Cumberland School of Law empowers students—as well as its faculty—to pursue their passions.

In 1988, Henry C. "Corky" Strickland moved from the courtroom to the classroom, intent upon studying evolving legal issues and analyzing how the law should address them. That year he joined the Cumberland School of Law faculty, altering the course of his career.

Across his 36 years on the faculty, Strickland served in many roles—including associate dean and dean—and witnessed transformative shifts in legal education. Some changes were positive, some not so much. “While changes often do not seem dramatic as they are happening, they can appear seismic when we look back over decades,” Strickland said.

The integration of technology in the classroom proved monumental, he said, “like the use of laptops in class and on exams, legal research moving almost entirely online, and the new opportunities and challenges created by artificial intelligence.” One not-so-obvious change was the progression from chalkboards—“yes, the kind with real, dusty chalk back in the 1980s”—to dry-erase whiteboards, projectors, PowerPoint slides and learning management systems.

Strickland lauded the transition from focusing exclusively on legal doctrine and theory to adding an emphasis on a practical, experiential education. “Cumberland, of course, was always ahead of its time providing instruction and practice in trial advocacy and other essential lawyer skills,” he said. “Over the past few decades, all law schools have increased attention to these skills. Doctrine and theory remain critically important, but law schools now understand the need to marry doctrine with practical training."

Concerning to Strickland are society’s deteriorating support for the rule of law, as well as the increased debt load of law students. “If our country is to survive as a democratic republic, we must rebuild an understanding and appreciation for our historic processes and institutions. Law schools, and indeed all lawyers, must lead that crucial effort.”

In reflecting on his time at Cumberland, Strickland remembered special moments, including the students who composed his first class in August 1988 and his wife Anne’s graduation in 1992. He also fondly remembers playing in the Student Bar Association’s threeon-three basketball tournaments during the 1990s, and students volunteering to write classroom lessons on the chalkboard when an ankle injury hobbled Strickland in 2003. He also fondly recalled traveling with national negotiation teams and enjoying many Rascal Day picnics on sun-splashed spring days.

Cumberland recently earned a top-10 ranking from Princeton Review in its Best Quality of Life category, a recognition Strickland can appreciate. “Cumberland is a special place to study law, in part because of the collegial, caring culture of the Cumberland community and the relationships it fosters. Cumberland students care about and support each other in a way that creates lifelong friendships, and faculty and staff are supportive and are passionate about preparing students for meaningful careers,” he said.

The enthusiasm and generosity shown by alumni supports Cumberland’s emphasis on mentoring young lawyers. “While we all recognize the important roles that supreme court justices, elected officials, and even law professors and deans play, Cumberland recognizes the absolutely pivotal role of engaged, ethical, and caring lawyers who work to advance the interests of their clients,” Strickland said. “They are the cornerstone of our system."

In May 2024, he and Anne kicked off retirement with a trip to France, Austria and northern Italy. While looking forward to spending more quality time with their children and grandchildren, Strickland plans to remain connected to legal education. He will continue serving as a member of the American Arbitration Association’s National Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators and hopes to teach periodically as an adjunct or visiting law professor.

This story was originally published in the 2024 edition of Cumberland Lawyer magazine. Read the complete issue here.