Law (Graduate)

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Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degrees
Master of Laws (LL.M.) with concentrations in
          Financial Services Regulatory Compliance (LL.M.) 
          Health Law and Compliance (LL.M.) 
          Higher Education Law and Compliance (LL.M.) 
          Legal Operations (LL.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 Compliance (M.S.L.) 
          Higher Education Law and Compliance (M.S.L.) 
          Legal Operations (M.S.L.)  

Certificates
Financial Services Regulatory Compliance Certificate (CRG) 
Health Law and Compliance Certificate (CRG) 
Higher Education Law and Compliance Certificate (CRG) 
Legal Operations Certificate (CRG)  

Joint Degree Pathway Programs
Master of Studies in Law with a Concentration in Health Law and Compliance/Doctor of Pharmacy (M.S.L./Pharm.D.)
Juris Doctor/Master of Laws (J.D./LL.M.) with concentrations in
          Financial Services Regulatory Compliance
          Health Law and Compliance
          Higher Education Law and Compliance
          Legal Operations
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Cumberland School of Law offers two graduate law programs: the master of laws (LL.M.) for J.D. students or graduates, which has four concentrations (financial services regulatory compliance, health law and compliance, higher education law and compliance, and legal operations), and the master of studies in law (M.S.L.) for non-lawyers, which has five concentrations (master of studies in law general option, financial services regulatory compliance, health law and compliance, higher education law and compliance, and legal operations).

The law school also offers four online certificates in the following areas: financial services regulatory compliance, health law and compliance, higher education law and compliance, and legal operations. The graduate law certificates are available to both attorneys and non-lawyers and can be converted to either an LL.M. or M.S.L.

Additionally, the law school offers two joint degree pathway programs: one combining the master of laws (LL.M.) with the juris doctor (J.D.), incorporating the same four concentrations as noted above; one in cooperation with the McWhorter School of Pharmacy, leading to both a master of studies in law (M.S.L.), with a concentration in health law and compliance, and a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.). Some credit sharing is allowed and overall credits of the combined programs are reduced.

The law school also sponsors eight additional joint degree pathway programs in connection with the J.D. degree. For more information on the J.D. and the other joint degrees, see the Law (Doctoral)  section, as well as the law school website, http://samford.edu/cumberlandlaw.

Accreditation

The master of studies in law with a concentration in health law and compliance and the master of laws with a concentration in health law and compliance 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, 31-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 operations.

Admission Requirements

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. One letter of recommendation from a faculty member or supervisor.
4. Personal statement indicating career plans and likelihood of success in graduate study.
5. Professional résumé.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit will be applied to the 31 credits of required coursework.

Time-to-Degree Completion Plan

The LL.M. program can be completed in two academic years, including summers, but must be completed in seven years. 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, 34-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 13-16-hour core, students may choose from one of four concentrations, or design a personalized course of study. 

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 an accredited institution. 
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.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit will be applied to the 34 credits of required coursework.

Time-to-Degree Completion Plan

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

Graduate Law Certificate

The graduate law certificate is a fully online certificate program designed for both attorneys and non-lawyers interested in specialized knowledge and training, but who do not seek a full master’s degree. Cumberland offers four 15-hour certificates in the areas of financial services regulatory compliance, health law and compliance, higher education law and compliance, and legal operations. Students can convert their graduate law certificate to either the Master of Laws (LL.M.) or Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) and thereby earn this master’s degree by completing the additional coursework and requirements for the LL.M. or M.S.L. degree.

Admission Requirements

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

1. Minimum GPA of 3.00 from an accredited institution.
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.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit will be applied to the 15 hours of required coursework.

Time to Certificate Completion Plan

The graduate law certificate program can be completed in one academic year but must be completed in seven years. Students wishing to convert their graduate law certificate to either an LL.M. or M.S.L. must make that election within five years or within seven years of initial enrollment and complete the additional coursework.

Programs

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

• Financial Services Regulatory Compliance Certificate (CRG)
• Health Law and Compliance Certificate (CRG)
• Higher Education Law and Compliance Certificate (CRG)
• Legal Operations Certificate (CRG)

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 (3)
• MLPM 550 - Legal Technology and Innovation (3)
• MLPM 560 - E-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 555 - Compliance Program Management (3)
• MSLW 565 - Information Privacy and Cybersecurity (3)
• MSLW 575 - Business of Law (3)
• MSLW 600 - Master of Studies in Law Capstone (3 or 4)