (3)
• MHLP 520 - Introduction to the Health Care Delivery System (3)
• MHLP 530 - Healthcare Compliance: Laws and Regulations (3)
• MHLP 540 - Health Insurance (3)
• MHLP 541 - Healthcare Insurance and Finance (3)
• MHLP 550 - Healthcare Compliance: Programs and Policies (3)
• MHLP 560 - Corporate Ethics in Healthcare (3)
• MHLP 570 - Healthcare Privacy and Security (3)
• MHLP 580 - Healthcare Compliance: Investigating, Auditing, Monitoring (3)
• MHLP 590 - Healthcare Finance (3)
• MHLP 600 - Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (3)
• MHLP 601 - Health Law and Policy Capstone (3)
• MHLP 610 - Strategic Management of Healthcare (3)

• MHLC 510 - Higher Education Law and Governance (3)
• MHLC 520 - Data and Privacy in Education Compliance (3)
• MHLC 530 - Student Disability Law (3)
• MHLC 540 - Student Rights and Campus Safety (3)
• MHLC 550 - Creating and Enforcing Policies and Procedures (3)
• MHLC 560 - Financial Compliance in Higher Education (3)
• MHLC 570 - Compliance Program Management (3)
• MHLC 580 - Compliance and Accreditation (3)
• MHLC 600 - Higher Education Law and Compliance Capstone (3)

• MLPM 510 - Electronically Stored Information I: Introduction (3)
• MLPM 520 - Law Firm Accounting and Finance (3)
• MLPM 530 - Legal Project Management Principles (3)
• MLPM 540 - Legal Project Management Application (3)
• MLPM 550 - Legal Technology and Innovation (3)
• MLPM 560 - Electronically Stored Information II: Discovery (3)
• MLPM 570 - Law Firm Management (3)
• MLPM 580 - Complex Litigation Management (3)
• MLPM 600 - Legal Project Management Capstone (3)

• MSLW 515 - Introduction to Law and Legal Procedure (3)
• MSLW 525 - Principles of Business Law (3)
• MSLW 535 - Legal Writing and Communication Skills (3)
• MSLW 545 - Introduction to Public Policy: Legislation and Regulation (3)
• MSLW 600 - Master of Studies in Law Capstone (3)

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