Student Involvement

RWU Law is a rich, multi-dimensional community. You’ll spend plenty of time hitting the books, but we also offer an engaging array of extracurricular resources and activities to help make your time here productive and fulfilling – physically and socially, as well as intellectually and professionally.

Student Bar Association 

The Student Bar Association is the Roger Williams University School of Law student government, elected by and representing all law students.

Student Groups

From the Multi-Cultural Law Students Association to the Federalist Society, from the Maritime Law Association to the Sports & Entertainment Law Society, there are student groups for every legal, political and personal interest.

Law Review

The Roger Williams University Law Review is a student-run organization that publishes three journals of legal scholarship each academic year. The Law Review is run by a board of student editors from the Roger Williams University School of Law, who are responsible for content, timely publication, and all other organizational decisions.

Honor Board

The Roger Williams University School of Law Honor Board is charged with investigating alleged Honor Code violations, holding hearings on alleged violations when appropriate, and upholding the professional standard and integrity of RWU Law. The Honor Board is an elected body consisting of twelve students, nine of whom will be in their third year of study, and three of whom will be in their second year of study. It is led by the chair and vice-chair, elected by the Honor Board. Honor Board elections are held in the spring semester of each academic year.  

Moot Court 

The Roger Williams School of Law Moot Court Board is a student-run organization dedicated to developing and promoting exceptional appellate advocacy skills. Moot Court therefore presents numerous opportunities for Board members to develop and hone their appellate advocacy skills. For instance, many Board members participate in national, interschool appellate advocacy competitions, which require appellate brief writing and oral argument.

Trial Team 

The Trial Team at RWU Law provides an invaluable experience for students who have the requisite talent, dedication, and interest in courtroom litigation.  Students are taught not only how to think like trial attorneys, but how to be trial attorneys.  Each year, team members compete in regional and national trial competitions that provide an opportunity to test their skills against law students from around the country.  RWU Law has a history of excellence at these competitions.    

Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.