Each year, RWU Law honors graduating students for their achievements and important contributions to both the law school and the wider community. Among this year’s honorees are Public Interest Award winner Kaiya Letherer, Pro Bono Collaborative Award winner Sydney Barletta, Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Clinic Student Andrew Dunphy, and Clinical Legal Education Association…, Serving the community and promoting justice , Before enrolling at RWU Law, Public Interest Award winner Kaiya Letherer built a meaningful career teaching college courses in prisons and managing educational programs across the East Coast. After transitioning into nonprofit management, she felt a strong pull back to the criminal justice field, leading her to pursue law school. Letherer says that RWU Law “provided me with many opportunities to…, A pro bono champion, The winner of this year’s Pro Bono Collaborative Award, Sydney Barletta began her path toward public interest law during the final year of her undergraduate studies, when she interned at a nonprofit focused on helping human trafficking survivors. While she had been studying hospitality and business, the experience sparked a passion for justice and inspired her to pursue law school. “It was a lot…, A pursuit of justice through grief, After a distinguished career as a U.S. Coast Guard officer and federal criminal investigator, Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Clinic Student Andrew Dunphy found new purpose in the aftermath of unimaginable grief. Following the loss of his twenty-one-year-old son in 2021, he retired from federal service and was left searching for direction. His wife reminded him of a long-held…, A path rooted in empathy and purpose, Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Externship Student Samantha Lobato came to RWU Law after a career working with children, engaging in leadership development initiatives, and creating documentary films. Her journey to law school was shaped by personal experience: “I grew up navigating poverty and disability, and I witnessed how defense lawyers helped my own family in times of…
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As the Research & Instructional Services Librarian at Roger Williams University School of Law, no two weeks ever look quite the same. Balancing student engagement, faculty support, and scholarly work means wearing many hats — often several at once. Here’s a glimpse into a recent week in my professional life., Planning and Promoting Library Programming, - The week kicked off with a burst of creativity as I finalized plans for our ongoing, Lawyer March Madness, event. This fun, competitive program invites students to vote on their favorite legal luminaries, mirroring the excitement of the NCAA tournament to get us through the spring slump. I worked on promotional materials, crafting engaging graphics and drafting announcements to spread the word via our law school’s social media channels, email newsletters, and library website. Fun fact—I use my art and…, Student Outreach and Pro Bono Supervision, - Most weeks focus on building connections with students. I brainstormed ideas for future outreach and engagement — from interactive workshops to informal research Q&A sessions. Additionally, I met with the students working under my supervision to fulfill their Pro Bono requirement, compiling and synthesizing research for a vital advocacy project for Rhode Island public libraries. I also…, Scholarship and Course Development, - Midweek, I carved out time for two major writing projects. I’m currently working on articles examining the digital shift in law school research and testing, and historic research for federal Indian law in colonial New England — both exciting, deeply relevant topics. In parallel, I developed proposals for new seminar courses on specialized legal research, aiming to equip upper-level students…, Reference Desk, Chat, and Research Requests, - A lot of my job revolves around direct support. I staff the Reference Desk three days a week, helping students with externship research and placement-related queries, while simultaneously staffing the Reference Chat feature for virtual assistance. Faculty requests rolled in as well — from researching legislative histories to tracking down hard-to-find case law — and I worked swiftly with my…, Collections Management and a March Book Display, - Wrapping up the week, I focused on collections management. I reviewed Greenslips — a selection tool for recommending new acquisitions — ensuring our resources remain current and practice-focused. I also curated a monthly book display, spotlighting titles that align with upcoming events, legal observances, and student interests., Professional Development, - When I’m not at work, I’m pursuing an LL.M. in Indigenous Peoples Law at The University of Oklahoma. This semester I’ve finished a course on Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country, and I start my course on International Indigenous Peoples Law next week. I’m also staying on top of my qualifications for Connecticut, where I’m barred, which means at least one or two CLE programs a month. Finally…
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Join us for the Rhode Island Attorney General Annual Open Government Summit, presented virtually and in-person. Presented in partnership with Roger Williams University School of Law Alumni Association, the Summit provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the Access to Public Records Act and the Open Meetings Act. Register - August 1 RI AG Open Government Summit Rhode Island continuing…, Special Accommodations, Persons who, because of a special need or condition, would like to request an accommodation for an event should contact the Office of the Dean - Programs & Initiatives, as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements can be made. lawevents@rwu.edu
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Not everyone learns the same way. Some are auditory learners that learn best when hearing information, others are reading/writing learners who prefer to interact with words on a page. Some are kinesthetic learners who thrive with hands on activities and others still are visual learners who like to see their information as visualizations. If you are a visual learner, you tend to prefer to learn…
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In this summer’s continuing series of posts about Rhode Island history, today’s post is about the athenaeums of Rhode Island. If you have never heard the term “athenaeum” before, it is really just an old and fancy way to say “ library .” New England has several well-known libraries with the term “athenaeum” in the title. Massachusetts has at least four, the Berkshire Athenaeum , the Westfield…
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Every November 11 we observe Veterans Day as a way to honor those that have served in the United States Armed Forces. This national holiday was first observed in 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day . A year earlier on that date an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, occurred between the Allied Forces and Germany to effectively end World War…
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For most of you, today marks the culmination of the most challenging work you have undertaken so far. Spend today as it is intended, celebrating this amazing achievement with your family, friends, and other loved ones. You can start tackling the next challenge on Monday. You are joining a great profession and colleagues who will challenge you to succeed at every turn. After this summer, you…
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International Mandela Day is celebrated on July 18 each year. Volunteering and community services on this day honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela. In April 2009, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the 46664 Initiative (the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s HIV/AIDS global awareness & prevention campaign) invited the world to join them in support of an official Mandela Day. The groups celebrated the…
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To say law school is stressful is an understatement. Some studies suggest that lawyers and law students experience depression at a higher rate than the general population. The American Bar Association marks October 10 as Law Student Mental Health Day to correspond with World Mental Health Day recognized by the World Health Organization. It is a day that recognizes the stress, anxiety, mental…, you are not alone, . There are many resources (including people!) ready to support you and your mental wellness as you navigate the stressful years of law school and beyond.
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