Pro Bono Collaborative Projects

The following is a list of active Pro Bono Collaborative projects. Each of our projects involves RWU Law students working in partnership with community-based organizations, under the supervision of attorneys.

Community-based organizations are encouraged to propose Pro Bono Collaborative projects. To do so, please contact: Eliza Vorenberg at evorenberg@rwu.edu or 401-254-4597

Adult Correctional Institution Women's Facility Civil Legal Clinic Project

Attorney Erica Pistorino L'13 and RWU Law faculty, along with RWU Law students, provide advice and counsel on civil legal issues to women incarcerated in the Adult Correctional Institution (ACI) Women’s Facility.

Bradley Hospital’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Guardianship Project

Barton Gilman LLP, in partnership with Bradley Hospital’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, assists parents of disabled children turning 18 by providing advice and counsel regarding their options and, where appropriate, establishing legal guardianship of their children. The firm also provides regular Know Your Rights presentations to Bradley families and staff on Guardianship and its alternatives.

Eviction Help Desk Project

The Eviction Help Desk is a partnership between Roger Williams University School of Law’s Pro Bono Collaborative, the Rhode Island District Court, Rhode Island Center for Justice (CFJ) and Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. (RILS). The Help Desk is staffed by RWU Law students, working alongside experienced housing attorneys from RI Legal Services and the RI Center for Justice.  Each day one legal services attorney and two to four law students staff the Eviction Help Desk in both Providence and Kent Counties.

Non-Profit Advice and Counsel Project

Cameron Mittleman LLP, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC, and Sloan & Walsh LLP provide legal advice, counsel, and assistance to non-profit organizations that serve low-income communities. Organizations served have included AMOR, the Newport Partnership for Families, Women’s Center of RI, the Providence Student Union, and Women’s Refugee Care.

Rhode Island Elder Info Project

McCarthy Law LLC and RWU Law Students in partnership with RI Elder Info provide legal and policy research regarding the development of alternatives to guardianship tailored to older adults. 

Street Law Project

Street Law is a national program that partners law students with local public schools and community-based organizations to teach disadvantaged youth about their legal rights and responsibilities. Law students teach law-related lessons in schools and community organizations throughout Rhode Island and in Fall River.

Tomaquag Museum Project

Duffy & Sweeney Ltd. provides legal assistance to the Tomaquag Museum in support of its development of a new museum building and concessions on URI property. One law student assists the law firm with legal issues around land use, contract review, and employee policies.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

The Internal Revenue Service trains law students to provide tax assistance to low-income individuals and families through East Bay Community Action Program to ensure that they receive the earned income tax credit for which they are qualified. 

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.