Staff/Contact Information

Telephone Numbers for Assistance 

  • Administration: 401-254-4530
  • Circulation / Information: 401-254-4546 
  • Reference Librarian: 401-254-4547 
  • Interlibrary Loan Requests: 401-254-4537
  • Requests for Purchases: 401-254-4539 
  • Gift Offers: 401-254-4539 

Staff

Administration

Raquel M. Ortiz, Assistant Dean for Library & Information Services; Associate Professor of Law.
Manages all aspects of the law library. She is a member of the faculty. B.A., Harvard College; M.S.L.S., Simmons College; J.D., Suffolk University Law School.

Alexandra Ward, Administrative Assistant
Provides administrative support for the librarians and staff. Assists in coordinating administrative activities, library events and exhibits; produces financial, statistical and other written reports; and manages specified Law Library operating budget accounts. Serves as liaison with other departments on campus. B.S., Penn State University.

Research & Access Services

Misty N. Peltz-Steele, Associate Law Librarian, Research & Administration
Directs Access and Research services in all areas relating to student, faculty, and other patron services, reference, circulation, reserves, resource sharing, and research instruction. Manages the library’s information systems and technology resources. Oversees training for electronic resources. Assists the Assistant Library Dean with the general administration of the law library. B.S., United States Naval Academy; M.L.I.S., University of Rhode Island; J.D., University of Arkansas Little Rock

Lindsay Koso, Research & Instructional Services Librarian
Develops and provides legal reference and research services to faculty, students, and members of the legal community. Designs and implements instructional programs including first-year training, library orientation, and other informational and instructional sessions, lectures, and workshops. Develops and implements services and programs promoting student engagement with the library and library services. Cultivates relationships with student groups and organizations to coordinate and provide library related support, orientation, and focused research instruction sessions. Participates in the Law Library's scholarly communication program. B.A., Wheaton College, magna cum laude; J.D., Roger Williams University.

Erin Orsini, Access Services Coordinator
Coordinates circulation, reserves, and other access services and provides access to library resources in support of the library's day-to-day operations. Hires, trains, and manages student library assistants. B.A., University of Maryland.

Jessica L. Silvia, Faculty & Digital Services Assistant
Provides faculty document delivery, current awareness services, and other services in support of faculty scholarship. Participates in the delivery of a variety of digital services including the library website and guides, social media, and law review services. Provides services at the library circulation desk. B.A., Roger Williams University.

Collection Services

Assistant Law Librarian, Collection Services
Manages the Collections Services Department, including selections, acquisitions (including gifts and faculty office materials), serials, cataloging, bindery, and processing materials. Oversees the management of digital resources in the law library and the School of Law digital repository. Assists patrons at the Reference Desk. 

Kathleen MacAndrew, Catalog, Metadata, and Archives Librarian
Performs cataloging, classification, and authority control, and maintains bibliographic information in the WebCatalog to facilitate discovery of the library’s print and digital resources. Processes materials for placement in library’s collection. Contributes metadata to the School of Law digital repository. Manages the law library’s digital and print archives. Assists patrons at the Reference Desk. B.A., Cal. State University, Long Beach; M.L.S., Simmons College.

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.