Incoming Student Checklist

Welcome to RWU School of Law! This checklist will help you prepare for your August campus arrival. Please review and complete all items below. Please note that some items are for late July and August, as we get closer to the academic year, so please bookmark this page for use throughout the summer.

RWU Login Guide

Orientation is in-person and mandatory for all incoming students. Orientation is scheduled for August 9 to August 11 from 9am-5pm. Please note that business attire is required on Wednesday and Friday.

Any questions regarding Orientation should be directed to Lorraine Lalli, Associate Dean of Student Life & Operations. A detailed Orientation schedule can be found online here.

Click below to explore resources and supports from the Academic Excellence Program on how to prepare for law school. 

Preparing for Law School

Each spring, the Office of Admissions gathers rental listings from local landlords. We update our list of apartments in the Bristol area at least once a week from early May through the first day of Orientation. This is not an exhaustive list of your available options, but it may be a good place to start. 

Housing Information

We invite you to start learning about and connecting to your new community. 

Log on to RogerCentral to view your student profile and make changes and updates:

  • Add your chosen/preferred name and pronouns 
     
  • Update your emergency contact information
     
  • Add your local address when available

Chosen Name Policy and Gender Pronouns
RWU Law has implemented a Chosen Name Policy to honor lived experiences, affirm gender identity, and respect the self-expression of our students, faculty, staff, and administration. If you would like more information about the policy or would like to make changes to your current student record/identification, please visit the following law school link for instructions: Adding Your Chosen Name and Pronouns in Roger Central
 

Roger Williams University requires all law students (JD and MSL) to have adequate health insurance coverage and has partnered with University Health Plans to offer a comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan. All students are automatically enrolled in and billed for the University's Student Health Insurance Plan. Students who provide proof of adequate coverage under an existing plan by August 15 may waive the University's Student Health Insurance Plan.

Visit University Health Plans to enroll or waive coverage. Students will need their student ID number and date of birth. 

If you have questions about the University's student health insurance plan enrollment or waiver process, contact University Health Plans at (800) 437-6448 or info@univhealthplans.com. If you are having problems with your RWU student ID number, contact the Office of Student Finance & Records at (401) 254-4657.

University Health Plan Website

The ABA requires verification of an undergraduate degree as a condition of enrollment in law school. Please arrange for an official transcript from your degree-awarding institution indicating conferral of your Bachelor's degree to be sent to the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) by August 1. Please note that if you had not graduated before you submitted your transcript to LSAC with your application, you are required to submit a new copy indicating your graduation date.

Students who do not provide a transcript by October 15 must be withdrawn from RWU Law absent extraordinary circumstances. If you have concerns about your ability to complete this requirement, immediately contact Douglas Peterson, Director of Student Finance and Records, at (401) 254-4660.
 

All incoming law students are required to submit health forms and a current immunization record by July 15th.  All information must be submitted electronically via the Health Services Student Portal in RogerCentral. Forms will not be accepted by email, fax or mail.

Students who for medical or religious reasons decline Rhode Island mandated vaccines, must complete the medical and/or religious exemption form. Upload the exemption form in the patient portal under immunization record. 


Health Services Portal

Video: Navigating the Health Services Portal

Law students must obtain an RWU student ID prior to the start of classes. The ID Office, located on the ground floor of the Commons Building, will be open during the summer and during Orientation in August. During the summer, please call or email to verify hours – (401)254-3874 or tcookinham@rwu.edu. 

Login to RogerCentral, click on Financial Information (icon on left margin) and select Financial Aid. This will automatically bring you to the financial aid portal.

  • Accept/Decline Direct Loans (if applicable)
     
  • Check for any missing financial aid documentation

If you have questions about your financial aid, or how you will be able to finance your legal education, please contact our Financial Aid Counselors.

Last Name A-K: Kathryn Politano, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Last Name L-Z: Tina Bacon, Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Financial Aid Checklist 

Direct Deposit Sign Up
(Optional)
 

Your fall 2023 semester bill and financial aid information, if applicable, can be accessed in the Student Account Center in Roger Central.  After logging into Roger Central, select Financial Information from the top left menu and select RWU Student Account Center. Please note that financial aid will remain in a pending status until ten days before the start of the term.  

For questions, please contact the appropriate person or department listed below.

Kathryn Politano, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Law students with Last Name A-K
 
Tina Bacon, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Law students with Last Name L-Z
 
Karen Moniz, Academic & Business Services Coordinator
Billing or payment plan questions
401-254-4657
 
Douglas Peterson, Registrar and Director of Student Finance
Payment due date questions or concerns 
401-254-4660
 
University Health Plans
Health insurance waiver, enrollment, eligibility or general questions
833-251-1144 or info@univhealthplans.com

Once you are registered for your courses in mid-July, you can search for your books on the Roger Williams University Bookstore website by course number and section. You may contact the bookstore by phone at (401) 254-4592. The bookstore is located in the Lower Commons. 

Roger Williams University School of Law Bookstore

Legal Practice Course Materials - All Legal Practice sections use the same course materials. You may select any section when ordering books for this course.

Using Pending Financial Aid for Purchases - Students may use pending financial aid to purchase books and other course materials from the RWU bookstore. To use financial aid, select “FA Link” for payment. You will need your student ID number to complete your purchase. The last day to make purchases using FA Link is August 2, 2023. If you have questions about your pending financial aid or your eligibility to use FA Link, please contact Financial Aid.

Renting v. Buying - The bookstore recommends that you purchase your books (rather than rent) for all courses except Criminal Law. Rental prices displayed online are for one semester. Because most of your first year courses will run the entire first year, purchasing your books (either new or used) may be a more economical option. Please ask the bookstore staff for information.

We have partnered with AccessLex Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to legal education, to bring you MAX by AccessLex®, the free personal finance program designed exclusively for law students! 

Ask EDNA! – the Education Network at AccessLex is your one-stop shop to access MAX by AccessLex®, the personal finance program for law students, as well as student success and bar success tools.

Your name, email address, school, and class year are all that you need to get started. Click on the MAX by AccessLex tile and complete all eight components of the MAX 1L Course: Financial Foundations before the start of classes to meet your MAX requirement. When you’re done, be sure to schedule time with a MAX Financial Coach so that you can get your money questions answered!
 

MAX AccessLex Logo

 

You will receive an email in mid-July directly to your RWU email account when the courses are ready for you to complete. Students must complete training prior to Orientation.

As part of Roger Williams University School of Law’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and sexual assault prevention, all new students are required to complete two two-part, online trainings: (1) Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students and (2) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Students. These trainings will explore key concepts related to identity, bias, power, privilege, oppression, violence prevention and will empower learners to understand the benefits of being part of a diverse, safe and inclusive community. 

You will receive an email in mid-July during the last week of July directly to your RWU email account when the courses are ready for you to complete. Included in that email will be a unique link for you to access your Vector Solutions/EVERFI account. Students must complete training prior to Orientation. 

On, or around, 30 days upon completing each course in Part 1, you will receive an email inviting you to take Part 2 (which are brief follow-up surveys). Part 2 surveys are due by October 13th, 2023. 

Should you experience problems within the course, please contact Vector Solutions technical support at support.education@vectorsolutions.com.

Thank you for your participation in these important educational and prevention efforts and welcome to RWU!
 

There will be several tasks to complete in early-August. Check back and review this list on August 1. 

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.