Clinics and Externships

Clinical legal education is law school training in which students participate in actual cases 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.

Through the RWU Clinical Programs, students are given the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of programs, to gain an abundant array of practical and professional legal skills, to work in a professional environment that provides extensive supervision and support, and to contribute to a variety of causes and advocate for a variety of client populations.

RWU Clinical Programs are diverse and are always strengthening and growing. RWU Law students are given the opportunity to represent real clients, work for judges, connect with community organizations and leaders, and to collaborate with practicing attorneys.

Through such work and service, students develop practical and professional skills and directly and substantially contribute to the legal community in Rhode Island and beyond while serving various populations in need of legal service.

Clinical Programs at RWU Law

In-House Clinics 

All of our in-house clinics are supervised by full-time faculty members. The professionally staffed full-service law office is located in Historic Downtown Providence, RI and houses the Business Start-up Clinic, the Criminal Defense Clinic and the Immigration Clinic. 

Field Clinic 

Our field clinic is supervised by highly experienced attorneys in a nationally regarded law firm who are employed as members of our adjunct faculty.

Clinical Externships 

All clinical externships are administered by permanent directors who provide personalized supervision, classroom teaching, and training.

  • Corporate Counsel & Government Clinical Externship Program
  • Environmental and Land Use Clinical Externship Program
  • Judicial Clinical Externship Program
  • New York Pro Bono Scholars Program
  • Prosecution Clinical Externship Program
  • Public Interest Clinical Externship Program
  • Washington, DC (Semester-In-Practice)

    Learn more about Clinical Externships

    Semester-In-Practice

    Participate in an innovative Semester-In-Practice Program which enables students to train full-time—either in one of our pre-established local placements or in a new remote placement of their choosing.

    Learn more about Semester-In Practice 

    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.