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Welcome to the Dean's Suite

The Dean's Suite is the nerve center of RWU Law, dedicated to maximizing your educational investment, continually improving programming and opportunities, and ensuring that your student experience is effective, enriching and rewarding.

Welcome to the Office of the Dean at Roger Williams University School of Law, where we pride ourselves on offering an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, a commitment to public service, a culture of excellence, and a vibrant community of extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, engaged alumni, and dynamic administrators.

At the helm, you’ll find Dean and Professor of Law Greg W. Bowman, handling a broad array of educational and outreach functions, touching on virtually every aspect of the school’s mission.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Legal Practice Colleen A. Brown is RWU Law’s chief academic officer, responsible for all aspects of the academic program and for supporting the work of the faculty.

Associate Dean of Student Life and Operations Lorraine N. Lalli oversees a wide range of programs and activities, providing assistance when you need it and helping maintain a supportive, nurturing community where you can succeed academically and gain the practical skills you need to excel as a lawyer.

Assistant Dean of Business Affairs Kathleen A. Massa directs the day-to-day administrative operations of the RWU Law, providing services to students, faculty and staff with a commitment to excellent customer service, and maintains the integrity of financial and business policies, processes and records.

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.