Roger Williams University - School of Law

Rhode Island may only have one law school in the state, but the stellar faculty and strong academics of the student body, make Roger Williams an impressive law school to attend. The small size draws students in, who are comforted “that everybody knows your name, whether it’s a librarian, your professor, or the dean.” Students are “encouraged to practice conscious lawyering” and the coursework is “innovative and creative.” Students have access to “experiential learning opportunities” and professors work to create “a name and legacy.” Roger Williams’ students brag that the faculty helps students “succeed in a personalized manner. They take the time to get to know you and truly understand your idea of law.”
The professors are just a small part of what makes Roger Williams so successful. Students get to meet “with the hiring partners of the biggest law firms in Providence,” and RWU makes sure their students are ready for careers once they graduate. As one student told us, “Every student is guaranteed at least one semester of clinic or externship placement, if they choose, and students are able to spend a full semester in practice through these programs.”
Every law school is constantly improving and Roger Williams is no different. Students say that the school can do more to “improve diversity in opinion . . . that not only promotes healthy debate but encourages and integrates it into our learning.” Other students mention they’d like “more diverse networking opportunities beyond the public interest realm.” And, while one student mentions the program is “on the forefront of ethnic diversity,” others say the school should “become more open about addressing diversity in the classroom as well as in the real world.”
Many students mention the Marine Affairs Institute as another huge help in creating positive experiences and opportunities for students. The school has “a strong relationship with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association), where they reserve one internship with their general counsel for a RWU student.” Roger Williams also connects to other schools: “There is an option to get a dual degree with a JD and a Masters of Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island.” This expands student options, so they can be more experienced lawyers, or continue work in law-adjacent fields.
Roger Williams is “very public interest oriented, so it is refreshing to be in an environment that is dedicated to ‘giving back.’” The Feinstein Center is also a great way for students to “explore options in public interest law and helps to facilitate a student’s interest in the field.” Many students also talk about the stellar Financial Aid department, which is “straightforward and dedicated to helping us find ways to pay for our education.”

Students enjoy Bristol, Rhode Island’s “relaxing” and “beautiful view[s].” “RWU is in a great location . . . close to several high profile law schools, the local bar association” and the “opportunity to bring big name speakers to our campus, such as U.S. Supreme Court justices, and international speakers.” The city allows easy access to Boston as well as Providence. Even so, one student told us “having a car is definitely an advantage” to travel to other cities, and another student mentioned the law school should simply relocate to the capital.
A few other students point out that a social divide seems to appear between liberal and conservative students: “It’s a very liberal leaning school, far beyond the average, which provides great camaraderie for those on the left but not so much on the right.” Some students are concerned about how money is allocated, since they feel “the law school societies no longer have available student funds,” but another student simply mentions that before, “there was free pizza everywhere.” Over thirty campus clubs are assets to students who say they “want our peers to emerge as our colleagues and we are encouraged to have amicable relationships with each other.”