As of January 1, 2021, the JMLC is under new ownership at the Roger Williams University School of Law.
The JMLC continues to be a professionally published journal with two Co-Editors-in-Chief: Justin Kishbaugh and Julia Wyman. The JMLC has a rotating staff of other editors and peer-reviewers in the field of maritime law.
Additionally, the JMLC has a cohort of student editors at the Roger Williams University School of Law who assist the Editors-in-Chief.
Submit to the JMLC, become an editor or peer-reviewer, or a student editor.
Please check back here for current, past, and upcoming editions of the JMLC.
The Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce was founded in 1969 by George Jay Joseph, a Washington, D.C., lawyer who saw the need for a law review exclusively devoted to maritime law. Through a generous gift by the Joseph family in 2021, the JMLC transferred hands to the Roger Williams University School of Law.
For RWU Law Class of 2025 valedictorian Ashley Kaplan, attending law school always felt like destiny. “Becoming a lawyer was one of my childhood dreams, and as my grandfather always wanted a lawyer in the family – and I am a smidge argumentative – it felt kismet for me to go to law school,” she says.
Each year, RWU Law honors graduating students for their achievements and important contributions to both the law school and the wider community. Among this year’s honorees are Public Interest Award winner Kaiya Letherer, Pro Bono Collaborative Award winner Sydney Barletta, Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Clinic Student Andrew Dunphy, and Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Externship Student Samantha Lobato. These four members of the Class of 2025 share a steadfast dedication to justice and public service – a commitment that has shaped their journeys and inspired their legal paths.
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.
