Melanie Shapiro

Melanie Shapiro
Melanie ShapiroAdjunct Professor of LawAttorney at Law

Contact Information

mshapiro@rwu.edu

Professor Shapiro founded the Law Office of Melanie Shapiro, LLC in 2014. Her practice focuses on Immigration law, specializing in asylum, VAWA, U visas, special immigrant juvenile status, federal litigation, and removal defense.

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rhode Island's honor's program, majoring in Women's Studies. Professor Shapiro obtained her J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law where she was a Public Interest Scholar. She currently serves as a liaison on the American Immigration Lawyers Association's New England Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She partners with the LGBT Asylum Task Force and the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice mentoring students on pro bono asylum cases.

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.