Location: Bristol, Rhode Island
Founded: 1993
Joined AALS: 2006
Dean: Gregory W. Bowman
Roger Williams University School of Law is a private educational institution in Bristol, Rhode Island. RWU Law is the only law school in the state and was the first graduate degree program established by the university in 1993. As Rhode Island’s only law school, RWU Law offers students unparalleled access to clerkships, internships, career networking, connections, and experience that few institutions can rival. Through a social justice-centered mission, guaranteed clinical experience, affordable tuition, and innovative programming, RWU Law graduates go out into the world as changemakers in their selected areas of practice.
RWU Law seeks and attracts students who are driven by their own experiences and individual stories and are seeking a change in the world. The school offers two degrees: a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Master of Studies in Law (MSL). In addition, Roger Williams University School of Law is one of very few US law schools that offers a focus on Maritime Law and offers numerous joint degree programs, including a JD/Master of Marine Affairs designed for students interested in
RWU Law’s Marine Affairs Institute (MAI) hosts some of North America’s top marine law and policy experts. Additionally, as the base for Rhode Island’s Sea Grant Legal Program, the MAI hires exceptional law students as Sea Grant Law Fellows to conduct legal research and analysis for government agencies, industry, and nonprofit organizations, acquiring hands-on experience to supplement and deepen classroom knowledge.
Roger Williams University School of Law students taking in the scenery around campus.
“Integrating Doctrine and Diversity” books and webinars is a two-volume book published by Carolina Academic Press. These books inspired the creation of the webinar series, which are virtual sessions that leverage the expertise of law faculty nationwide to explore, through discussion and application, specific methods for incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into the law school curriculum. Since the inception of the series in 2022, representatives from over 94% of ABA-accredited law schools have attended.
“We continue to enhance our clinical and experiential programs, which build on our strengths,” said Dean Gregory W. Bowman. “RWU Law students can look forward to a rich array of guaranteed clinical experiences, including the growth of our business clinic, the establishment of an affordable housing lab, and the launch of our coastal resilience clinic. We are also developing more options for online course offerings to increase access to legal education.”
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