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ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Cumberland School of Law is marking a new chapter in the story of its nationally recognized advocacy program. This academic year, leadership of the program will transition from Visiting Director of Advocacy Sara Williams, JD ’06, to newly appointed interim co-directors Judge Jim Roberts, JD ’94, and Associate Professor Matt Woodham, JD ’15.

 

Williams, who has been involved with Cumberland School of Law’s advocacy program since she graduated by teaching classes and coaching competition teams, most recently served as visiting director of the program. Since 2023, she has guided the program through a period of tremendous growth and success, mentoring countless students and leading competitive teams to strong performances on the national stage. Under her leadership, Cumberland advocacy students have continued the school’s long-standing tradition of excellence in trial advocacy, moot court and negotiation competitions.

 

In 2025, the trial advocacy program ranked No. 4 in the nation in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Schools rankings and ranked No. 2 in the national Gavel Rankings. Cumberland’s alternative dispute resolution and moot court programs entered the national spotlight when they ranked No. 8 in the nation by the American Bar Association. Williams partnered with other leaders to envision and build the law school’s first international advocacy education conference, The Art of Advocacy.

 

“Serving as visiting director of the advocacy program will forever be one of the most impactful experiences of my career,” Williams said. “This program shaped who I am not only as a trial lawyer, but as a human being. To be able to be a part of continuing this program's tradition of cultivating great trial lawyers who practice with integrity and skill has been an incredible honor. I look forward to watching the program excel under the direction of Judge Roberts and Professor Woodham.”

 

The torch now passes to two familiar faces in the Cumberland School of Law and national advocacy communities.

 

Roberts, who will continue to serve as judge for Alabama’s 6th Circuit Court, brings decades of legal and judicial experience, along with a deep commitment to mentoring future trial lawyers. Roberts, who has been coaching Cumberland trial teams since 1998, will co-lead the program alongside associate professor Matt Woodham, a seasoned litigator who has also been actively engaged in coaching and preparing competition teams for many years. They will share responsibility for guiding the program’s curriculum, coaching competitive teams and expanding opportunities for students to hone their skills.

 

“Through her leadership, Sara Williams has enhanced our advocacy curriculum and the success of our competition teams in all three advocacy disciplines: trial advocacy, moot court and dispute resolution,” Roberts said. “While we are sad to see Sara moving to the next phase of her career, we are happy that she will still be involved in our program, and I am excited to work with Professor Woodham.”
 
“We are so grateful to Sara Williams for her incredible work,” Woodham added. “Her term at the helm ended with the program ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, tied for the highest in the program’s history. There is no person better suited to continue Sara’s work than Judge Roberts. His teaching and service as director of National Trial Teams has been exemplary for decades, and we are extremely fortunate that Judge will now bring that expertise to the classroom.”

 

The leadership transition reflects Cumberland School of Law’s ongoing commitment to providing students with real-world advocacy training, ensuring they graduate prepared to serve clients effectively and uphold the highest standards of the profession.