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.
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Course Description
This one-credit graded eight-week course will shine a light on racial injustice within the criminal justice
system through the lens of the Netflix Documentary Trial 4. The 2020 documentary is about Sean Ellis, a
black man who was wrongfully convicted of killing a Boston police officer and consequently spent 22
years in prison for a crime he did not commit. This course will explore the many factors that lead to
wrongful convictions, including coerced and fabricated evidence in criminal investigations, tunnel vision
and confirmation bias, false testimony, and single witness identifications. The course will also explore the
role that effective legal advocacy can play in overturning wrongful convictions. Students will watch Trial
4 outside of class, share their thoughts in weekly forum posts and during class discussion. The course will
culminate with group presentations on other wrongful conviction cases, weaving in themes and issues
discussed throughout the class and contemplating possible solutions.
Course Type
SeminarCourse Credits
1.0Course Degree
Juris DoctorCourse Types
We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.
Core Course
Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility. Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.
Elective
After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses. Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.
Seminar
Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.
Clinics/Externships
Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor. RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.