You might say Stefanie Fischer’s success in law school started with sled dogs. Fischer is a member of the Roger Williams University School of Law Class of 2024. As a teaching assistant for multiple courses and editor-in-chief of the, Roger Williams University Law Review, , she has excelled at every opportunity offered to her as a law student. But she credits her accomplishments at least in part to one chance she didn’t take. , Dogs and horses, After graduating from the George Washington University in three years, Fischer briefly considered law school but chose a more adventurous path. In 2011, she moved to Seward, Alaska to work for the Seavey family, a multi-generational dogsledding family that included two champions of the famous Iditarod sled race. She did everything from administrative assistance to mushing for the family’s racing…, “A lot of yesses” , Fischer applied only to RWU Law because she wanted to stay in state. In law school, she wanted to distinguish herself in a competitive career. She also had the Iditarod in the back of her mind and didn’t want to say no to another chance. “I didn't ever want to turn down an opportunity and regret it later. Part of that was that I was coming to this as a second or third career and at a much older…, Law Review, team of around sixty high achievers. “It made me a much more empathetic person,” Fischer says. “I was much more able to step back from something and say, ‘Okay, what is this person thinking? What are they feeling like?’ … That sounds really simple, but it's really hard to do.” After graduation, Fischer will clerk for Chief Justice Paul Suttell of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Eventually, she…
Type: Article
Terrence Haas L'07 is an adventurer. In his twenties, he lived off the grid in rural northern Michigan in a shelter with no electricity or water. After law school, he moved to Alaska to become a public defender in a town outside of the state’s road system. In September 2023, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed Haas as the Alaska Public Defender. But for anyone who believes the best option…, Off the grid, Haas was born in California and raised in Indiana. As a college student in Michigan, he moved into the woods. “I don’t think it was that conscious of a decision,” he recalls. “It was just kind of a thing that people were doing in that part of the world.” That adventure ended with another adventure: the birth of Haas’s first child. At that time, he moved back to Indiana and completed an…, On to law school, Haas had previously worked in group homes for disabled adults. He liked the experience and also realized that he wanted to pursue advocacy as a career. This led him to Roger Williams University School of Law. He enjoyed being an active law student, serving as the Editor in Chief of the Law Review and clerking for Judge Mary Lisi of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island…, A new adventure, Haas and his family moved to Bethel, a community of around six thousand residents in western Alaska. He recalls that he was “learning the job at the same time that I was trying to learn the culture. There were bumps in the road to be sure. But ultimately, the people there are very, very patient, kind, [and] understanding.” Eventually, Haas became the head of the local public defender’s office and…, A tricky business, As the supervisor of the state’s approximately one-hundred public defenders, Haas is eager to impart to a new generation of lawyers what it means to be a public defender. “Public defense is a tricky business,” he observes. At its best, public defense means helping people in need. At its worst, a public defender’s office can be merely a stamp of approval on a broken process, ensuring that it meets…
Type: Story
One of the highlights of the recent Women in Law Leadership Lecture, featuring guest Director Rosie Hidalgo of the US Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and RWU Law's Prof. Emily J. Sack, was the presentation of the 2024 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Essay/Art Contest., Elementary School Winner (Grades K-5), Visaagan Vipakaran's artwork entitled "Equality for All People" won the prize for art. Visaagan is a Grade 5 student at Woodridge Elementary School., Middle School Winner (Grades 6-8), Reese Lourenco's essay, "The Great Influence of Ruth Bader Ginsburg," earned the Middle School prize. Reese is a Grade 6 student at Segue Institute for Learning. According to Reese, the late RBG inspired with her bravery and perseverance., High School Winner (Grades 9-12), Avery Blais's essay, “The RBG Within ME,” secured her the High School prize. For this Grade 9 student of Mount Saint Charles Academy, RBG is a goal—a symbol of perseverance in paving the way for the next generation of Americans, serving as a reminder for Avery not to give up. Information on the annual RBG Essay/Art Contest, this year's winners, as well as copies of the essays and an image of the…
Type: Article
Jonté McKenzie is a firm believer in making the most of any situation he’s in, in getting involved with things he believes in, and creating a sense of community. Over the course of his three years at RWU Law, he has served as the Student Bar Association (SBA) president and vice president of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA). He’s also been involved in the Latino Law Student Association (…
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Type: Photo Gallery
Third-year law Roger Williams University School of Law student Tim Caplan has a public service mindset. Throughout college, he volunteered with Beat the Streets, an organization that mentors youth through wrestling programs. When he came to law school, Caplan continued his public service through pro bono legal work. RWU Law requires law students to perform at least 50 pro bono hours prior to…, Many opportunities, Among a number of other public interest and experiential programs, the Feinstein Center oversees pro bono projects including Street Law, which teaches youth about their legal rights; Adult Correctional Institution Civil Legal Clinic Projects; an eviction help desk; and more. One of the major pro bono projects at RWU Law is Alternative Spring Break (“ASB”), which pairs students with public…, , Community connections, RWU Law pro bono also capitalizes on the school’s community connections, including to the judiciary. When she came to law school, Rotimi had never heard of judicial clerkships, which are post-graduate positions in judges’ chambers. Her pro bono internship with Judge Mary McElroy of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island opened her eyes to clerkship opportunities. After…, A defining moment, Even students who aren’t interested in public interest careers can gain valuable skills through pro bono service. When asked why a busy law student would want to go above and beyond the school’s pro bono requirement, Caplan says, “If you want a great resume, do more pro bono work.” Ultimately, pro bono work can be one of the highlights of law school. “A lot of students say that doing their pro…, For a listing of the most recent schoolyear's students who have completed one hundred hours or more of pro bono legal service, visit this the, Pro Bono Experiential Learning, section. ,
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Sponsored by the Student Bar Association, , 6:00 PM Meet & Greet 7:00 PM Dinner and Dancing Omni Providence Hotel One West Exchange Street Providence, Rhode Island Check back for event ticket information. Omni Providence Hotel, Overnight Special Room Rate:, A limited number of overnight rooms are available at a reduced nightly rate of $149 at the Omni Providence Hotel. Reservations may be made directly by calling Omni Reservations Line at 402-952-6646 and mentioning the 2025 RWU Law Barrister’s Ball Room Block. Online room reservation link., All room reservations must be made before February 4, 2025., Event Ticket Refund Policy:, RWU Law Barrister's Ball tickets may be refunded if the request is received in writing to lawevents@rwu.edu by February 14, 2025. The University Ticket processing fees are forfeited., SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:, Persons who, because of a special need or condition, would like to request an accommodation for this event should contact the Office of Law Programs at lawevents@rwu.edu , as soon as possible, but no later than 72 business hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements may be made.
Type: Event
The library staff will join the RWU Law faculty and staff tomorrow in celebration of you, the class of 2024. Your time here has not gone unnoticed. You came to the library early and often to study, meet with classmates, ask research and other questions, and engage in quiet reflection on occasion. We saw you in the halls of the law school expanding on what you learned, preparing for class and…
Type: Article
BRISTOL, R.I., –, Selected as the Graduate Student Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2024, Elisabeth D’Amelio, of Lincoln, R.I., said she knows how easy it is to compare yourself to other people. That’s why the dual Juris Doctor and M.A. in Cybersecurity candidate will encourage her fellow graduates to follow their own paths as part of her speech at the May 17 ceremony. D’Amelio, who grew up in Rhode Island,…, Q: How does it feel to be chosen as the Graduate Student Commencement Speaker?, D’Amelio: It feels great! Being an effective speaker and communicator is something I have always worked hard at, so having the opportunity to do this is really exciting. I think it will be fun. Something I believe in is to apply for everything. Let someone else tell you that you can't have it but never yourself. , Q: What inspired you to apply for the role?, D’Amelio: When I graduated undergrad, I did so by the skin of my teeth, and I didn’t even get my degree that day. So it was that experience of watching everybody who knew what they wanted to do with their lives and knowing that I wasn’t that kid. Graduation speeches don’t tend to recognize that there are a lot of people in the audience who don’t know what comes next, so with my speech I want to…, Q: What was your creative process for writing your speech?, D’Amelio: I’m a runner, and I tend to write things while I’m running. You will see that influence in the speech because it’s kind of about motion and the roadway illusion, which is a phenomenon that psychologists have identified that if you’re driving on a highway, you always think the lane next to you is moving faster. I use that as a way to say that there are going to be times in your life…, Q: How has RWU contributed to your growth as a person and professional?, D’Amelio: It’s given me more space to explore what I am passionate about and determine what my principles are. It’s very easy to just move through the world and absorb other people’s perspectives, but the entirety of law school is testing your perspective, testing rules, and testing how you feel about it all, so you come out of it with a more certain view of who you are, where you’re willing to…, Q: How would you describe your RWU experience?, D’Amelio: Really positive. RWU was really welcoming to me, and I found a good group of people who were enthusiastic about what they were learning and doing. You can tell when you’re talking with them that they are doing something that they believe in, and I think that’s great. I don’t know if it’s the culture of graduate programs generally, or Roger in particular, but it’s been a privilege to be…
Type: Article
BRISTOL, R.I. –, “Be curious. Be fearless. Ask hard questions,” Shabana Basij-Rasikh told Roger Williams University graduates in her keynote address at Friday’s Commencement ceremony. “And with knowledge, with compassion, and with confidence, be the actors who create a better world.” In her words of encouragement to the Class of 2024, Basij-Rasikh shared her story of seeking an education under a ruling regime…
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