Susan Heyman joined the Roger Williams University School of Law faculty in the fall of 2011. She had previously been at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York. She graduated magna cum laude from Cardozo, where she was executive editor of Cardozo Law Review and the recipient of the Felix Frankfurter Award. She clerked for the Honorable Robert E. Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for…, Articles, "Digital Realty Trust v. Somers: Whistleblowers and Corporate Retaliation," 24, Roger Williams University Law Review, 78 (2019), ", Corporate Privilege and an Individual’s Right to Defend," 85, George Washington Law Review, 1112 (2017), ", Rethinking Regulation Fair Disclosure and Corporate Free Speech," 36, Cardozo Law Review, 1099 (2015), ", The Quiet Period in a Noisy World: Rethinking Securities Regulations and Corporate Free Speech," 74, Ohio State Law Journal, 189 (2013) Book Review, "Contracts in the Real World: Stories of Popular Contracts and Why They Matter by Larry Cunningham,", Concurring Opinions, (October 17, 2012), , ", The Missing Elements of Contract Damages," 84, Temple Law Review, 119 (2011), ", Bottoms-Up: An Alternative Approach for Investigating Corporate Malfeasance," 37, American Journal of Criminal Law, 163 (2010), ", Bringing Down the Bar: Accountants Challenge Meaning of Unauthorized Practice," 21, Cardozo Law Review, 1425 (2000)
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
After a successful term at Yale Law School (where she served on the Yale Law Journal, the Yale Journal of Law and Policy, and the Yale Journal of International Law), Niki Kuckes won a coveted clerkship with Judge (now Justice) Antonin Scalia. She moved on to develop a sophisticated litigation practice in Washington, D.C, where for almost two decades she focused on white collar criminal matters,…, Books, “Rewriting Grand Jury History,” in, Grand Jury 2.0, , edited by Roger Fairfax (Durham, North Carolina: Carolina Press, 2011), Articles, ", Iancu v. Brunetti: Free Speech Meets Immoral and Scandalous Trademarks in the Supreme Court," 25, Roger Williams University Law Review, 80 (2020), ", Matal v. Tam: Free Speech Meets Disparaging Trademarks in the Supreme Court,, ", 23, Roger Williams University Law Review, 122 (2018), ", Designing Law School Externships That Comply with the FLSA," 21, Clinical Law Revie, w 79 (2014), ", The State of Rule 3.8: Prosecutorial Ethics Reform Since Ethics 2000," 22, Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, 427 (2009), ", Civil Due Process, Criminal Due Process," 25, Yale Law and Policy Review, 1 (2006) "The Democratic Prosecutor: Explaining the Constitutional Function of the Federal Grand Jury,", , 94, Georgetown Law Journal, 1265 (2006) "The Useful, Dangerous Fiction of Grand Jury Independence,", , 41, American Criminal Law Review, 1 (2004)
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Victoria Grace Litman M.Div., J.D., LL.M. is a visiting professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, where she teaches Torts, Cannabis Law, and Psychedelics Law. She is also a Fellow in Psychedelic Law and Spirituality at Harvard Law School’s Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics. Her scholarly work focuses on the intersections of tax law, religious…, Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, , Penn’s, Regulatory Review,, , Petrie-Flom Bill of Health, , and the Cato Institute’s, Regulation Magazine, . An accomplished presenter, Litman regularly speaks at major academic and policy conferences in the United States and abroad. Her recent presentations have addressed topics like psychedelic chaplaincy, cannabis tax law reform, and psychedelic religion and law. In addition to her teaching and research, Litman is a nonprofit tax lawyer specializing in tax-exempt organizations within the cannabis…, Articles, “ Facilitating the Sacred: The Role of Chaplains in Psychedelic Law and Policy ,” In , Psychedelic Intersections: 2024 Conference Anthology, February 2025, " Psychedelic Policy, Religious Freedom, and Public Safety: An Overview ,", Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, September 2024, " What You Need to Know About Marijuana Rescheduling - Petrie-Flom Center ,", Harvard Bill of Health, May 2024, " Why We Need To Talk About Psychedelic Dispensaries ,", The Regulatory Review; Penn Regulatory Review, April 2024, ", Limiting Federal Regulation of Cannabis, ," Cato Institute, the Cato Institute, Regulation Magazine,
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Joining the RWU Law faculty in 2001, Professor Emily Sack has become a nationally recognized expert on domestic violence and reform of the court system. As the Deputy Director for the Center for Court Innovation, Professor Sack helped develop and implement the first domestic violence courts in New York, as well as the first felony domestic violence court in the United States. U.S. Supreme Court…, The Struggle for the Future of Domestic Violence Policy, in his opinion in the domestic violence case , Castle Rock v. Gonzales, . Active in the community, Professor Sack is a member of the Elder Abuse Working group, assists the National District Attorney’s Association with developing elder abuse training curriculum for prosecutors, and serves as Member of the Board and Chair of EMERGE, a batterers’ intervention and parenting skills programs for men who abuse intimate partners. Prior to joining RWU, Professor Sack worked…, Books, “Varieties of Public Policy Toward Domestic Violence,” in, The Oxford Handbook of Family Policy Over The Life Course, (Oxford Univ. Press 2023), Domestic Violence and the Law: Theory and Practice, , 3rd ed., , (Eagan, MN: Foundation Press, 2012) (with Elizabeth Schneider, Cheryl Hanna & Judith G. Greenberg). “The Crime of Domestic Violence,” in, Criminal Law Conversations, , edited by Paul Robinson, Stephen Garvey & Kimberly Kessler Ferzan (New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 2009)., Articles, ", Illegal Stops and the Exclusionary Rule: The Consequences of Utah v. Strieff," 22, Roger Williams University Law Review, 263 (2017) "United States v. Castleman: The Meaning of Domestic Violence,, ", 20, Roger Williams University Law Review, 128 (2015), ", Is Domestic Violence a Crime?: Intimate Partner Rape as Allegory," 24, St. John’s Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development, 535 (2010), ", Judicial Selection in Rhode Island: Assessing the Experience with Merit Selection, Response,, ", 15, Roger Williams University Law Review, 793 (2010) "From the Right of Chastisement to the Criminalization of Domestic Violence: A Study in Resistance to Effective Policy Reform," 32, Thomas Jefferson Law Review, 31 (2009), ", The Burial of Family Law," 61, Southern Methodist University Law Review, 459 (2008), ", The Domestic Relations Exception, Domestic Violence, and Equal Access to Federal Courts," 84, Washington University Law Review, 1441 (2006), ", Civil Unions and the Meaning of the Public Policy Exception at the Boundaries of Domestic Relations Law," 3, Ave Maria Law Review, 497 (2005), ", The Retreat from DOMA: The Public Policy of Same-Sex Marriage and a Theory of Congressional Power Under the Full Faith and Credit Clause," 38, Creighton Law Review, 507 (2005), ", Battered Women and the State: The Struggle for the Future of Domestic Violence Policy," 2004, Wisconsin Law Review, 1657 "Domestic Violence Across State Lines: The Full Faith and Credit Clause, Congressional Power, and Interstate Enforcement of Protection Orders," 98, Northwestern University Law Review, 827 (2004)
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Eliza Vorenberg is the Director of Pro Bono and Community Partnerships. Eliza is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College (1983) and Columbia Law School (1990) and clerked for Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Herbert P. Wilkins. She has extensive experience in public interest law, the private sector, academia, and conflict resolution. Her previous experience includes litigating employment and civil…, Books, “Pro Bono as a Professional Value,” in, Building on Best Practices: Transforming Legal Education in a Changing World, , edited by Deborah Maranville, et al. (2015) (with Cindy Adcock, et al.), Articles, "Don’t Do It Alone: A Community-Based, Collaborative Approach to Pro Bono," 23, Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, 323 (2010) (co-authored with Laurie Barron, et al.)
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Deborah Gonzalez is the Director of the Immigration Clinic. Student Attorneys in the Immigration Clinic are licensed to practice law under Deborah’s license pursuant Article II, Rule 9 Supreme Court Rules. Student Attorneys represent indigent immigrants who need assistance in defending against removal proceedings or obtaining lawful permanent residence through some form of relief before the U.S.…, Articles, ", Sky Is the Limit: Protecting Unaccompanied Minors by Not Subjecting Them To Numerical Limitations," 49, St. Mary's Law Journal, 555 (2018), ", Immigration Consequences to a Charge of Simple Assault or Battery,, ", Rhode Island Bar Journal, , January/February, 2013, at 21
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Our faculty’s impressive credentials, academic accomplishments and deep connections throughout the legal field are harnessed into a collective force that provides the most cutting-edge legal education available. At RWU Law, our faculty offer the best of both worlds – our professors are top-rated by The Princeton Review and our adjunct faculty include top-notch practicing justices, judges and…, New York Times, , the , Wall Street Journal, , the , Washington Post, , , USA Today, , the , Chicago Tribune, , the , Boston Globe, , the , Providence Journal, and virtually every other major news outlet in the United States – from , CNN, to , NPR, . They've testified before Congress, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, practiced with top law firms and respected nonprofit organizations, represented detainees at Guantanamo, served in the United Nations and the Armed Forces, and held leadership positions in such organizations as the American Bar Association and the American Law Institute. The best part? Because of our small class sizes, our…
Type: L1 & Institute
Assistant Dean Raquel M. Ortiz has worked in academic law libraries for over 25 years in the areas of patron services, reference, and library administration. In her current position, she oversees the law library. Dean Ortiz teaches Advanced Legal Research and Introduction to Legal Research and Citation. She previously taught Legal Information Sources at the Simmons College School of Library and…, Books, What Color is Your C.F.R.?, (Chicago, Illinois: CALI, 2016)(with Nicole Dyszlewski, illustrated by Liz Gotauco), Articles, "Mass Incarceration: An Annotated Bibliography," 21, Roger Williams University Law Review, 471 (2016) (with Nicole Dyszlewski & Lucinda Harrison-Cox)
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Please explore these resources and supports from the Academic Excellence Program on how to prepare for law school.
Type: Basic Page
Professor Natasha Varyani, a dynamic legal scholar, has joined the faculty at Roger Williams University School of Law. From 2020 to 2023 she served as an associate professor of law at New England Law | Boston where she led their First-Generation Student Program and co-chaired their Charles Hamilton Houston Enrichment Program. Previously, Professor Varyani served as the Associate Director of the…, BOOKS, Owning our values : understanding systemic racism through the lens of property law (and skills to do something about it)., Durham, North Carolina : Carolina Academic Press, ©2024. This scholarly project seeks to support professors and students in 1L Property classrooms in examining the ways in which our laws have created and supported systems and structures that reinforce racial inequality. Chapters will particularly focus on bar tested areas of law and each will conclude with a sample exercise aimed at retaining…, Feminist Judgment Series (Property): Coggan v. Coggan, . (Cambridge University Press with Stevie Leahy) Co-Authored chapter containing re-written judicial opinion in a Florida case on the topic of Tenancy in Common and gendered treatment of former spouses. , ARTICLES, , " Social Justice & Multi-Jurisdictional Tax: A Critical Examination of the Digitization of Commerce, Multi-Jurisdictional Tax & An Opportunity to Correct a Systemic Preference to Protect Wealth ,", Capital University Law Review, , Volume 50, Number 2 (Fall 2022) "Response to “Identity Capitalists”: Implications for Property, Academia, and Affirmative Action,", New England Law Review, , Volume 56, Number 2 (Spring 2022). "Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard: Affirmative Action, Race Based Policies and Preference Falsification,", Boston Bar Association, (April 7, 2021) " If You’re Planning on Asking a Black Friend or Colleague How to Help with BLM Movement, Don’t! ," National Jurist, September 2020. "COVID-19 and State Emergency Orders,", Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review, (July / August 2020) "Taxing Short Term Rentals May Spoil the Season,", Boston Business Journal Viewpoint, , July 19, 2019 Op-Ed. "A New Purpose: Shifting Foundations That May Reprioritize the Needs of Corporate Stakeholders and Social Movements,", New England Law Review, , Volume 54, No. 1 (2019). "Being Present: What a Sales Tax Case Demonstrates About Federalism, The Dormant Commerce Clause, and the Direction of Supreme Court Jurisprudence,", Boston University Public Interest Law Journal, , Volume 28, No. 1 (Winter 2019) "States Unbound: Examining the Authority of the Multistate Tax Compact in a Modern, Multijurisdictional Economy,", Wayne State Law Review Journal of Business, (Summer 2018) "Cognitive Load Theory and Learning the Law: How and Why Minority Students Struggle in Law School,", The Learning Curve, , Winter 2018. "A Contract Among States: Capturing Income of the World’s Multi-Jurisdictional Taxpayers,", University of Bologna Law Review, , Vol. 1, No. 2, January 2017. "Taxing Electronic Commerce: The Efforts of Sales and Use Tax to Evolve with Technology,", Oklahoma City University Law Review, , Volume 39, Issue 2 (Summer 2014). "Understanding Discovery: The Supreme Judicial Court Clarifies the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work-Product Doctrine as Related to Tax Memoranda,", Mass Bar Association Section Review, , Volume 11, No. 2, 41-42 (2009). "Combined Reporting in Massachusetts: A Primer on the Controversy,", Mass Bar Association Section Review, , Volume 10, No. 3 29-31 (2008). "Defining Manufacturing Activity in Massachusetts: Recent decisions Clarify the Availability of Sales and Use Tax Exemptions for Entitles Engaged in Manufacturing," , Mass Bar Association Section Review, , Volume 10, No. 1, 35-36 (2008).
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
