Samford University is ranked No. 8 in the nation for the quality of career preparation by The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. A hallmark of Samford’s Cumberland School of Law is preparing its students for meaningful legal careers through real-world training.
Third-year Cumberland School of Law student Dylan Cooper recently was able to put his classroom knowledge into practice. As part of Cumberland’s Eviction Externship, in partnership with Volunteer Lawyers of Birmingham, law students provide free legal representation to tenants facing eviction in Jefferson County. The program allows students to interview clients and appear in court to represent clients in real cases. Cooper saw his client’s case all the way through to trial, culminating his experience with a defense verdict in his client’s favor.
“After the trial ended and before a verdict was announced, my client hugged me and thanked me for representing him,” Cooper said. “At that moment, I realized that, regardless of the outcome, he was grateful to have someone— even if I was just a law student— standing up for him during one of the most difficult times of his life. When I learned that I had won, I was undeniably proud. However, what was most fulfilling was knowing the hard work I had invested in my education made a meaningful difference in someone's life.”
Cooper credited knowledge he learned in the classroom, as well as other Cumberland experiences, with equipping him for success.
“During a pivotal moment in the trial, I identified an evidentiary issue that I had learned in Professor Woodham's Evidence class,” he said. “Recognizing its significance, I stood up and made an objection. The judge sustained my objection, leading to the exclusion of critical evidence from the case. I approached the remainder of the trial just as I had during the mock trials held in Cumberland's courtrooms. I was more prepared than I had anticipated, and the trial skills I developed at Cumberland were crucial to my success.”
Presiding over the case was Shera Grant, district court judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. According to Grant, 90% of landlords are represented by counsel, but less than 10% of tenants are represented by counsel.
“Many tenants are inexperienced with an eviction trial and, therefore, cannot provide a valid defense to the complaint against them,” Grant said. “The Cumberland Eviction Externship is invaluable to tenants facing evictions from their homes. Not only was Mr. Cooper prepared, but he also felt very comfortable in a courtroom setting. Mr. Cooper and other participants in the externship are a true asset to the civil justice system.”
In addition to classroom and practical experience, Cooper took advantage of using his 3L Practice Card, which allows third-year students the opportunity to appear in court under the supervision of an attorney. The practice card is available to students who have successfully completed the Basic Skills in Trial Advocacy course and are certified under the Alabama Rule for Legal Internship.
“I encourage all upcoming students to fulfill the requirements for a practice card,” Cooper said. “The experience gained by working with real cases before entering the workforce is invaluable.”
“We are so proud of how Dylan has represented Cumberland and, especially, his client in this case,” said Matt Woodham, associate professor and assistant director of advocacy. “We aim to make the transition from the classroom to the courtroom as seamless as possible, and it is incredibly rewarding to see a student make that transition so well before even graduating. Congratulations to Dylan for his success and for making such a meaningful impact in his client’s life.”
