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 courses offered in the Spring 2024 semester.
See courses offered in the Fall 2023 semester.
See courses offered in the Spring 2023 semester.
See courses offered in the Fall 2022 semester.
See courses offered in the Summer 2022 semester.
See courses offered in the Spring 2022 semester.
See courses offered in the Fall 2021 semester.
See courses offered in the Summer 2021 semester.
See courses offered in the Spring 2021 semester.
See courses offered in the Fall 2020 semester.
See courses offered in the Summer 2020 semester.
See courses offered in the Spring 2020 semester.
See courses offered in the Fall 2019 semester.
See courses offered in the Summer 2019 semester.
See courses offered in the Spring 2019 semester.

Learn more about the JD Program

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Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education

Course Description

Students enrolled in the immigration clinic represent noncitizens in their applications for relief from removal before the Immigration Court in Boston, prepare applications for benefits under the immigration laws and represent noncitizens in their interviews for such benefits before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Providence. Types of cases typically include asylum and other relief based on fear of persecution in the country of removal, waivers of deportation for long-term residents of the U.S., adjustment of status for noncitizens with U.S. citizen or permanent resident family members and relief for noncitizen victims of domestic violence. Students also conduct “Know Your Rights” presentations for the immigrant communities in Rhode Island and for immigration detainees in New England, conduct intake interviews following these presentations and provide consultations under the supervision of the Clinic Director. In class, students learn trial skills and discuss substantive, ethical and policy issues relating to the practice of immigration law.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Clinic/Externship

Course Credits

8.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

Deborah GonzalezPeter S. Margulies

Course Description

This course provides a survey of U.S. immigration law. The course will review the constitutional basis for regulating immigration into the United States, and, to some extent, the constitutional rights of noncitizens in the country; the contours of the immigration bureaucracy, including the roles played by various federal agencies in immigration decisions; the admission of nonimmigrants (i.e., temporary visitors) and immigrants into the U.S.; the deportation and exclusion of nonimmigrants and immigrants; refugee and asylum law; and citizenship and naturalization.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Peter S. Margulies

HONORS COURSE

This course meets for six weeks

Course Description

This course explores the cutting edge of the research into the cognitive psychology of the criminal justice process, from police investigations to trial, using Professor Dan Simon’s 2012 book, In Doubt, as the primary source. Specifically, the course will look at issues such as common interrogation techniques used by law enforcement and how they can be misleading; what leads to false confessions; how memory is affected by events and why eyewitness testimony is not always reliable; and ultimately what can and should be done to improve the process.
HONORS COURSE

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Course Description

This course will focus on the types of insurance most likely to be encountered in private practice: property and casualty (liability) insurance. Topics covered will include the theory and basic concepts of insurance; the insurance contract and principles of interpretation; application, underwriting, and risk analysis concepts; insurance contract formation and carrier issues/responses; types and structure of typical property and casualty policies to include policy declarations, definitions of insureds, insuring clauses, coverages, exclusions, and limitations; duties imposed on insurance carriers and insureds; typical policy conditions and application; statutory requirements and policies; first and third party claim handling processes; duty to defend and duty to indemnify; fair claim handling practice requirements and extra-contractual liability; insurance fraud issues, and; insurance regulation.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Course Description

This course offers a broad survey of intellectual property law. The course focuses on the rights and obligations of those who possess and use property in the form of patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Depending on time constraints, the course also touches on subsidiary areas, such as trade secrets, the rights of publicity, and unfair competition. International as well as federal and state controls and policies will be studied.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jerry CohenNiki Kuckes

Course Description

The World Bank estimates that more than 8% of the world's total gross domestic product, or $4.9 trillion, consists of bribes paid to government officials and government contracts tainted by bribery. This figure exceeds the individual economies of every country on Earth except for the United States and China. To combat this staggering problem, the United States in 1977 became the first nation to criminalize the act of bribing foreign government officials. Since then, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has become one of the U.S. government's highest enforcement priorities, second only to fighting terrorism. U.S. corporations consistently rank international corruption among their top five compliance challenges, with more than a third of public companies spending over $1 million per year to avoid FCPA violations. This course will provide an in-depth analysis of FCPA's anti-bribery and compliance provisions, relevant federal case law, U.S. government advisory opinions, and the hundreds of settlements used by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission to penalize violations and push the boundaries of compliance best practices. The course will take a practical approach, emphasizing how the FCPA impacts firm and in-house counsel alike, the issues commonly faced by compliance attorneys and the challenge of balancing compliance risks with business needs.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

William B.F. Steinman

Course Description

The World Bank estimates that more than 8% of the world's total gross domestic product, or $4.9 trillion, consists of bribes paid to government officials and government contracts tainted by bribery. This figure exceeds the individual economies of every country on Earth except for the United States and China. To combat this staggering problem, the United States in 1977 became the first nation to criminalize the act of bribing foreign government officials. Since then, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has become one of the U.S. government's highest enforcement priorities, second only to fighting terrorism. U.S. corporations consistently rank international corruption among their top five compliance challenges, with more than a third of public companies spending over $1 million per year to avoid FCPA violations. This course will provide an in-depth analysis of FCPA's anti-bribery and compliance provisions, relevant federal case law, U.S. government advisory opinions, and the hundreds of settlements used by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission to penalize violations and push the boundaries of compliance best practices. The course will take a practical approach, emphasizing how the FCPA impacts firm and in-house counsel alike, the issues commonly faced by compliance attorneys and the challenge of balancing compliance risks with business needs.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to fundamental legal problems encountered by U.S. enterprises engaged in international business. The course will focus on some major legal problems encountered in commercial and financial business ventures that cross national borders, analyzing basic international business transactions and the effects of U.S. law, specific foreign law, and treaties on the conduct of the parties involved. Topics include an introduction to: commercial law, formation of contracts, choice of law, international sale of goods (including the CISG), letters of credit, foreign direct investment, the organization and operations of international (World Trade Organization) and regional trade institutions (European Union), international dispute resolution, and corporate social responsibility. The goal of the course is for students to develop an understanding of the laws applicable to private international transactions and an awareness of the risks inherent in doing business in or with other countries and their nationals.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Louise Ellen Teitz

Course Description

Families and children increasingly cross borders regularly in this global world, without considering potential consequences. This course will explore the major elements and current trends in international family law. The course will emphasize the role played by private international law in protecting families and children cross-border and explore the international legal framework in place to protect human rights within the context of family law. Areas of concentration will include the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the several Hague family law treaties (Parental Abduction, Child Protection, Maintenance, and Intercountry Adoption) as well as related European Union regulations and US federal and state (uniform) law, and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. We will also look at current initiatives underway in some of the following areas: * crossborder surrogacy, *cross-cultural mediation, * domestic violence and its impact in crossborder family matters, *the role of religion and tensions with human rights in the family law context, *forced marriage, *property regimes for international couples and *rights of unmarried couples.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

Louise Ellen Teitz

Course Description

The course will explore the international legal framework in place to protect human rights within the context of family law. The course will look at some of the international organizations (e.g. the U.N., the Hague Conference on Private International Law) and treaties (e.g., U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child), as well as regional organizations (e.g., Council of Europe, EU) and instruments that help protect families and children. National courts and institutions and their part will also be examined. The course will emphasize the role played by private international law in protecting families and children cross-border. The intersection of human rights and religion in family law will also be explored. Areas of concentration will include the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the several Hague family law conventions (Parental Abduction, Child Protection, and Intercountry Adoption). The class will explore the cutting edge developments in the jurisprudence of the Hague Child Abduction Convention and the role of regional European instruments to secure human rights; the role of the Hague Child Protection Convention in protecting children crossing borders, refugees, and human trafficking; the role of religion and tensions with human rights in the family law context, as for example in the area of forced marriage, child custody, unmarried couple; and US law currently being written to deal with "rehoming" of adopted children. Current initiatives underway at the Hague Conference on Private International Law including in the area of crossborder surrogacy serve as case studies to examine the intersection of private international law and substantive law, public law and private rights, and the ways that private international law can shape and support underlying human rights. Students will be expected to make presentations.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

Louise Ellen Teitz

Course Description

This course examines the history, development, structure, and efficacy of international human rights law. Students will investigate the legal framework of the United Nations and regional systems relating to the protection and promotion of the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples, women’s rights, the rights of migrants and refugees, cultural rights, and the emerging field of environmental rights. The course will examine the major sources of international human rights law--including treaties, customary international law, international soft law, and domestic law. Key mechanisms of human rights protection also will be discussed including, multilateral
organizations including the United Nations Security Council and Human Rights Council, international, regional, and national courts and tribunals; and quasi-judicial treaty bodies (e.g.
the U.N. Committee Against Torture). Students will develop familiarity with the human rights positive legal documents, and how to enforce those rights within treaty bodies, courts and commissions. They will learn how to develop strategies for domestic Tribal Nations and Tribal Courts to establish an international human rights framework to protect their members from internal and external civil rights and economic rights abuses. Students will assess the remedies that exist for violations of human rights law in the various systems and examine practical case studies where relevant. Guest speakers will be featured.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Course Description

This basic course introduces students to the central topics, ideas and principles of present-day public international law. It will also cover the judicial and other structures including the United Nations, which are central to the determination and enforcement of this legal regime.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Peter S. MarguliesJohn Chung

Course Description

This skills course develops the craft of the lawyer in client interviewing and counseling. The course provides a theoretical framework for and experience with simulated interviewing and counseling in the legal setting. Skills are introduced and honed through lecture, demonstrations, discussion, role playing, simulations, practical exercises and critiques.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Kristen Sloan MacciniMelanie Shapiro

Course Description

This skills course develops the craft of the lawyer in client interviewing and counsel from a trauma-informed and client-centered approach. The course educates students about trauma, identifying forms of abuse, power, and control, and the impact it may have on clients. Students will learn how to interview clients, from the initial consultation to affidavit preparation, and counsel clients from making strategic and legal decisions to preparing for trials, through interactive in-class exercises and written communications with clients and legal team members, such as supervising attorneys and experts. The course will use examples from immigration, criminal, and domestic violence cases and educate students about some remedies available for clients.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

Melanie Shapiro

J

Course Description

This seminar course is designed to allow students to understand the skills required at various steps in the judicial decision-making process, in the state courts and federal courts, as well as at both the trial court and appellate levels. Students will explore the role and function of law clerks; the mechanics of writing a useful bench memo, draft trial court decision, and draft appellate opinion; collegiality and deliberations; and the ethical dimensions of judicial clerkships, including confidentiality, discretion, and influence.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

Sarah McConnell Dubois
Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education

Course Description

Students are assigned to selected judges in Rhode Island and federal trial and appellate courts. The student externs conduct legal research, prepare memoranda of law, observe trial and appellate proceedings, participate in discussions with the court, and perform the duties of a judicial law clerk under the supervision of the assigned judge and a faculty member. The program requires the devotion of substantial amounts of time both in and out of the judge's chambers and must be taken in conjunction with Seminar: Judicial Process and Ethics.
4 Credits - 180 hours (approx. 2 days/week for 14 weeks)

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Clinic/Externship

Course Credits

4.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

The Honorable William E. SmithThe Honorable Francis X. FlahertyBruce I. KoganLaurie Barron
Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education

Course Description

Students are assigned to selected judges in Rhode Island and federal trial and appellate courts. The student externs conduct legal research, prepare memoranda of law, observe trial and appellate proceedings, participate in discussions with the court, and perform the duties of a judicial law clerk under the supervision of the assigned judge and a faculty member. The program requires the devotion of substantial amounts of time both in and out of the judge's chambers and must be taken in conjunction with Seminar: Judicial Process and Ethics.
6 Credits - 270 hours (approx. 3 days/week for 14 weeks)

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Clinic/Externship

Course Credits

6.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

The Honorable William E. SmithThe Honorable Francis X. FlahertyBruce I. KoganLaurie Barron

SUMMER ONLY

Course Description

Students are assigned to selected judges in Rhode Island and federal trial and appellate courts. The student externs conduct legal research, prepare memoranda of law, observe trial and appellate proceedings, participate in discussions with the court, and perform the duties of a judicial law clerk under the supervision of the assigned judge and a faculty member. The program requires the devotion of substantial amounts of time both in and out of the judge's chambers and must be taken in conjunction with Seminar: Judicial Process and Ethics.
8 Credits- 360 hours (approx. 5 days/week for 10 weeks)

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Clinic/Externship

Course Credits

8.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

The Honorable William E. SmithThe Honorable Francis X. FlahertyBruce I. KoganLaurie Barron
Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education

Course Description

Students are assigned to selected judges in Rhode Island and federal trial and appellate courts. The student externs conduct legal research, prepare memoranda of law, observe trial and appellate proceedings, participate in discussions with the court, and perform the duties of a judicial law clerk under the supervision of the assigned judge and a faculty member. The program requires the devotion of substantial amounts of time both in and out of the judge's chambers and must be taken in conjunction with Seminar: Judicial Process and Ethics

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

The Honorable William E. SmithThe Honorable Francis X. Flaherty

Course Description

This course will examine both the theory and practice of juvenile justice. After exploring the historical foundations of juvenile law, we will study several issues in current practice, including: status offenses and control of juveniles in schools and public places; the application of criminal procedure to juveniles in such areas as search and seizure, police interrogations, and pre-trial detention; juvenile court jurisdiction and the decision whether to prosecute as an adult or a child; trial rights and sentencing dispositions. We will also discuss some recent developments in juvenile law practice and consider the future of juvenile justice policy.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Emily J. Sack

L

Course Description

This course surveys the federal regulation of the union-management relationship in the private sector. The principle focus of the course is the National Labor Relations Act. The course will examine the establishment of the collective bargaining relationship, the negotiation of the collective agreement, unfair labor practice proceedings, economic pressure tactics, the enforcement of the collective agreement, and the duty of fair representation.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Michael J. YelnoskyCarly Beauvais Iafrate

Course Description

This course explores the relatively evolving field of land use law, seeking to understand the theoretical basis for such regulation, the effects (intended, unintended or perhaps unconsciously intended) of such regulation and the practicalities of land use and development within the legal framework. Among the major issues this course will examine are the law of zoning, the constitutional constraints on land use regulation, the establishment and enforcement of subdivision and land development controls, and other development regulations. The course will examine several current topics in land use regulation, including climate change, environmental regulations, smart growth, historic preservation and renewable energy. Students will approach the course material from both theoretical and practical vantage points, and will be required to conduct research on how land use regulations are implemented in "real world" situations.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Course Description

Why do we allow for charitable contributions to be tax deductible? Do criminal law penalties adequately disincentivize certain behaviors? The “Law & Economics” academic movement sought to answer these questions normatively and therefore test the boundaries of using legal policy to promote the efficient production and allocation of resources and consequently the maximization of social welfare. This course offers an introduction to the study of Law & Economics. We will focus on the core bodies of law taught to first-year law students—tort law, contract law, property law, and criminal law—as well as other ancillary areas of law. For each of these bodies of law, the economic approach will be described in non-technical terms and then this approach will be used to examine a key case or key issue within that body of law. We will also develop some elementary techniques in two-person non-cooperative games, expected value theory, and risk theory. By the end of this course you will be able to use these (and other) techniques to (among other things): assess the economic efficiency of legal rules; analyze how the choice of damages in contract affects the value of the contract; analyze how the negligence regime in torts affects economic efficiency; and demonstrate how the assignment of risk alters perceptions of value.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Course Description

The two professions of law and medicine intersect in many parts of American society. Issues such as expert testimony, the doctor-patient relationship, malpractice, and ethical issues, including the right to die, and their legal ramifications will be reviewed.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Course Description

American popular culture is fascinated with lawyers, the law and the legal system. This course explores how film and television shows portray lawyers, the legal system, ethics and justice. Specifically, we will use films and television shows as “case studies” to understand how law and popular culture influence each other, and the American system of justice.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

Miriam Ross
Close Course Type Descriptions

Course 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.