Cumberlands partnering with NKU Chase Law in 3 + 3 program

Students at University of the Cumberlands now have an early enrollment opportunity into law school through a partnership with Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

The Chase 3+3 Accelerated Law Program combines a final year of undergraduate study with a first year of law school. Students in the program may complete an undergraduate degree and a law degree in six years – three years of undergraduate work plus three years of law school, hence the program’s name – instead of the traditional seven years. Besides enabling students to become lawyers one year sooner, the program also eliminates a whole year of tuition costs.

“Cumberlands allows us to reach highly motivated students in southern Kentucky who are considering becoming an attorney,” said Judith Daar, Dean of Chase College of Law. “Our program enables them to streamline the time of completing their undergraduate and law school programs. It also eases the financial challenge for top talent to enter the legal profession by saving a year of tuition.”

The number of positions available for lawyers is expected to increase by more than 50,000 between now and 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Lawrence Rosenthal, Associate Dean of Academics at Chase Law, says this partnership with Cumberlands will allow students a “seamless transition” to graduate school which will “accelerate their career goals with the outstanding classroom instruction and exceptional experiential-learning programs” offered at Chase.

Dr. Christopher Leskiw, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Cumberlands, looks forward to the opportunities this accelerated program provides students.

“We are excited to see students expedite their learning and expand their career aspirations through this partnership with Chase Law,” said Leskiw. “It is imperative for institutions of higher education to provide top students opportunities to challenge themselves without the fear of financial pushback. Programs like the Chase 3+3 Accelerated Law Program are influential in preparing our students for lives of responsible service and leadership upon graduation.”

Cumberlands students who wish to apply to the Chase 3+3 Accelerated Law Program must be in good academic standing and have completed enough credit hours to meet senior status. Students who are accepted into the program will receive their bachelor’s degree from University of the Cumberlands after successfully completing their first year at Chase.  

Other institutions that are partnered with Chase in the 3+3 Accelerated Law Program are Eastern Kentucky University, Thomas More College, Union College, and Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati. For more information about Cumberlands and the Chase 3+3 Accelerated Law Program, visit chaselaw.nku.edu or ucumberlands.edu.