Boston attorney, Antonio Massa Viana ’14, made headlines soon after passing the Massachusetts bar exam, when he became the first known unauthorized immigrant to earn a law license. In 2016, after securing a green card, Viana was admitted to practice in the Ocean State as well (where he’d passed the bar two years earlier). At his swearing-in ceremony in 2016, Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell commented that Viana had taken “a rather…, The Trump Years, Like any new lawyer flying solo, Viana found himself working impossibly long and difficult hours as he honed both his legal chops and his business management skills. “It’s not easy running a law practice,” he said. “It’s not easy practicing law. And it certainly wasn’t easy being an immigration lawyer during four years of Trump. For me to be starting out right before he took office, specifically…, The Pandemic, Then in 2020, COVID-19 pandemic hit and Viana’s practice found itself facing yet another existential challenge that somehow turned out for the best. It began for him as it did for many other businesses – with a sort of confused optimism. “I remember when I closed the office on March 13,” he said. “I told everybody, ‘We’ll be back by April 1. They’ll lock down for two weeks, the virus will pass,…, The Long Road to Residency, Of course, Viana is no stranger to adapting and surviving. Born in Brazil with many U.S. connections, he spent years living and working here: a homeowner, a taxpayer, and the father of three U.S.-born children, Cecilia, Francisco, and Joaquim (now 19, 17, and 13, respectively). Their mother Lelia, who hails from Argentina, became a U.S. citizen in 2015, enabling Viana to obtain a U.S. green card…, Amanda LaRocca ’21, . Last summer,, 2L Victor Vieira, was a summer intern. The firm is moving into a larger space in January. Viana also believes that his long, complicated road to residency helps clients relate to and trust him -- which in turn probably contributes to his success. “I’m not the only one out there with a crazy story; there are thousands of those stories playing out every day in America – especially with the DACA kids right now,” he…
Type: Story
It's the only program of its kind in RI! , This dual degree program allows you to complete the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an accelerated period of study within four years, instead of the typical five years. The MBA program combines classes in core business disciplines at our state-of-the-art Metro Campus in Providence with a required internship and international study to give you practical,…, Learn More
Type: Webform
In 2012, the American Bar Association amended comment 8 to Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1 by adding technology competence as a requirement of the duty of competence: To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice,, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology, , engage in continuing study and education and comply with all continuing legal education requirements to which the lawyer is subject. (emphasis added) Since then, 39 states have adopted this ethical duty of technology competence through changes to the court rules, court orders, and ethics opinions. How this has shaped up in practice varies greatly across states. Some states, like Florida,…
Type: Article
Type: Photo Gallery
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Orientation is in-person and mandatory for all incoming students. Orientation is scheduled for August 10 to August 12 from 9am-5pm. Please note that business attire is required on Wednesday and Friday. Any questions regarding Orientation should be directed to Lorraine Lalli , Associate Dean of Student Life & Operations. A detailed schedule can be found online here . The schedule for MSL…
Type: Event
According to the New York Times , “On June 19, 1865, about two months after the Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Va., Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African-Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued…
Type: Article
Dr. Bhamati Viswanathan is Adjunct Faculty at Roger Williams University Law School in Bristol RI, where she teaches a course on Copyright in the Creative Industries. She is also Affiliate Faculty at Emerson College in Boston, MA, where she teaches in the Business of Creative Enterprise program. Bhamati is the author of “Cultivating Copyright: How Creative Industries Can Harness Intellectual…
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Fireworks! Parades! Sunburns! We hope that you have a wonderful 4th of July. If you are staying in the vicinity of Roger Williams this summer, make sure to check out the events happening around Bristol. Bristol has hosted a celebration since 1785 and claims the title for America’s oldest Fourth of July celebration… and we make sure to make it count. Celebrations kick off on Flag Day (June 14th)…
Type: Article
