Diana J. Hassel

Photo of Diana J. Hassel
Diana J. HasselProfessor of Law

Contact Information

401-254-4618dhassel@rwu.edu268GSSRN Author PageCurriculum Vitae

Education

J.D., Rutgers University
B.A., Mount Holyoke College

Professor Diana Hassel regularly leads a group of students to experience "legal Washington," which features attendance at a Supreme Court argument, a session with Associate Justice Samuel Alito and his law clerks, a visit to the Department of Justice, and a session with United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. She has also taught in our summer program in London.

Professor Hassel serves as a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Legal Services Committee and participates in community legal education through a program called Citizen’s Law School. Prior to joining RWU’s faculty, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. There, she represented the United States in various aspects of civil litigation including civil rights, environment issues, tax matters and defense contractor fraud.

Professor Hassel teaches classes in Constitutional Law, Civil Rights litigation, and lawyering skills, and won a national award for an article on Constitutional law that appeared in the Texas Law Review.

Articles

United States Supreme Court Survey: 2019 Term, Hernandez v. Mesa: A Catalyst for Change?, 26 Roger Williams Law Review 73 (2021)

Excessive Reasonableness, 43 Indiana Law Review 117 (2009)

Sex and Death: Lawrence’s Liberty and Physician Assisted Suicide, 9 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law 1003 (2007)

Lawrence v. Texas: Evolution of Constitutional Doctrine, 9 Roger Williams University Law Review 565 (2004)

The Use of Criminal Sodomy Laws in Civil Litigation, 79 Texas Law Review 813 (2001)

Living A Lie: The Cost of Qualified Immunity, 64 Missouri Law Review 123 (1999)

A Missed Opportunity: The Federal Tort Claims Act and Civil Rights Actions, 49 Oklahoma Law Review 455 (1996)

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.