Rhode Island's only law school, ranked #11 for social justice and public interest law careers.
RWU Law offers the Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degrees. The school provides joint degree programs in marine affairs (with University of Rhode Island), criminal justice, cybersecurity, preservation practices, and labor relations/human resources. The law library contains approximately 280,000 volumes. RWU Law is nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum on race and the law, including a required 3-credit course on the historical origins and current assessment of race in American law. The school operates clinics in criminal defense, immigration, business start-up, and veterans disability appeals, plus clinical externships in the community.
The school operates campuses in Bristol and Providence, Rhode Island. Students benefit from guaranteed clinical experiences and access to the Marine Affairs Institute, which focuses on ocean and coastal law and policy. The Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education connects students with community organizations. RWU Law offers over 30 student organizations, including the Association for Public Interest Law, Maritime Law Society, Women's Law Association, the Alliance (LGBT), and the Multicultural Law Student Association. The school emphasizes social justice and community engagement through its curriculum and co-curricular programs.
RWU Law accepts first-year JD applicants, transfer JD students, international JD applicants, and MSL applicants. The school seeks to enroll a diverse first-year class from across the United States and internationally. Transfer students can take advantage of the Clinical Guarantee and Affordable Excellence Tuition Guarantee. The admissions office provides comprehensive support including student ambassadors, campus visits, and recruitment events throughout the country.
According to 2017 ABA disclosures, 76.67% of the Class of 2017 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation. The bar passage rate for first-time takers in 2023 was 57.89%. RWU Law is the most affordable ABA-accredited private law school in the Northeast. The total cost of attendance for 2026-2027 is $78,920. The school ranks #11 nationally for the percentage of graduates entering public interest law careers and is recognized as a top school for environmental law by preLaw Magazine.