The Roger Williams University School of Law Class of 2028 arrived in Bristol for orientation on August 13, 2025. Already the new class has made a big impact on campus. At 191 students, the incoming class is 15% larger than last fall’s new class. The number of accepted students who enrolled also jumped from around 23% in 2024 to 31%. This is the first time since the American Bar Association began…, Drawing students with authenticity, The high numbers of applications and competitive applicant pool reflect national trends. According to data from the Law School Admissions Council, the number of applicants for 2025-26 nationally rose around 18% from the prior year. “We knew it was going to be a busy admission cycle,” notes Assistant Dean of Admissions Kate Vieira L’12. “The national trends from almost the very beginning of the…, Numbers reflect holistic approach, Students in the Class of 2028 come from a range of backgrounds and experience. Thirty-four percent come from underrepresented racial backgrounds, a new high for RWU Law. The new class also includes 30% of students who were first generation college students and 87% who are the first in their families to attend law school. Eighteen percent identify as LGBTQ+, the most ever. “This is not the result…, A sense of energy, As an alumna herself, Vieira says the enrollment statistics are “a reflection on the school that I chose to go to and the ability of the law school to continue to produce lawyers that want to be changemakers. … I want [the new class] to join the ranks of all of my fellow alums that are already out practicing law and making difference in the world. The metrics are important because they allow…
Type: Article
Jamie Gau, L’16 brings a unique combination of technical expertise and a deep passion for teaching to RWU Law’s Trial Advocacy Program., What distinguishes RWU Law’s Trial Advocacy Program?, According to Professor Gau, the Trial Advocacy Program doesn’t just teach students how to advocate—it immerses them fully in the practice. Students learn the procedural mechanics of litigation and how to connect those skills with persuasive, justice-oriented storytelling. It’s a mission-driven environment where experimentation, practice, and meaningful growth are more than encouraged—they’re…, What qualities do students cultivate in the program?, Gau emphasizes that the program fosters qualities that extend well beyond legal technique:, Professional vulnerability, : Students learn to embrace trial and error—even stumbling in front of peers—but also to acknowledge progress, saying, “I haven’t perfected this yet, but I’m going to keep trying.” That openness builds resilience and allows the human element of advocacy to shine alongside technical skill., Adaptability, : Through repeated practice and thoughtful critique, students learn to pivot and grow in real time—a fundamental skill for any litigator facing an unpredictable courtroom., Confidence paired with humility, : Students build the ability to stand firm and articulate their case in court while also remaining curious—asking questions, inviting feedback, and refining their approach in front of others. These qualities are essential not only for trial work but also for a sustainable legal career. About this article This story is adapted from an interview with Jamie Gau L’16, originally published by Juris…
Type: Article
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Type: L1 & Institute
LAA Board of Directors Executive Committee , President, - Crystal Peralta, L'20, Vice President, - Maxwell Daley, L'15, Secretary, - Jamie Gau, L'16 , 2024/2025 Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, Effective July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025, Crystal Peralta, L'20, President Maxwell Daley, L'15, Vice President Jamie Gau, L'16, Secretary Doris Adesuyi, L'20 Christina Behm, L'18 Sarah Boucher, L'20 Elizabeth "Beth" Cardenas, L’12 Regina Curran, L'10 Maxwell Daley, L'15 Jenna Giguere, L'11 Brody Karn, L'19 Ericka Lezcano, L'16 Zachary Lyons, UG'12, L'17 Kelsey Peck, L'19 *Ex-Officio President: Brett Beaubien, L’16 Law Alumni Association …
Type: Basic Page
Access. Connections. Experience. All in one place. , Why Choose RWU Law: Hands-On, Purpose-Driven Learning, , Three law alumni - one female and two males, Direct access to leaders, — Judges, legislators, top attorneys, public servants , Exceptional hands-on learning, — Impactful and effective learning opportunities for practical experience while in law school. , A powerful alumni network, — Career support in Rhode Island and beyond. , Our Faculty: Leaders in Law and Learning , A law student in a pink sweater listens attentively to a professor during class, with other students working on laptops in the background. RWU Law professors bring real-world experience from nearly every area of the law, and their scholarship appears in the nation's most respected law reviews. Their expertise is sought far beyond the classroom — quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street…, Program Offerings, Spring shot of steps leading up to RWU Law building Where Do You Want To Go With Your Law Degree? RWU Law delivers a personalized and marketable legal education right here in Rhode Island. Discover Academic Programs , Learn Law by Doing: Real-World + Classroom, Law students having a conversation At RWU Law, you will combine traditional classroom experience with real-world learning in clinics, pro bono work, and other experiential opportunities to deepen your legal education. Discover hands-on legal programs
Type: Basic Page
Roger Williams University School of Law mourns the passing of Professor Bruce I. Kogan, a founding faculty member and one of the school's most influential leaders. A teacher, mentor, mediator, and twice Interim Dean, Professor Kogan's presence helped define RWU Law from its very beginning. From the institution's earliest days, Professor Kogan shaped the programs that continue to distinguish it…
Type: Article
Save the Date...The Roger Williams University School of Law Class of 2026 Commencement Exercises will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026. We invite law school graduates and their guests to visit the Roger Williams University commencement webpage for the most up to date information on the 2026 Commencement Ceremony and related events. The website was built to be a one-stop information center for all…, Please be sure to share the website with your loved ones!, Congratulations, RWU Law Class of 2026!
Type: Event
Student Research, Law student research is available on the Sea Grant Law Fellows Selected Projects, Sea Grant Law Fellows Selected Projects, webpage, . , Staff Research and Publications, Staff research and publications are available on the, Marine Affairs Institute Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy Research, website., Symposia/Conferences, The Marine Affairs Institute sponsors speakers, symposia, and interdisciplinary training programs that provide law students and practitioners alike with opportunities to meet with other marine law professionals in both formal and informal settings, and learn about recent developments in ocean and coastal law.
Type: Basic Page
Each summer your law librarians get the opportunity to attend the annual conference and meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries. This year it was held in Portland, Oregon, where we delightedly explored why the city’s unofficial motto is “Keep Portland Weird.” At the conference, we spent several days collaborating with and learning from professional colleagues, many of whom work at…
Type: Article
Behind the Scenes: Litigating for Civil Rights on Behalf of Immigrants Register RWU Law welcomes Lee Gelernt of the ACLU National Office in New York as the Thurgood Marshall Memorial Lecture Keynote Address Speaker. In recent years, Lee has argued some of the country’s highest-profile cases and is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading public interest lawyers. He has argued dozens of…, Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, in the U.S. Supreme Court, involving the government’s post 9-11 policy of using the federal material witness statute to investigate and preventively detain terrorism suspects in cases where there was no probable cause to justify a criminal arrest. He also successfully argued one of the very first major September 11 cases to reach the federal courts of appeals,, Detroit Free Press v. Ashcroft, , where he represented the media in their lawsuit seeking to prevent the government from holding secret deportation hearings after September 11. In its decision invalidating the government’s secret hearing policy, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals stated that “democracies die behind closed doors” — a phrase that became one of the most cited and well-known admonitions issued by the judiciary in…, 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
Type: Event
