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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L

Course Description

This course will deal with legal issues resulting from efforts to deal with maritime piracy, and legal issues raised by the law, both domestic and international piracy. Students will write a significant, original paper and present their findings to the class. Readings will be from materials prepared by the instructor.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jonathan M. Gutoff
Marine Affairs Institute

Course Description

This course reviews the basic principles of International law, both customary and treaty-based, that apply to the territorial sea, the high seas, continental shelf, seabed, and ocean floor. The course analyzes the allocation of jurisdictional powers among individual states and the international community over the various maritime zones involved; the use and management of ocean resources, such as regional and global fisheries regimes and seabed mining; marine environmental protection and pollution control; military uses of the ocean; and freedom of navigation.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Lauren Beagen

This course meets for 6 weeks

Course Description

Law Office Management is a practical course to explore starting, running, and growing a law practice. Students will create a business plan and draft various documents essential to any law practice. A broad range of practice management topics will be discussed, including the choice of entity, practice specialization, business development, marketing, and various ethical issues.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Anthony R. Leone

HONORS COURSE

This course meets for six weeks.

Course Description

The sad truth is that legal systems do not always comply with the law, whether measured by existing positive law or more general notions of natural rights. This course will consider the difficult issues facing lawyers and judges in such trying circumstances, over time and in different legal systems, and will challenge students to reflect upon how they would react if placed in similar situations. Among the topics will be lawyers practicing in racist legal systems in the United States, like Atticus Finch; lawyers under Apartheid in South Africa, like Nelson Mandela; lawyers in France and Germany during WWII; and lawyers representing “War on Terror” detainees at Guantanamo. Guest experts will be joining the conversations.
HONORS COURSE

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

David A. Logan

Honors Course

Course Description

Lawyers often serve as leaders in society. Lawyers take on many types of leadership roles—in law firms,
all three branches of state and federal government, academic institutions, businesses, philanthropic and
not for profit organizations, the volunteer sector, and so on. Your future as lawyers will present you with
many different leadership opportunities.
In this seminar, we will explore and discuss various aspects of leadership theory and practice, and we will
focus on developing effective leadership skills for your careers and lives. By the end of the course, I hope
you will have developed a deeper and clearer understanding of the characteristics and importance of good
leadership.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

Gregory W. Bowman

Course Description

This class will focus on lease agreements between landlords and tenants of commercial real estate, including leases for office space, for retail stores, and for industrial/manufacturing property. Almost every business will be a party to a commercial real estate lease agreement, either as landlord or tenant, at some point in the life of that business. Knowledge of commercial real estate leases is an essential skill for real estate lawyers, as well as corporate lawyers. Litigators will also need to know the fundamentals of commercial real estate leases because these agreements often result in disputes and lawsuits. This class will also explore some of the alternative uses for leases, such as leases being used as financing alternatives. Class sessions will be devoted to section-by-section analysis of leases followed by student exercises to draft and revision of these documents.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Course Description

This perspectives course will examine several historically significant US Supreme Court cases in the light of societal occurrences and changes at the times that the particular cases were being decided.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Faculty Associated

The Honorable Francis X. Flaherty

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Course 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 See Course Type Descriptions

Core Course

Course Credits

2.5

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jenna Wims HashwayOlivia MilonasElizabeth ColtColleen A. BrownTatiana GomezSarah McConnell DuboisMartsyl Joseph

Course 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 See Course Type Descriptions

Core Course

Course Credits

2.5

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jenna Wims HashwayOlivia MilonasElizabeth ColtColleen A. Brown

Course 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 See Course Type Descriptions

Core Course

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Prerequisite

LAW.611 – Legal Practice II

Faculty Associated

Colleen A. BrownElizabeth ColtKathryn ThompsonJenna Wims HashwayAngelyne E. Cooper

Evidence is a required co-requisite.

Course Description

Legal Reasoning with Evidence is a 6-week course that is coupled with the second year evidence course. The course sets out to expand students’ analytical skills in ways that assist them in law school and ultimately on the bar exam. Students will work on their analysis in writing and in answering comprehensive multiple choice questions. Students will receive extensive personalized feedback on essays and multiple choice questions focused on the law of Evidence. Evidence is a required co-requisite. The course is taught by Professor Brittany L. Raposa, the Associate Director and Professor of Bar Support.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

0.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Course Description

Our lives are bordered by statutes. This course will teach the fundamentals of enacting statutes from policy concept to enacted legislation at the State level. Topics to be covered include bill and resolution drafting; effective Committee presentations; ethical and regulatory reporting issues; and campaign finance. Students will draft bills, advocacy pieces to legislators, reports to clients, and grassroots issue coordination plans.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Patrick J. QuinlanSusan G. Pegden

M

Course Description

This course examines the legal problems involved in insurance against physical loss or damage to maritime property (hull), against maritime liabilities (protection and indemnity), and for damage to goods (cargo).

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Robert E. Falvey
Marine Affairs Institute

Course Description

This seminar will cover the major United States laws imposing liability for pollution of inland and coastal waters and the high seas, including CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Special attention will be given to the relation between these laws and the general maritime law of the United States; problems of federalism and uniformity; comparison of the United States law with international conventions; and administrative decision making. Some prior knowledge of United States admiralty practice and administrative law would be helpful.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jonathan M. Gutoff
Marine Affairs Institute

Course Description

Marine salvage is the law of rewarding parties for rescuing goods and preventing damage in cases of marine peril. The concept is unique to maritime law and involves both a different calculation than the Common-Law concept of quantum meruit and give rise to a maritime lien, an ownership interest, in the property subject to salvage. We'll consider the elements of a salvage claim, and the distinction between salvage and other maritime claims, calculation of the salvage award, salvage for prevention of environmental damage, and problem involved in the recovery of sunken treasure including the relation of salvage to the law of finds and abandonment and issues involved in dealing with the United States and foreign sovereigns. In addition procedural issues of arbitration and forum selection will be considered. No prior knowledge of maritime law will be assumed.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Robert E. FalveyJonathan M. Gutoff

This course meets for 6 weeks

Course Description

We’ll look at the statutory and common-law basis for the imposition and removal of maritime liens; the foreclosure of liens pursuant to Supplemental Rule C especially the priority of liens; venue, choice of forum (including arbitration), and choice of law.
No prior knowledge of maritime law is required.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jonathan M. Gutoff
Marine Affairs Institute

Course Description

We will examine the maritime lien in US law and its enforcement through the in rem action at admiralty. Among the topics we will discuss are the judicial development of the maritime lien, the Maritime Lien Act and the Ship Mortgage Act; the difference between arrest and attachment; the personification of the vessel; the priority of liens; the relationship of the maritime lien to other security interests in a vessel; the maritime lien in bankruptcy proceeding; and the maritime lien in transnational maritime litigation including choice of law and claim and issue preclusion. Student will research a topic, present the results of their research, and produce a substantial paper that will fulfill the Law School writing requirement. Some prior knowledge of admiralty procedure and/or substantive law would be helpful but is not required.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jonathan M. Gutoff
Marine Affairs Institute

Course Description

This course is designed to explore various maritime topics typically encountered by an associate in a maritime law firm. Each class will dissect one or more discrete topics related to the resolution of disputes arising in the context of personal injury and cargo damage (including conducting a shipboard investigation), port entry and clearance (including vessel detention issues), limitation of liability claims (including shipyard fires), the International Maritime Organization's Conventions (including Safety of Life At Sea), and various maritime safety issues arising out of offshore wind farms (including examination of domestic and foreign legal frameworks). This course will rely heavily on class participation, will encourage discussion as to how to identify and respond to legal issues and will include mock deposition, drafting and interview exercises. This class should be of interest to the would-be admiralty attorney, or to anyone seeking to further his or her understanding of how to identify, analyze and treat a case from when it first comes in the lawyer’s door.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law
Marine Affairs Institute

Course Description

This course examines the procedural aspects of maritime practice. It focuses on the jurisdictional and legal basis of actions in rem, quasi in rem, and in personam. Special emphasis is on the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Jonathan M. Gutoff
Marine Affairs Institute

Course Description

The course addresses the law of maritime security in the United States in the context of the post-September 11 global economy. Recent, essential measures such as the International Ship & Port Security Code and the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 will be covered in addition to traditional statutory and regulatory schemes such as port state control and the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. An underlying premise of the course is the relationship between environmental considerations and maritime security risk management in the practical implementation of legal principles. Students will learn principles of U.S. and international maritime security law in a context of transactional practice, including simulated client counseling and formulation of transaction documents such as legal opinions. Prior maritime and/or environmental law courses will be helpful, but are not a prerequisite.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

This course will meet for six weeks.

Course Description

A mass tort is a civil action in which multiple plaintiffs are injured in a similar fashion by a defective product, hazardous substance or disaster. This course will review a selection of mass tort lawsuits, including tobacco, medical devices, environmental and occupational diseases. The class will take an in-depth look at the issues raised by complex mass tort lawsuits: issues of substantive tort law, civil procedure, litigation strategy, lawyer-client relationships, the economics of settlement, ethics, the judicial role, and societal impacts. The course will be taught by Donald Migliori.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Seminar

Course Credits

1.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Course Description

This course will cover Massachusetts civil procedure from the commencement of a lawsuit through final adjudication. Topics will likely include the discovery process, the trial process, alternative dispute resolution, equitable remedies, and recent developments in Massachusetts law.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

2.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Course Description

When parties are unable to resolve their dispute through discussion or negotiation, a logical next step is to seek the assistance of a third party mediator to facilitate communication and the search for a solution. This workshop course is intended to familiarize students with the norms of the mediation process and to develop the lawyering skills that will enable student to either serve as mediators or to better represent clients in this increasingly important form of ADR. Attention is given to both facilitative and evaluative styles of mediation. Significant emphasis is placed on role playing exercises and on the legal consequences of the mediation process.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Elective

Course Credits

3.0

Course Degree

Juris DoctorMaster of Studies in Law

Faculty Associated

Loraine M. Della PortaPatrick J. Quinlan
Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education

Course Description

In this clinic, students mediate disputes arising in the local East Bay Rhode Island communities under the supervision of a faculty clinic director. The law students will be trained in advanced mediation and other practical conflict resolution skills and then will 1) assist disputing parties to achieve mutually agreeable settlements by serving as mediators, and 2) provide conflict resolution educational workshops in the community. The course in Mediation, Family and Divorce Mediation or a similar experience acceptable to the instructor is a prerequisite.

Course Type See Course Type Descriptions

Clinic/Externship

Course Credits

8.0

Course Degree

Juris Doctor

Prerequisite

LAW.733 – Mediation LAW.705 – Family & Divorce Mediation

Faculty Associated

Bruce I. Kogan
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.