Semester-In-Practice

The School of Law now offers an innovative Semester-In-Practice Program which enables students to train full-time—either in one of our pre-established local placements or in a new remote placement of their choosing that is approved by the Externship Director. 

Students must first apply to one of the Clinical Externship Programs: Corporate Counsel & Government, Environmental & Land Use, Judicial, Prosecution, Public Interest, or Washington D.C. Semester-In-Practice, and then arrange a full-time, local or remote, Semester-In-Practice placement that is approved by the Externship Director.  Students will earn 10-12 ungraded fieldwork credits and 2 graded credits for the co-requisite seminar. Students in remote placements will participate in the seminar through approved technology. 

The Semester-In-Practice is a capstone, full-immersion experience.  Students work full-time under the supervision of a practicing attorney for an entire semester.  The opportunity for students to craft their own remote placements provides the added benefit of allowing students to work not only in the area of practice they wish to pursue upon graduation but also in the geographic area where they plan to live. We have had Semester-In-Practice students working in housing and homelessness prevention in Los Angeles, public defense in New Jersey, immigration in New York City, and human rights in Seoul, South Korea.

If you have any questions about this option, or want discuss your options, please contact:

Laurie Barron
Clinical Professor of Law
Director of Clinical Externships
Director of Feinstein Center for Pro Bono and Experiential Education
lbarron@rwu.edu
(401) 254-4653

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Laurie Barron

Clinical Professor of LawDirector of Clinical ExternshipsDirector, Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education

Laurie Barron is the Director Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education. She received a B.A. from Yale University, a J.D. from New York University School of Law, and an M.S.W. from New York University School of Social Work. Her previous work includes representing children at the Juvenile Rights

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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.