Juris Doctor
Few degrees are more versatile than the Juris Doctor, or J.D. Whatever your professional interest is we'll help you design an academic and experiential pathway that will get you there.
Academics
Educational excellence across a wide variety of program offerings.
Where Do You Want To Go With Your Law Degree?
RWU Law delivers a personalized and marketable legal education, based in Bristol and Providence, R.I.
Master of Studies in Law
Designed for students who want to bring legal knowledge to their current work or strengthen their career outlook.
Institutes and Programs
Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education
This center connects students and faculty with community organizations to provide pro bono legal services to those in need and to help students to gain valuable practical legal experience.
Marine Affairs Institute
The Marine Affairs Institute prepares law students to enter the exciting field of ocean and coastal law and policy by providing them with strong academic credentials and practical experiences that help them be practice-ready upon graduation.
Business Law Program
Our Business Law Program provides students with a sound foundation in the principles and practice of business law through clinics, externships and coursework.
Joint Degree Programs
JD/Master of Marine Affairs
We offer a joint degree program in partnership with the Marine Affairs program at the University of Rhode Island.
JD/Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Drawing on the strengths of the School of Law as well as the Roger Williams University School of Justice Studies, Roger Williams University offers a concentrated joint degree program for students interested in criminal justice.
JD/Master of Science in Cyber Security
Put yourself on the cutting edge of the law and technology with this innovative joint degree program between RWU Law and the Roger Williams University School of Justice Studies.
JD/Master of Science in Historic Preservation
Take advantage of one of the only joint degree programs combining the law with historic preservation in partnership with Roger Williams University's School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation.
JD/Master of Science in Labor Relations & Human Resources
In conjunction with the University of Rhode Island Charles T. Schmidt Jr. Labor Research Center, RWU Law offers a concentrated joint degree program for students interested in extensive study of legal issues relating to employment and labor relations.
Business Start-Up Clinic
Providing transactional legal services to non-profit organizations and community-based business in Rhode Island.
Criminal Defense Clinic
Representing real defendants in pending criminal cases under the direct supervision of a full-time member of the RWU Law faculty.
Immigration Clinic
Representing non-citizens in their applications for relief from removal before the Immigration Court.
Veterans Disability Appeals Field Clinic
Representing military veterans pursuing disability benefits in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Clinical Externships
Second and third-year students earn academic credit while working under the supervision of legal services lawyers, public defenders, prosecutors, government attorneys, corporate counsel or judges in the local community.
Semester-in-Practice
Total-immersion experience: students earn a full semester of credit while training in Rhode Island, Boston, New York - anywhere in the U.S. or around the world.
Additional Information
Academic Calendar
Calendars, course information, important exam information and course registration deadlines.
Honors Program
Our Honors Program which involves a three-year program of roundtables, special elective course offerings and other unique academic and social experiences.
Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow Program
The Rhode Island Sea Grant Program sponsors law students as Sea Grant Law Fellows to research and write on ocean and coastal law issues including the resolution of marine resource management and conservation issues.
Recent News
Leadership and Vision: Jonté T. McKenzie L'24
Jonté McKenzie is a firm believer in making the most of any situation he’s in, in getting involved with things he believes in, and creating a sense of community. Over the course of his three years at
The Power of Yes: Stefanie Fischer L'24
As a teaching assistant for multiple courses and editor-in-chief of the Roger Williams University Law Review, Stefanie Fischer has excelled at every opportunity offered to her as a law student. But she credits her accomplishments at least in part to one chance she didn’t take.
Rooted in Commitment: Geovanny Amaya L'24
Growing up as a first-generation American, Geovanny Amaya thought there was a strong chance he would go into immigration law. But when he arrived at RWU Law three years ago, he thought he should keep
