Research and Outreach

Research conducted by the Marine Affairs Institute focuses on timely legal and policy issues raised by the development and use of the oceans and coastal zones. The Institute presents research results through a variety of programs and symposia including a lecture series, an international symposium, faculty exchanges, and scholarly publications.

The Institute also works closely with the Maritime Law Society and Environmental Law Society, student organizations comprised of students with interests in admiralty, maritime, and environmental law.

Student Research

Law student research is available on the Sea Grant Law Fellows Selected Projects webpage

Publications

California Court Considers Meaning of "Best Available Science" in Environmental Reviews
Adam Deitz '14
The Sand Bar
Volume 13:1 January 2014, pg. 7-9

Oil and Water: Agency Action and Judicial Review Under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
Marc Fialkoff '14
The Sand Bar
Volume 13:1, January 2014, Page 14-15

Fishing for Tourists: an option for diversifying 
Scott Gunst '12
The Working Waterfront
December 13, 2013

Forty Years of the Coastal Zone Management Act
Julia Wyman
ABA SEER Marine Resources Committee Newsletter
Spring 2013,  Vol 16, No. 1 

Climate Change Adaptation Efforts on the Ground
What Will the Future Bring?
Julia Wyman
Narragansett Bay Journal
Spring 2013, Issue #26 

Symposia/Conferences

The Marine Affairs Institute sponsors speakers, symposia, and interdisciplinary training programs that provide law students and practitioners alike with opportunities to meet with other marine law professionals in both formal and informal settings, and learn about recent developments in ocean and coastal law.

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.