JD #Changemaker Stories

Filter Stories

  • Headshot of Stephanie Diorio

    Never Too Late

    Stephanie Diorio, RWU Law Class of 2019

    Juris Doctor

    As a career paralegal, Stephanie Diorio arrived at RWU Law armed with a solid grasp of the law.

  • A headshot of Curtis

    Doctor of Law

    Curtis T. Haynes, RWU Law Class of 2019

    Juris Doctor

    Three years ago, Curtis T. Haynes was attending class, much as he does now – but in a very different setting, wearing a lab coat at the renowned Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University.

  • A headshot of Matt Plain

    Giving Back

    Matt Plain, RWU Law Class of 2005

    Juris Doctor

    East Greenwich native Matt Plain ’05 graduated from RWU Law fifth in his class and passed the bar exam for Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

  • Headshot of Adrienne Serbaroli

    Confronting the Enemy Within

    Adrienne Serbaroli, RWU Law Class of 2007

    Juris Doctor

    It’s never easy taking a sexual assault case to court, but for a young woman or man in the Marines, it’s harder still. “It’s a terrible, awful experience to have to go through,” said Adrienne Serbaroli ’07, a captain and judge advocate in the Marine Corps. “It’s traumatic."

  • Headshot of Stephen Lapatin, 1L

    Instilling Confidence

    Stephen Lapatin, RWU Law Class of 2020

    Juris Doctor

    Ask Stephen Lapatin about himself and he’ll instinctively shrug that he’s just a normal guy. A native of Cranston, R.I., the son of a veteran Providence cop, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Steve is content to maintain an unassuming persona for all those who ask.

  • A headshot of Xay Khamsyvoravong

    Finding the Balance

    Xay Khamsyvoravong, RWU Law Class of 2020

    Juris Doctor

    Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong decided to pursue his J.D. at RWU Law because, along with a quality legal education, it enables him to maintain a dual commitment to his career and his community, sacrificing neither.

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.