Maryam Stevenson, assistant professor of Law at Cumberland School of Law, talks with Dean Blake Hudson about her research on immigration law, and in particular high-skilled workers. She discusses the changes to the H1-B visa program and details concerns over a shortage of high skilled laborers in, for example, the medical field (doctors and nurses) in the coming decades.

Professor Uma Outka, the William R. Scott Law Professor of Law at the University of Kansas School of Law, speaks with Cumberland School of Law Dean Blake Hudson about the issue of energy affordability, particularly in the context of low-income households. She discusses current programs at the federal level to address energy affordability and some reasons these programs have not been enough to adequately address energy insecurity. 

Ramona Albin, associate professor at Cumberland School of Law, speaks with Dean Blake Hudson about her research on the persistence of rape mythology. She explains that while rape shield laws are supposed to protect rape victims, mythologies undermining victims’ claims continue to create injustices in the law. She compares rape shield laws in the U.S. with those in Canada and the U.K. and what we can learn from those comparisons, concluding with insights into the potential future impact of this work.

Kevin Patton, assistant clinical professor and director of the Cumberland School of Law Veterans Assistance Clinic (C-VETS) speaks with Dean Blake Hudson about one of Cumberland’s foundational clinics. Patton, a veteran himself, details the type of work C-VETS does, the assistance it provides, how C-VETS work has changed over time, and how students are impacted by their service in the clinic.

LaJuana Davis, the Judge J. Russell McElroy Professor of Law and director of the Cumberland School of Law Innocence Clinic and Leslie Coyne, clinical instructor in residence and owner of Coyne Counseling and Consulting, speak with Dean Blake Hudson about their work with Cumberland’s Innocence Clinic. We learn how the innocence clinic started, how students collaborate within the clinic, the challenges of modern technology, how wrongful conviction cases happen, and what everyday citizens can do to help the cause of the wrongfully imprisoned.

David Smolin, the Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law at Cumberland School of Law, speaks with Dean Blake Hudson about his work on children’s rights. Professor Smolin directs the Center for Children, Law & Ethics, where he and Cumberland students have worked on parental rights, international adoption, religious freedom and children’s rights, protection of minors, surrogacy, and other important work.

Nationally recognized mediator Rodney Max, a 1975 Cumberland School of Law alumnus, speaks with Dean Blake Hudson about the evolving nature of mediation practice in the U.S., detailing how clogged court dockets and a push for efficiency in conflict resolution contributed to the rapid growth of mediation practice. He details his view that mediation should and will expand beyond the judicial branch to facilitate legislative and executive conflict resolution in the future.

Cumberland School of Law associate professor of advocacy and assistant director of advocacy programs Matt Woodham discusses his article “Gilded Executive Privilege: The Unstated Evidentiary Rule in Trump v. U.S.,” forthcoming in the St. John’s Law Review and co-authored with Cumberland associate professor Ramona Albin. He also shares an update on the successes of Cumberland School of Law’s trial advocacy program which is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation by U.S. News and No. 2 in the national Gavel Rankings.

Jonathan Rosenbloom, professor of law at Albany Law School, details his involvement in creating the Sustainable Development Code, helping local governments engage in more environmentally responsible land development. Rosenbloom also discusses how local governments can fill the gap in environmental and climate policymaking given the retreat of the federal government from that role.

Lane Woodke, assistant professor at Cumberland School of Law and former Assistant U.S. Attorney, explores the 8th Amendment’s deliberate indifference doctrine in her research on prison conditions. Woodke argues that courts may still find constitutional violations—even when prison systems seem to respond reasonably to claims of cruel and unusual punishment.