Summer is almost upon us. While the Legal Beagle would like to focus on sun, sand, and surf; we know there’s still a lot of work to do. For graduating students, you still have access to our databases and study guides as you prepare for the bar. You will be able to use all of the library resources until the last day of July. As a reminder for those hot summer days, the library is air-conditioned…
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In just about one week, the faculty and staff of RWU Law will be celebrating the class of 2023 at Commencement , along with their family and friends. But first, the Legal Beagle wants to acknowledge the resilience and can-do spirit of the class of 2023. By the time you started law school, the pandemic was in full swing. You found your own strength before arriving and decided to take on the…
Type: Article
Bylaws of the Roger Williams University School of Law Alumni Association, Approved at the Inaugural Annual Meeting, March 20, 1999 Amended May 10, 2011 Amended and Restated on April 10, 2017 Amended and Restated on April 18, 2023, Article I. Goals, The goals of the Roger Williams University School of Law Alumni Association (the “Association” or “LAA”) are to support the purpose of the Association as stated in the Association’s Constitution (the “Constitution”)., Article II. Membership, Section 1, ., A person awarded a Juris Doctor degree or an honorary degree from the School of Law is automatically a regular member of this Association (a “Member”)., Section 2., The Board of Directors of this Association shall have the power to confer honorary membership in the Association upon such persons, organizations, or entities as it shall deem worthy of such honor. The LAA Board of Directors shall confer such membership by a two-thirds vote of those Directors present at a duly constituted LAA Board of Directors meeting. Honorary membership shall be limited to…, Article III. Governance, Section 1. Composition of the Board of Directors., The Association shall be governed by a Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Board shall consist of the following: Thirteen (13) Members elected as provided for in Section 4 of this Article III. The immediate Past President of the Board. The Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations, or their designee (or the successor to such position in the event of administrative reorganization) (…, Section 2. Eligibility and Terms of Directors., A. A Member of good moral character is eligible to be nominated and to serve as a Director. Directors serve at the pleasure of the School of Law and may be removed for cause by the Dean or by the Board as permitted by these Bylaws. B. The term of office for each Director shall be three Fiscal Years. The term shall begin on July 1 following their election and end on June 30 of the third Fiscal…, Section 3. Solicitation of nominations for Directors., Annually, on the first Monday in March, or within a week thereafter, the Chief Alumni Officer shall email an announcement to the Members, soliciting nominations for membership on the LAA Board to replace the number of Directors whose terms will expire that year. A Member interested in serving as a Director shall be nominated by a petition in a form designed by the Chief Alumni Officer or their…, Section 4. Election of Directors., A. Members satisfying the requirements of Sections 2 and 3,, supra, , shall be Candidates in the Election of Directors, except that the Dean, in their sole discretion, may strike a petition for good cause. The Chief Alumni Officer and their staff shall administer the Election under the supervision of the Dean. The election of the Candidates shall be by electronic (e-mail) ballot announced no later than thirty (30) days after petitions are due. All voting shall be…, Section 5. Election of Officers., A. The Chief Alumni Officer, under the supervision of the Dean, shall administer the Election of Officers within seven (7) days after declaring the official results of the election of Directors by soliciting nominations for open officer seats to the incoming Directors. B. Incoming Directors interested in serving in open officer seats shall then have seven (7) days to submit petitions in a form…, Section 6. Vacancies., A. A vacancy on the LAA Board shall exist in the case of the death or resignation of a Director, a declared vacancy if the authorized number of Directors is increased, or if there are fewer Directors than are authorized by these Bylaws. B. The LAA Board, upon a 2/3 vote, may declare vacant the office of a Director for good cause. C. Vacancies of the LAA Board shall be filled by a special…, Section 7. Resignation., Any Director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the President, the Secretary, or the LAA Board unless a notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. If the resignation is effective at a future time, a successor may be selected to take office when the resignation becomes effective., Article IV. Officers, The Officers of the Board of the Law Alumni Association shall be those established by the Constitution. For a Director to serve as an Officer, the Director must have completed at least one year of their term. , Section 1. Additional Powers & Duties of the President., In addition to the powers the Constitution prescribes, and with the express approval of the Roger Williams University (the “University”), the President shall perform other duties as the LAA Board of Directors may designate and as the LAA Constitution permits. The President, working in collaboration with the Dean and the Chief Alumni Officer, shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of…, Section 2. Additional Powers & Duties of the Vice President., The Vice President shall act and have all the power of the President when the President is absent or unable to act. If the President and Vice President are absent or unable to act, the Secretary shall act., Section 3. Additional Powers & Duties of the Secretary., The Secretary shall take the minutes of the meetings of the Board and Members; see that all notices are given as prescribed by these Bylaws; be the custodian of the Association records, keep records of attendance; and, in general, perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the President of the Board., Article V. Board of Director Meetings, Section 1. Regular Meetings., Regular meetings shall be held at least three times per year at the time and place the Board may choose. Written notice of these LAA Board of Directors meetings and a proposed agenda shall be mailed or emailed by the Chief Alumni Officer or their designee at least three hours before the meeting., Section 2. Special meetings., The LAA Board may be called to meet at any time by its President, Vice President, Secretary, any two Directors of the Board, or the Dean upon 48 hours’ notice by email or telephone or upon four days’ notice by first class mail., Section 3. Quorum., Seven Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of Directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting., Section 4. Attendance., Every Director shall endeavor to attend all LAA Board meetings and Association events. Participation by conference call is equivalent to attendance. Failure of a Director to attend two meetings of the LAA Board within one year constitutes good cause for removal or declared vacancy., Article VI. Meeting of Members, Section 1. Annual Meeting., The Annual Meeting of the Members of this Association shall be held concurrently with the Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting unless the Board fixes another date or time and so notifies the Members as provided in Article VI, Section 3., Section 2. Special Meetings., The President, a majority of the LAA Board, or five percent or more of the Members, may call Special meetings of the Members., Section 3. Notice Requirements for Meetings of Members., A. General notice requirements. Whenever Members are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, written notice shall be given per Section 8 below to each Member entitled to vote. The notice shall specify the place, date, and hour of the meeting and, (i) in the case of a special meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted, and no other business may be transacted, or (…, Section 4. Quorum., Fifteen regular Members of the Association shall constitute a quorum to conduct business at any meeting of the Members. However, the only matters that may be voted on at any regular or annual meeting attended by less than one-third of the voting power are matters for which notice of the general nature of the matter was given pursuant to Article IV, Section 3. The Members present at a duly…, Section 5. Order of Business., The order of business at regular and annual meetings shall generally be: Roll call Approval of minutes of the preceding meeting Committee updates/reports Unfinished business New Business Announcement of next meeting., Section 6. Voting. , A. Eligibility to vote. Persons entitled to vote at any meeting of Members shall be regular Members. B. Manner of casting votes. Voting may be by voice or ballot; however, any election of Directors or amendment to the constitution or bylaws must be by written ballot., Section 7. Action by written ballot without a meeting., A. General. Any action that may be taken at any meeting of Members may be taken without a meeting upon compliance with the provisions of this section. B. Solicitation of written ballots. Written ballots shall be mailed or delivered in the manner required by Article IV, Section 3(c) to all voting Members. All solicitations of votes and distributions by ballot shall: (i) indicate the number of…, Article VII. Committees, Section 1. Committees., The LAA Board or its President may create standing or ad hoc committees as needed, with each committee consisting of one or more Directors. Members of the Association who are not Directors may also serve on committees subject to the provisions of these Bylaws. Subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, it shall not delegate to such committees any of the authority of the Board regarding: a)…, Section 2. Executive Committee., An Executive Committee shall exist comprised of the Officers established in the Constitution., Article VIII. Amendments, Section 1., In addition to the method of amending Bylaws as prescribed by the laws of Rhode Island, these Bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors of the LAA Board at any regular meeting thereof or by special meeting thereof called for that purpose. The Board may not adopt, amend, or repeal any provision of these Bylaws fixing or changing the number of Directors., Section 2., These Bylaws may also be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Members of the Association present and voting at any Annual Meeting thereof. Notice of intent to amend the Bylaws must be given pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 before such action may be taken at an Annual Meeting., Article IX. Limitations of Power, Unless expressly authorized by the University or the Dean of the School of Law, the LAA shall not have the authority to pledge the credit of the School of Law or agree to or establish any obligation in the name of the University or the School of Law. The LAA is not authorized or empowered to act as agent for the University or the School of Law for any purpose and shall not on behalf of the…
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BRISTOL, R.I. –, Work hard and don’t be afraid to dream big – that’s the key to success in career and in life, Joyce and Bill Cummings told Roger Williams University graduates in their joint keynote address on Friday. Both Joyce and Bill Cummings shared their stories of taking these lessons they learned from their own modest upbringings and applying them as a young married couple with a family. They started out…
Type: Article
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", (lead article),, 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
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 , 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 1-402-952-6646 and mentioning the 2024 RWU Law Barrister’s Ball Room Block. Online room reservation link., All room reservations must be made before February 12, 2024., 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 15, 2024. 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.
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Orientation is in-person and mandatory for all incoming students. Orientation is scheduled for August 9 to August 11 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 orientation schedule can be found here.
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Can Offshore Wind Development Have a Net Positive Impact on Biodiversity? Regulatory and Scientific Perspectives and Considerations, Thursday, April 20, 2023 , Friday, April 21, 2023, Roger Williams University School of Law, The concept of achieving “net positive impact on biodiversity” (NPI) is not new; however, the application of this concept to offshore wind development is relatively new. In the offshore wind context, there is no universal framework, consensus as to definitions, or specific regulatory scheme for integrating biodiversity goals into new projects. This symposium will explore the concept of NPI in the…, Co-Hosted by The Marine Affairs Institute at Roger Williams University School of Law and The Nature Conservancy , Please contact the Marine Affairs Institute at marineaffairs@rwu.edu or 401-254-5392 with any questions you may have.
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Sign up for the annual Rhode Island Attorney General Open Government Summit presented virtually in partnership with Roger Williams University School of Law Alumni Association and Clerkbase. Register Here Summit link will be accessible from www.riag.ri.gov on the day of the program. A detailed agenda and digital booklet containing summaries of recent open government findings, the text of the…
Type: Event
The, Law Review, symposium will be held online on , Friday, November 3, 2023, . The symposium will focus on the transformation in gender law over the past several decades. Speakers will discuss how gender identity or expression, sex and sexual orientation intersect with the law and a range of other identities, including but not limited to race, religion, spirituality, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, abilities, age, and/or socioeconomic status. 9:30 AM - 3:15 PM…, Meet the Keynote Speaker - , Zakiya Thomas, Zakiya Thomas is President and CEO of the ERA Coalition and the Fund for Women’s Equality. An agent for change, Zakiya leads a diverse coalition of over 290 partner organizations, representing 80 million people, all fighting for equality. The Coalition advocates for gender, racial, and reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and much more under the unifying banner of sex equality and the goal to…, Meet the Keynote Speaker Moderator, Emily J. Sack, Emily J. Sack, is a Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law since 2001. She 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…, 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…, Symposium Introduction, Etie-Lee Z. Schaub, Etie-Lee Z. Schaub, earned a B.A. from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota with a major in Economics and a minor in Computer Science. She obtained a J.D. from Cardozo Law School, in New York, New York, cum laude with a concentration in General Litigation. In 2021, she obtained an M.B.A. from the University of Rhode Island. She is licensed to practice law in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as in the…, Meet the Panelists - Transformations in Title IX Jurisprudence - Panel One, Title IX is one of the most transformative pieces of legislation of the past 50 years. It has had such an impact that it is rarely considered in its fullness– primarily its impact on athletics, education funding, opportunities, and sexual assault. This panel brings theory and practice together to reflect on the deep impact of this statute in our legal system and American life., Lynette Labinger, Lynette Labinger, is a long-time civil rights litigator in Rhode Island. After a two-year clerkship with federal Judge Raymond Pettine, Labinger joined the law firm founded by Milton Stanzler. Stanzler was instrumental in the creation of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and himself well known for groundbreaking litigation in the field of constitutional and civil rights. Labinger…, Dr. Jennifer Stanley, (she/her) is the Associate Dean for Student Life and Title IX Coordinator at Roger Williams University. She joined the “Roger” community in 1997 climbing the ranks of Residence Life, and also serving the campus as the Director of the Gender & Sexuality Center during her tenure. Jen’s commitment to violence prevention is demonstrated through her direction of the RWU Green Dot Bystander…, Susan Ware , is an independent scholar who specializes in twentieth-century century U.S. history, women's history, and biography. Her books include, Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote, (2019),, Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports, (2011), and, Title IX: A Brief History with Documents, (2007). From 2012-2022 she served as general editor of the, American National Biography, . , Meet the Panelists - Transformation in Transgender Rights - Panel Two, This panel will focus on the transformation in the law in regards to transgender rights and the effects on transgender individuals. There will be a brief discussion on the projection into the future., John Ward, John Ward, (he/him) is a lecturer at Boston University School of Law. He received his J.D. degree from B.U. Law School in 1976. After clerking for Judge Raymond Pettine in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, he went into private practice in Boston in 1977. In 1978, in response to a pattern of police harassment of gay men, he gathered a group of community activists and founded GLAD, Gay…, Professor Danielle Weatherby, (she/her) teaches Legal Research and Writing, Employment Discrimination, Education Law, and Professional Responsibility at University of Arkansas School of Law. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas faculty in 2013, Professor Weatherby clerked for Chief Judge Gary L. Sharpe of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and practiced at the Albany, New York law…, William & Mary Law Review, U.C. Davis Law Review, Florida Law Review, Washington and Lee Law Review Online, Brooklyn Law Review, Connecticut Law Review, Pepperdine Law Review, and the New York University Review of Law & Social Change, . Professor Weatherby has also been published in, Fortune Magazine, The Seattle Times, Detroit News, , and, The Conversation, and has been quoted by, The New York Times, and, The Wall Street Journal, . She has appeared on, Fox & Friends, ,, PBS NewsHour, , and , Scripps News, and has provided expert legal commentary to many other national, State, and local news publications. Professor Weatherby is committed to public service and works to raise awareness about issues affecting minority populations, including transgender youth. In 2015, Professor Weatherby authored a civil rights ordinance, which became city law, extending anti-discrimination protections to LGBT…, cum laude, , from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. She is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia. Lauren E. Hill, Lauren E. Hill, (she/her) is the chief legal counsel for the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights, the state's primary antidiscrimination law enforcement agency, which investigates violations of state and federal anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and delivery of services. She is also currently a 2023-2024 fellow in the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island Women’s Policy…, Meet the Symposium Moderators, Nicole P. Dyszlewski, Nicole P. Dyszlewski, (s he/her) currently serves as a Professor and the Director of Special Programs, Academic Affairs, for the Law School. She originally joined the staff of the law school as the Research/Access Services Librarian in 2015 having come from a public legislative library before becoming the Head of Reference, Instruction, and Engagement in the law library prior to accepting her current position. She…, Samuel Filiaggi, (he/him) is a 2L at Roger Williams University School of Law. From Batavia, Illinois, he graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2019 where he majored in marine affairs and minored in oceanography. Samuel also came out as a transgender man at the end of his undergraduate career. He eventually decided to attend law school in order to practice marine environmental law and advocate for…, Monica Teixeira de Sousa, is a Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law where she teaches Property, Education Law, Family Law, and Race & the Foundations of American Law. Prior to joining the RWU Law faculty in 2022, Monica was a tenured professor at New England Law | Boston where she created and served as the director of the First Generation Students Program. Before her academic career, Monica was…
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