The Marine Affairs Institute at Roger Williams University School of Law is a partnership of the law school, the University of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Sea Grant. The Marine Affairs Institute is also home to the Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program. The Marine Affairs Institute/Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program 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. The Marine Affairs Institute offers a wide variety of opportunities for students, including:
Through the partnership with the University of Rhode Island, students can obtain their J.D. at the law school and their Master of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island in just three and a half years. Through the partnership with Rhode Island Sea Grant, law students can participate in the Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow Program, an experiential education program that matches second and third-year law students with outside organizations seeking assistance with marine law or policy questions.
The Juris Doctor/Master of Marine Affairs builds upon the comprehensive base of marine law and policy courses offered at the School of Law and University of Rhode Island Department of Marine Affairs. In this program, students enhance their legal education and are positioned to holistically address today’s complex maritime, ocean and coastal legal issues.
Law students selected as Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellows conduct legal research and analysis on behalf of outside organizations on real-world issues in ocean and coastal law .
With courses taught by both tenure and adjunct faculty, the Marine Affairs Institute offers students a wide variety of academic experiences during their time at RWU Law.
Our research focuses on timely legal and policy issues raised by the development and use of the oceans and coastal zones.
The Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce (JMLC) is a scholarly publication devoted to all aspects of admiralty and maritime law.
As of January 1, 2021, the JMLC is under new ownership at the Roger Williams University School of Law.
The Marine Affairs Institute prepares students to become professionals in the field of ocean and coastal law. Many are working for the federal government, state government, private law firms, non-government organizations, academia, and have received prestigious post-graduate fellowships.
Nick Battista is quick to connect the success he’s having now with all he learned at Roger Williams University School of Law—success that has helped him to have a significant impact on the vulnerable communities of Maine.
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When Ben Peters L'25 first arrived at RWU Law, he didn't know a single person. And that was the point. Having spent his entire life in West Virginia, Peters came to Rhode Island to expand his horizons in a different region and was also drawn to the joint degree program which offered a Masters in Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island.
After ten years in sales in the automotive industry, Brandon Potter L‘25 decided it was time for a change. Wanting to make an impact on his local community, the Cranston native decided to run for State Representative for the people of District 16.
Susannah Johnson L'25 followed a non-traditional path to law school, serving as a Surface Warfare Officer for eight years before enrolling at RWU Law. After years of service in the United States Navy, she has found a new mission: using the law to serve her community.
Roger Williams University School of Law has been ranked No. 11 in the nation for the percentage of graduates pursuing careers in public interest law, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools 2025 rankings , part of Best Law Schools.
The ocean holds a special place in the heart of current 3L and avid surfer Julia Meskis ‘25. In fact, her love of the waters has completely shaped her career goals, as she plans to ultimately use her law degree to protect the ocean for future generations.
DirectorMarine Affairs Institute & RI Sea Grant Legal ProgramAdjunct Professor of Law
Staff Attorney, Marine Affairs Institute and Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program
Staff Attorney, Marine Affairs Institute and Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program
Administrative Assistant Marine Affairs Institute & RI Sea Grant Legal Program
