Juris Doctor
Where do you want to go with your law degree? Few degrees are more versatile than the Juris Doctor, or J.D. Whatever your professional interest – private practice, public interest, government, litigation, corporate, marine, non-legal, educational – we'll help you design an academic and experiential pathway that will get you there.
Curriculum
Are you ready to make a difference? Do you want to change the world for the better? The Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is a powerful key that opens the door to myriad career options. Private law practice is the traditional route – whether as a sole practitioner, member of a boutique specialty practice, or part of a large regional, national or international firm. Opportunities for government lawyers abound at the local, state and federal levels. Public interest lawyers are in huge demand, working with nonprofit agencies to serve the neediest – economically disadvantaged communities, immigrants, veterans and more. In-house attorneys advise companies and corporations. And many others step off these traditional legal paths altogether to forge their own way. Armed with a J.D., and powered by drive and ingenuity, the possibilities for today’s lawyers are endless.
Below is a summary of courses needed for the J.D. Degree.
Year One
Core Curriculum
Click to OpenLAW.610Legal Practice I
Click to OpenCourse Description
This skills course trains students in the traditional methods of case and statutory analysis, legal research and writing. The skills are developed through graded exercises, library research, and written work. Students prepare a client opinion letter and two office memoranda.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
2.5Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.611Legal Practice II
Click to OpenCourse Description
This skills course complements Legal Methods I. The emphasis is on the development of advocacy skills through problem analysis, legal research, the writing of an appellate brief and the presentation of oral argument. Students are trained in computer-aided legal research.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
2.5Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.616Torts I
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course provide an introduction to the law of liability for civil wrongs. Topics include intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, nuisance and damages.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.617Torts II
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course provides an introduction to the law of liability for civil wrongs. Topics include intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, nuisance and damages.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
2.5Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawPrerequisite
LAW.616 – Torts ILAW.600Civil Procedure I
Click to OpenCourse Description
This two-semester course provides an introduction to the adversary system and the historical basis and evolving functions of both the state and the federal systems of civil procedure. Topics include an introduction to claims and remedies, jurisdiction, venue, pleading, discovery, joinder of claims and parties, res judicata, collateral estoppel, disposition without trial, court selection, jury and non-jury trials, post-trial motions and appellate review. The drafting of pleadings for a case is included.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.601Civil Procedure II
Click to OpenCourse Description
This two-semester course provides an introduction to the adversary system and the historical basis and evolving functions of both the state and the federal systems of civil procedure. Topics include an introduction to claims and remedies, jurisdiction, venue, pleading, discovery, joinder of claims and parties, res judicata, collateral estoppel, disposition without trial, court selection, jury and non-jury trials, post-trial motions and appellate review. The drafting of pleadings for a case is included.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawPrerequisite
LAW.600 – Civil Procedure ILAW.622Property
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course provides an introduction to the law of property, both real and personal. Real property concepts are emphasized. Topics include historical development, common law principles, gifts, estates in land, licenses, easements, restrictive covenants, future interests, contracts for the sale of land, conveyancing, mortgages, the recording system and possessory rights. Land-use regulation will be introduced if time permits.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
5.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.623Criminal Law
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course examines the general principles of substantive criminal law and concepts of mens rea, causation, parties, elements, criminal responsibility and capacity, justification, excuse and defenses.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawFaculty Associated
Emily J. SackLAW.604Contracts I
Click to OpenCourse Description
This two-semester course provides an introduction to the law of agreements. Topics include contract formation, the doctrine of consideration and its substitutes, the Statute of Frauds, contract regulation, the parole evidence rule, interpretation, performance and breach, conditions, anticipatory breach, remedies for breach, specific performance, damages, restitution and impracticability and frustration. Both the common law and the Uniform Commercial Code are emphasized. The rights and duties of non-parties are covered to the extent possible.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.605Contracts II
Click to OpenCourse Description
This two-semester course provides an introduction to the law of agreements. Topics include contract formation, the doctrine of consideration and its substitutes, the Statute of Frauds, contract regulation, the parole evidence rule, interpretation, performance and breach, conditions, anticipatory breach, remedies for breach, specific performance, damages, restitution and impracticability and frustration. Both the common law and the Uniform Commercial Code are emphasized. The rights and duties of non-parties are covered to the extent possible.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawPrerequisite
LAW.604 – Contracts IYear Two
Core Curriculum
Click to OpenLAW.646Legal Practice III
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course is designed to provide in-depth instruction in legal writing and analysis, and to help prepare students for legal practice. Students will complete a series of in-class and take-home exercises and will receive feedback on their writing throughout the semester. In addition, students will meet individually with their professor to discuss assignments, and to enhance their writing and analytical skills.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
2.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawPrerequisite
LAW.611 – Legal Practice IILAW.627Criminal Procedure: Investigation
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course examines the procedural aspects of the criminal justice system with emphasis on the impact of the fourth, fifth, and sixth amendments to the United States Constitution on state and federal prosecutions. Topics include the law of arrest, search and seizure, police interrogation and the privilege against self-incrimination.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.655Professional Responsibility
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course analyzes the responsibility of lawyers and judges from the perspectives of the rules and case law, the profession and the client/consumer. Topics include the historical, political, and sociological bases of legal ethics; conflicts of interests; attorney-client privilege; admission to the bar; disciplinary matters and procedures; unauthorized practice of law; attitudes toward bench and bar; professional liability; and canons of ethics and codes of professional responsibility.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
2.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.639Constitutional Law I
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course examines the basic principles of constitutional law through the analysis of the opinions of the United States Supreme Court. Topics include judicial review, federal system relationships, commerce clause,
governmental powers and civil rights.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawLAW.760Constitutional Law II
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course examines the basic constitutional protection of individual rights, including equal protection implied fundamental rights or modem substantive due process (including rights of privacy, privileges and immunities, and the incorporation controversy) due process and the first amendment freedoms of expression and religion.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
3.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawPrerequisite
LAW.639 – Constitutional Law ILAW.645Evidence
Click to OpenCourse Description
This course introduces the law controlling the introduction and exclusion of evidence in civil and criminal trials. Topics include burden of proof, presumption, judicial notice, burden of production, burden of persuasion, competency of witnesses, relevancy, examinations of witnesses, privileges, hearsay, demonstrative evidence, documents and the function of judge and jury.
Course Type
Core CourseCourse Credits
4.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in LawElectives
Click to OpenIn addition to the required course above students must take 13-15 credits of electives. To see what electives we offer see our full course list and select electives.
Or see the recommended courses within the curriculum tracks listed below.
Year Three
Required
Click to OpenAll students need to take a legal practice upper level course. This course may be taken in Year Two
Electives
Click to OpenIn their third year students must take 28-32 credits of electives. To see what electives we offer see our full course list and select electives.
Or see the recommended courses within the curriculum tracks listed below.
Graduation Requirements
Writing Requirement
Click to OpenIn order to graduate, every student, under the direct supervision of a professor or director of an institute, must write an individually authored paper that reflects substantial legal research; presents a legal argument that is well-developed, organized, and supported; is at least 5500 words long; and is of sufficient quality to earn a grade of “C” or higher. With the approval of the supervising professor or director, students may also submit shorter papers totaling 5500 words, as long as each paper is at least 1500 words long and meets these requirements.
Students should work closely with the supervising professor or director in completing this paper or papers, submitting preliminary drafting stages, such as a thesis statement, an outline, and a first draft. At each stage, the supervising professor or director should provide thorough feedback on the student’s work.
The graduation writing requirement may be fulfilled by: (a) a directed research paper or papers under Section 705 of this Code, (b) a paper or papers submitted in a seminar or course in which the paper or papers in total count for at least one-half of the final course grade, or (c) a paper supervised by a professor or director submitted to acquire or maintain Law Review membership.
Examples of formats that would fulfill the graduation writing requirement are an academic-style paper, a legal brief, a research or bench memo, or a judicial opinion.
Students must obtain written certification that they completed the graduation writing requirement from the supervising professor or director or, for papers supervised in an adjunct-taught seminar, from the Associate Dean. Students shall submit the Certification of Graduation Writing Requirement to the supervising professor or director at the same time they submit the final version of the paper or papers for which they seek to satisfy the requirement. Students are responsible for ensuring that a certification form signed by the supervising professor or director is delivered to the Office of Student Finance and Records well in advance of their graduation date. To assure uniformity in the treatment of the papers supervised by adjunct faculty in seminars, the Associate Dean will review the papers before they are certified as satisfying the requirement.
Pro Bono Experiential Learning Requirement
Click to OpenPrior to graduation, each student must engage in fifty (50) hours of law-related pro bono work. All work satisfying this requirement must be donated; neither monetary compensation nor academic credit may be exchanged for this work. Pro bono work, as used in this section, means working with indigent clients, non-profit organizations (including, but not limited to 501(c)(3) organizations), public interest groups, the judiciary, government, and private practitioners handling pro bono cases. The Law School’s Associate Director of Pro Bono Programs will oversee the placement of students in pro bono opportunities and will certify satisfactory completion of this requirement. Every graduating student must complete his or her pro bono work no later than thirty (30) days in advance of their anticipated graduation date in order to allow for processing.
Academic Standards
Click to OpenStudents must complete 90 semester hours of credit to be eligible to receive the J.D. degree. The minimum cumulative GPA required for advancement to the second year is a 2.00. Likewise, students must achieve an annual GPA of 2.00 to advance to the third year and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required for graduation.
Over the past several years, approximately 6% of students have been academically dismissed after the first year of study and less than 1% thereafter.
Under the law school's grading policy, the mean grade in all first-year required courses must fall between 2.65 and 2.85. For all required courses after the first year, the mean grade must fall between 2.80 and 3.10. For all other courses there is no required or recommended mean.
Experiential Education Requirement
Click to OpenEach student must complete the Experiential Education Requirement, by taking at least six credits of any course or courses designated as “Experiential Education.” For purposes of satisfying this requirement, Legal Practice III shall be designated as an Experiential Education course and be counted toward the six credit requirement. In addition, an in-house clinical program, a field clinic, the fieldwork component of a clinical externship program, and any additional course designated by the Associate Dean as an Experiential Education course shall be counted as toward the six credit requirement.
Curricular Tracks
Curricular Tracks are suggested paths of concentrated study, based upon various areas of law in which you may wish to practice upon graduation. They were created by the faculty and administration of the School of Law, with the intention of providing guidance to students as they plan their academic careers.
General Practice
The general practice track prepares students to serve community clients, handling cases that may involve criminal, personal injury, bankruptcy, divorce, estate planning and real estate law.
Business and Labor Law
Focusing on the laws governing relations between workers and their employers, this track covers such issues such as unfair labor practices, collective bargaining and employee grievances.
Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution
This track is designed for students seeking a strong background in litigation and trial advocacy, from basic evidence and civil procedure to hands-on judicial and legal externships.
Commercial Law
Students on this track may study contracts, choice and formation of business entities, manufacture and sales of consumer goods, taxation, business transactions and intellectual property.
Criminal Law
Criminal law is a fast-paced area of practice, providing extensive courtroom experience and opportunities to help people and protect the integrity of the justice system.
Family Law
Family lawyers are trained to deal with many issues that impact families, including divorce, child custody and support, spousal support, adoption and domestic violence.
Intellectual Property Law
This track exposes students to the law of trademarks, copyrights and patents. Spurred by new technology and a global economy, the field has grown dramatically in recent years.
International Law
In an era of globalization and “transnationalization,” this track prepares lawyers to confront issues within the public and private spheres of international law.
Marine and Environmental Law Track
Our waterfront campus offers students a dramatic focus on the network of laws that govern the impact of human activity on the waterfront and marine environment.
Maritime Law
Students of Maritime or Admiralty Law engage with the vast body of laws governing maritime activities, including relations between private entities that operate vessels on the oceans.
Public Interest - Civil
Civic-minded law students are drawn to this track, addressing broad areas of public concern, including illegal discrimination, environmental protection, child welfare and domestic violence.
Real Estate Law
Real estate lawyers are focused on sales, purchases, leasing and other transfers of real estate, as well as titles, development, zoning and land use.
Regulatory Compliance
Detail-oriented by nature, regulatory compliance lawyers ensure that their clients are both aware of and taking steps to comply with relevant laws, polices, and regulations.
Rhode Island’s Top Lawyer
Peter Kilmartin, RWU Class of 1998 Juris DoctorAs he enters his eighth and final year as Rhode Island’s attorney general, Peter F. Kilmartin ’98, B.A. ’88, can claim by several measures to be the school’s most prominent alumnus. But he claims there was never any master plan.
Read full storyJoint Degree Programs
Take your degree further by combining your J.D. with a Master's program. You can add specialized experience and save money through one of the following Joint Degree Programs:
JD / Master of Marine Affairs
We offer a joint degree program in partnership with the Marine Affairs program at the University of Rhode Island.
JD / Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Drawing on the strengths of the School of Law as well as the Roger Williams University School of Justice Studies, Roger Williams University offers a concentrated joint degree program for students interested in criminal justice.
JD / Master of Science in Cyber Security
Put yourself on the cutting edge of the law and technology with this innovative joint degree program between RWU Law and the Roger Williams University School of Justice Studies.
JD / Master of Science in Historic Preservation
Take advantage of one of the only joint degree programs combining the law with historic preservation in partnership with Roger Williams University's School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation.
JD / Master of Science in Labor Relations & Human Resources
In conjunction with the University of Rhode Island Charles T. Schmidt Jr. Labor Research Center, RWU Law offers a concentrated joint degree program for students interested in extensive study of legal issues relating to employment and labor relations.
Clinics and Externships
Every student at RWU Law is guaranteed at least one substantial clinical experience and many of our students complete two or more. Here are just some of the options for getting real-world clinical experience.
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
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
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
Representing military veterans pursuing disability benefits in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Learn more about the Veterans Clinic
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 Externship Programs
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 Semester-in-Practice