The Cumberland School of Law at Samford University has joined forces with Tuskegee University to offer students an accelerated path towards achieving a law degree.
Tuskegee students will now be able to join what is commonly called a 3+3 partnership, allowing them to take three years of courses at Tuskegee, then three years at Cumberland. Upon completion, they would graduate with both a bachelors and law degree.
“Tuskegee students are very involved in their prelaw program, and it just made sense to institute a formal agreement that substantiates the relationship which already exists,” Whitney Dachelet, assistant dean for Admission at Cumberland, said in a statement.
The universities say the program will begin right away, with Tuskegee juniors who have completed their core and major requirements being able to use their first year of law school to fulfill any outstanding requirements for their bachelor’s degree.
“With Cumberland being situated in Birmingham, the largest legal market in Alabama, we have no doubt that this program will prepare our students to become better acquainted with the legal profession,” remarked Tammy Laughlin, a professor and advisor to the prelaw program at Tuskegee.
Tuskegee joins Samford University, Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Montevallo and Troy University on the list of schools that have a 3+3 partnership with the Cumberland School of Law.
According to a release from Samford, “Students with a competitive GPA and LSAT scores are eligible to receive a scholarship ranging from 25% tuition scholarship to a full tuition scholarship.”
“In addition, the partnership with will create summer coursework and internship opportunities to help students build relationships with attorneys and judges within the Birmingham legal community,” the university added.
Laughlin said that she and other officials at Tuskegee felt that both their institution and Cumberland “fully embraced the concept of a family atmosphere where students feel comfortable interacting freely with faculty and administration.”
“In addition, both universities instill a certain ‘can do’ spirit that will assure that our students are fully prepared to excel in the legal profession,” Laughlin concluded.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
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