Dean John L. Carroll of Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and Cumberland law student Stephen Hudgens received awards recognizing their outstanding contributions to the legal profession at the Alabama State Bar meeting in Point Clear, Ala., July 16. Dean Carroll received the Chief Justice’s Professionalism Award and Hudgens received the Pro Bono Law Student Award.
Carroll, Cumberland’s dean since 2001, was cited for his “civility and professionalism” throughout his career as a lawyer and jurist. “His commitment to these ideals and philosophy is further evidenced by his deanship at Cumberland where he has been at the forefront of promoting these concepts to students, lawyers and judges,” said the Alabama State Bar citation.
Carroll is a graduate of Tufts University and holds law degrees from Cumberland, where he was graduated magna cum laude, and Harvard University.
Hudgens, a graduate of Mississippi College, will be a Cumberland senior in the fall. He was cited for his contributions that “enabled the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program to more efficiently serve both low-income clients and attorney-volunteers.” Hudgens assisted with collecting client intake information and escorting clients to and from clinics, the award noted.