Academics

Educational excellence across a wide variety of program offerings.

Where Do You Want To Go With Your Law Degree?

RWU Law delivers a personalized and marketable legal education, based in Bristol and Providence, R.I.

  • placeholderJuris Doctor

    Juris Doctor

    Few degrees are more versatile than the Juris Doctor, or J.D. Whatever your professional interest is we'll help you design an academic and experiential pathway that will get you there.

  • placeholderMaster of Studies in Law

    Master of Studies in Law

    Designed for students who want to bring legal knowledge to their current work or strengthen their career outlook.

Institutes and Programs

Marine Affairs Institute

Marine Affairs Institute

The Marine Affairs Institute prepares law students to enter the exciting field of ocean and coastal law and policy by providing them with strong academic credentials and practical experiences that help them be practice-ready upon graduation.

Business Law students talking in a courtroom.

Business Law Program

Our Business Law Program provides students with a sound foundation in the principles and practice of business law through clinics, externships and coursework.

Course Offerings

  • J.D. Courses

    We offer a variety of courses for whatever your professional interest is – private practice, public interest, government, litigation, corporate, marine, non-legal, educational, and more.

    See All J.D. Courses
  • M.S.L. Courses

    Master of Studies in Law students have the opportunity to take a wide range of course at the law school.

    See All M.S.L. Courses

Joint Degree Programs

Business Start-Up Clinic

Business Start-Up Clinic

Providing transactional legal services to non-profit organizations and community-based business in Rhode Island.

Learn More About the Business Start-Up Clinic
Criminal Defense Clinic

Criminal Defense Clinic

Representing real defendants in pending criminal cases under the direct supervision of a full-time member of the RWU Law faculty.

Learn More About the Criminal Defense Clinic
Immigration Clinic

Immigration Clinic

Representing non-citizens in their applications for relief from removal before the Immigration Court.

Learn More About the Immigration Clinic
Veterans Disability Appeals Field Clinic

Veterans Disability Appeals Field Clinic

Representing military veterans pursuing disability benefits in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Learn More About the Veterans Disability Appeals Field Clinic
Clinical Externships

Clinical Externships

Second and third-year students earn academic credit while working under the supervision of legal services lawyers, public defenders, prosecutors, government attorneys, corporate counsel or judges in the local community.

Learn More About Clinical Externships
Semester-In-Practice

Semester-in-Practice

Total-immersion experience: students earn a full semester of credit while training in Rhode Island, Boston, New York - anywhere in the U.S. or around the world.

Learn More About a Semester-in-Practice

Additional Information

Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

Calendars, course information, important exam information and course registration deadlines.

Honors Program

Honors Program

Our Honors Program which involves a three-year program of roundtables, special elective course offerings and other unique academic and social experiences.

Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow Program

Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow Program

The Rhode Island Sea Grant Program sponsors law students as Sea Grant Law Fellows to research and write on ocean and coastal law issues including the resolution of marine resource management and conservation issues.

Recent News

  • From the Community, for the Community

    Long before she was the Associate Dean of Student Life and Operations at Roger Williams University School of Law, Lorraine Lalli was an aspiring law student. On her admissions essay for RWU Law, she wrote about how she planned to use the skills she learned in law school to give back to the community.

  • A Courtroom Drama Worth Watching

    The closest many young lawyers get to the courtroom is through the legal dramas on their Netflix queues. Practical training is crucial, but the opportunities can be few for a less experienced lawyer