Clinics and Externships

Clinical legal education is law school training in which students participate in actual cases 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.

What is the difference between an In-House Clinic, a Field Clinic, and a Clinical Externship?

In an In-House Clinic, a student works in the Providence Law Clinic under the supervision of a full-time faculty member whose sole purpose is to teach students and direct the clinic.  Students handle a small number of their cases from start to finish and, when the student practice rule permits it, are certified as student attorneys. 

In a Field Clinic, a student works outside of the law school under the supervision of an attorney who also serves as a member of our adjunct faculty.  Students are certified as student attorneys and handle a small number of their cases from start to finish.

In a Clinical Externship, a student trains outside of the law school under the supervision of attorneys or judges. Generally, the law student is assigned projects that deepen the student’s substantive knowledge and skill base. Students make valuable connections and learn lessons about the real world of practice in a busy public interest law office, corporation, or judicial chamber. For students looking for an immersive experience, we offer each of our Clinical Externship programs in a Semester-In-Practice format, which enables a student to train outside of the law school full-time under the supervision of attorneys or judges.  A Semester-In-Practice allows a student to work either locally or in a remote location chosen by the student and approved by the Clinical Externship Director.

Students must be selected by the director of each program. There will be a consultation session with the Director of each program for Clinical Externship to discuss the placement options. For the Summer Clinical externship, students usually find their own placements in consultation with the Director. 

In-House Clinics (Open to 2Ls and 3Ls)

All of our in-house clinics are supervised by full-time faculty members. The professionally staffed full-service law office is located in Historic Downtown Providence, RI, and houses the Business Start-up Clinic, the Criminal Defense Clinic, and the Immigration Clinic. 

Field Clinics (Open to 2Ls and 3Ls)

Our field clinic is supervised by highly experienced attorneys in a nationally regarded law firm who are employed as members of our adjunct faculty.

Clinical Externships (Open to 2Ls and 3Ls)

All clinical externships are taught by Faculty who teach a co-requisite seminar and supervise students in their fieldwork.

  • Corporate Counsel Clinical Externship Program 
  • Environmental and Land Use Clinical Externship Program
  • Government Clinical Externship Program
  • Judicial Clinical Externship Program
  • New York Pro Bono Scholars Program
  • Prosecution Clinical Externship Program
  • Public Interest Clinical Externship Program
  • Summer Clinical Externship Program
  • Washington, DC (Semester-In-Practice)

Learn more about Clinical Externships

Semester-In-Practice

Participate in an innovative Semester-In-Practice Program that enables students to train full-time—either in one of our pre-established local placements or in a new remote placement of their choosing.

Learn more about Semester-In Practice

Pro Bono Clinics and Projects (Open to 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls)

  • ACI Civil Legal Assistance
  • Eviction Help Desk
  • Street Law
  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Learn more about Pro Bono

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.