Champions for Justice Friday, January 27, 2023

Champions for Justice

Please join us on Friday, January 27, 2023 for a special evening that celebrates and supports the students, alumni, partners and friends whose exceptional devotion to social justice increases access to justice for all.

Champions for Justice Friday, January 27, 2023

5:30 PM                  Registration & Reception
6:15 PM                  Champions for Justice Dinner, Awards & Auction

Questions? | Special Events | events@rwu.edu

The Impact

Champions for Justice is quickly becoming a hallmark of the Rhode Island legal landscape, and we are proud to count so many as friends and supporters of the Law School. Proceeds from the evening benefit the many social justice programs within RWU Law:

Alternative Spring Break
Pro Bono Collaborative
Public Interest Clinical Externships
Public Interest Summer Stipends
RWU Law Clinics

 

Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors:

Champions for Justice Dean's Signature Sponsor:

 

Champions for Justice Presenting Sponsor:

 

Champions for Justice Title Sponsors:

 

Champions for Justice Program Sponsors:

Robinson & Cole

Champions for Justice Reception Sponsor:

 

Champions for Justice Event Sponsors:

The DeNapoli Foundation

 

Social Justice Program Highlights

In 2021, RWU Law transformed Alternative Spring Break into remote Alternative Winter Break. 110 students provided pro bono legal services through 28 public interest placements across the country – many under the guidance of seasoned RWU Law alumni.
RWU Pro Bono Collaborative Eviction Help Desk Project team with Mayor Elorza at the Garrahy Judicial Complex District Court, Providence, RI

Pictured from left to right:
Abby Barton (Brown Senior & RI Center for Justice intern), Jordan Mickman (RI Center for Justice), Hannah Kahn ( Policy Associate, Office of Mayor Elorza), Mayor Jorge Elorza, Maria Rice (RILS, Inc.), Alexus Bonilla (RWU Law ‘23), Nellie Large (RWU Law ’23), Tony Henson (RWU Law ’23), Eliza Vorenberg (Director, Pro Bono Collaborative)
In 2020, students in RWU Law’s Immigration Law Clinic scored an impressive victory for Manuela Grave, an asylum seeker. The basis of Grave’s case was discrimination based on ethnicity as an indigenous woman living in Guatemala. “We had at least 10 semesters of students working on this case over the past several years,” said Professor Deborah Gonzalez, Director of the Immigration Law Clinic.

Among those participating were (in photo, L-R): Tarisha Augustine ’20, Brenda Reyes ’20, Natalie Vega Crespo ’20, Zoe Sperber ’20, Jess DeYoung ’20, client Grave and Professor Gonzalez.
The Pro Bono Collaborative Expungement Project supervising attorneys Amy Goins RWU Law ‘12 and Peter Skwirz RWU Law ‘12, review client case files and project law student work. Partnered with McAuley House and several other community based organizations that serve low-income communities, the Expungement Project attorneys and law students review individuals’ criminal records to see if they can be sealed or expunged. When possible to seal or expunge a record, the team does the legal work to make that happen and, in so doing, allow their PBC clients to get back on their feet without being hampered by these records.
2021-22 Pro Bono Collaborative Street Law first training. Suzy Harrington-Steppen, Associate Director of Pro Bono Programs, teaching law students about their role in educating and empowering youth. This year 38 students are volunteering in 16 classrooms to bring the law to the middle and high schools, reaching 320 youths.
Student leaders, Alissa Lynch (3L), Katriina Juntunen (2L) and Margarita Icaza (2L) conducting a practice class session – Is it a Crime or Not a crime?
Laurie Barron, Director of the Feinstein Center and Director of Clinical Externship and Experiential Experience, welcoming the 1Ls and giving an overview of RWU Law’s public interest programming.
An extracted e-mail from the Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Learning during Pro Bono Celebration Week.
As part of the 2021 National Pro Bono Celebration week, the Feinstein Center selected 10 students’ quotes on their pro bono experience. This is one of them.

Champion for Justice - 2023

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To be announced

Alumni Public Interest Champion - 2023

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To be announced

Community Partner Champion - 2023

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To be announced

Champions for Justice Past Honorees

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Champion for Justice

2022 The Honorable O.Rogeriee Thompson'10HL
2020 Amato “Bud” DeLuca and Miriam Weizenbaum
2019 Robert J. McConnell, Esq., Motley Rice, LLC
2018 The Honorable Edward C. Clifton
2017 Stephen M. Prignano, Esq., McIntyre Tate, LLP
2016 The Honorable Judith Colenback Savage
2015 Linn Foster Freedman, Esq., Robinson + Cole

Alumni Public Interest Champion

2022 Akin Adepoju L '07
2020 Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Esq. L’07, Community Legal Aid
2019 Diana deGroof, Esq. L’03, Rhode Island Legal Services
2018 Luis Mancheno, Esq. L’13, The Bronx Defenders
2017 Swapna Yeluri, Esq. L’07, Homeless Persons Representation Project
2016 Dena Castricone, Esq. ’98 L’02, Murtha Cullina, LLP
2015 Deborah Gonzalez, Esq. ’04 L’07, Gonzalez Law Offices, Inc.

Community Partner Champion

2022 Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.
2020 Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
2019 Rhode Island Public Defender
2018 Barton Gilman, LLP
2017 Rhode Island Medical-Legal Partnership
2016 Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
2015 Committee for Public Counsel Services

Host Committee Members - 2023

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Natasha A. Buckler, Esq. L'10, RI Dept. of the Attorney General
Diana deGroof, Esq. L'03, Rhode Island Public Defender
Kara A. Humm, Esq. L'08, Committee for Public Counsel Services
Jennifer Lisi, Esq. L'18, Locke Lord
Michael J. Moloney, Esq. L'09, Fall River Housing Authority
Adam M. Ramos, Esq. L'06, Hinckley Allen LLP

Sponsorship Opportunities and Benefits - 2023

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We invite you to support the social justice initiatives at RWU Law through a sponsorship of the 9th Annual Champions for Justice!

This special event benefits the Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education, RWU Law Clinics, and the Pro Bono Collaborative at Roger Williams University School of Law. Champions for Justice has become RWU Law’s signature event for the bench and bar, business, and academic communities, and has drawn over 400+ guests each year. We are excited to host this event once again in person which allows members of the academic, legal, and student community to engage with each other.

Join us in celebrating the array of social justice initiatives at RWU Law while showcasing your firm/company, honoring the award recipients, and demonstrating your commitment to RWU Law’s public interest programming and pro bono legal service.

Champions for Justice Dean's Signature Sponsor $30,000

This sponsorship includes recognition as the Dean’s Sponsor during the event, 24 tickets (three tables), preferred seating for three tables, recognition during the event, your logo on the Champions for Justice website, invitations, signage, and event communications.

Champions for Justice Presenting Sponsor $20,000

This sponsorship includes recognition as the Presenting Sponsor during the evening’s event, 16 tickets (two tables) to the event, and your logo on the Champions for Justice website, invitations, signage, and event communications.

Champions for Justice Title Sponsors $15,000

This sponsorship includes recognition during the evening’s event, 8 tickets (one table) to the event, and your logo on the Champions for Justice website, invitations, signage, and event communications.

Champions for Justice Program Sponsors $10,000

These sponsorships support RWU Law students involved in public interest programs throughout the year. This sponsorship includes special recognition during the evening’s event and 8 (one table) tickets to the event.

Champions for Justice Award Sponsors $7,500

This sponsorship honors the awardees while supporting public interest programs at RWU Law. This sponsorship includes special recognition during the evening’s event, 8 (one table) tickets to the event, your logo on the Champions for Justice website, signage, and event communications.

Champions for Justice Reception Sponsor $5,000

Add your name to the reception at the Champions of Justice Event. This sponsorship includes formal recognition during the reception as well as the logo throughout the early event hours, 4 event tickets, your logo on the Champions for Justice website, signage, and event communications.

Champions for Justice Event Sponsorships $2,000

This sponsorship includes special recognition during the evening’s event and 2 tickets to the event.  This sponsorship includes formal recognition during the reception as well as the logo throughout the early event hours, 4 event tickets, your logo on the Champions for Justice website, signage, and event communications.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Matt Devecchi at mdevecchi@rwu.edu or 401-254-3735.

Thank you!

 

 

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.