Roger Williams University School of Law combines a Bristol, Rhode Island, campus with clinical practice in Providence. Its strengths include marine and coastal law, criminal defense, business law, and housing policy, supported by the Marine Affairs Institute.
This guide walks you through how to get into Roger Williams Law.
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1. Roger Williams Law Admissions Numbers and Statistics
Roger Williams Law Class of 2028:
- LSAT: 75th: 154 | Median: 150 | 25th: 147
- GPA: 75th: 3.73 | Median: 3.43 | 25th: 3.02
Roger Williams Law Class of 2027:
- LSAT: 75th: 153 | Median: 149 | 25th: 146
- GPA: 75th: 3.71 | Median: 3.44 | 25th: 3.10
The fall 2025 entering class grew to 189 students from 152 in fall 2024. Both cohorts were full-time. The LSAT median and both quartiles rose one point, while the GPA median edged down from 3.44 to 3.43. The larger class therefore came with a higher LSAT profile, not a lower one.
Aim to be at or above at least one median to be competitive. Above both puts you in a stronger position. Below both medians, this is a prayer, not a reach.
For context on how medians affect your strategy, see How to Build a Smart Law School List.
2. Roger Williams Law Application Essays
Personal Statement (required)
The school's instructions:
“The Admissions Committee attaches significant value to statements made in this supplement, which should not exceed three (3) pages and should address: Why do you want to pursue the study of law? What educational, employment, or family experiences would be relevant to your application? What unique factors in your background would enrich the RWU Law classroom experience? The personal statement will be uploaded as an attachment through the LSAC application.”
For more on how to write a personal statement, see my Personal Statement Examples and Personal Statement Guide.
Mission Statement Essay (optional)
The optional mission essay concerns the backgrounds, experiences, ideas, cultures, and viewpoints students bring to the classroom.
For more on how to write a diversity or perspective statement, see my Diversity Statement Examples and Diversity Statement Guide.
For more on making all of these essays work together, see my Cohesive Narrative Guide.
Addenda and Character & Fitness Resources
I'll be publishing a guide to addenda and character and fitness.
3. Roger Williams Law Resume Requirements
RWU requires a resume outlining your academic and professional experience, submitted as an attachment through LSAC. Include the work and responsibilities that give context to your path to law school.
For more on preparing your resume, see my Resume Examples and Resume Guide.
4. Roger Williams Law Letters of Recommendation
One letter is required; RWU welcomes additional letters of recommendation through LSAC. An academic recommendation is preferred if you attended an academic program within the past three years. Applicants further removed from school may use a supervisor or coworker.
For more on recommendations, see my LOR Guide (Applicants) and LOR Guide (Writers).
5. Roger Williams Law Interview Process
RWU offers prospective students campus visits and admissions information sessions. Its application review considers the written file, including the personal statement, resume, and recommendations.
6. Roger Williams Law Deadlines and Decision Options
Testing Policy
RWU requires the LSAT and treats scores as stale after five years.
Application Dates and Fees
Its recurring admissions calendar is:
- Applications Open: September 1.
- Priority Application Deadline: April 1.
- First Seat Deposit: April 15.
- Second Seat Deposit: June 1.
- Decisions: Released from December through July.
- Classes Begin: Mid-August.
Applicants admitted after March 15 follow the deposit schedule in their acceptance letter. April 1 is a priority date, not a stated final cutoff. Most decisions arrive in March or April; late completed applications ordinarily take six to eight weeks.
Take the LSAT by January for RWU's recommended timing. April scores are accepted. June scores require case-by-case consideration, and applicants must contact admissions before registering for that administration. July and August scores are not accepted for entry that same year. Build the testing schedule around those restrictions rather than assuming every summer test will work.
7. Roger Williams Law Scholarships and Financial Aid
Merit Scholarships
RWU automatically considers applicants for institutional scholarships and sends award information with admission.
Presidential and Jurisprudence Scholarships
These merit awards require continued superior academic performance.
Dean's Scholarships
Dean's Scholarships consider academic promise, service, leadership, and obstacles overcome.
Public Interest Scholarships
These awards recognize applicants with a demonstrated service commitment and plans for public-interest practice.
Renewal and Cost of Attendance
Renewal terms matter. Among students entering in 2024-2025, 89 received conditional scholarships and 12 later had them reduced or eliminated. Compare the award's actual academic conditions with the cost you would face without it.
For 2026-2027, annual full-time tuition is $48,584 and fees are $1,720. The total estimated budget is $78,920 off campus or $78,646 on campus. Housing, transportation, and other expenses contribute substantially to that budget. Evaluate the offer against Rhode Island practice and public-service earnings rather than counting on a large-firm salary.
For more on scholarship strategy, see How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships.
8. Roger Williams Law Joint Degree Programs
RWU offers four joint degrees within the university and two with the University of Rhode Island:
- JD/MBA: With RWU's Gabelli School of Business, normally four years or less with continuous full-time study.
- JD/MS in Criminal Justice: With RWU's School of Justice Studies, approximately three and a half years full-time.
- JD/MA in Cybersecurity: With RWU's cybersecurity program, approximately three and a half years full-time.
- JD/MS in Preservation Practice: With RWU's preservation program, as little as four years, including some summer or winter coursework.
- JD/Master of Marine Affairs: With URI, three and a half years full-time, including one full semester at URI.
- JD/MS in Labor Relations and Human Resources: With URI's Schmidt Labor Research Center, four years full-time.
Each program requires separate admission. Law students typically apply to the other program after their first year.
9. Roger Williams Law Employment Outcomes (Class of 2025)
Roger Williams Class of 2025 employment outcomes (reported to the ABA, measured 10 months after graduation):
- Full-time, long-term bar-passage-required employment (ABA): 69.2%
- BigLaw (firms with 101+ attorneys): 3.6%
- Federal clerkships: 0.0%
- Public service (including government): 18.9%
Rhode Island is the dominant employment destination, followed by Massachusetts and New York, which are tied in the report. Small-firm practice and state clerkships are much more prominent than BigLaw or federal clerkships. RWU makes the most sense as a regional practice choice, with the scholarship and total borrowing evaluated against that market rather than a national large-firm recruiting expectation.
10. Roger Williams Law Areas of Study and Specializations
Marine and Coastal Law: The Marine Affairs Institute and Rhode Island Sea Grant support work on coastal regulation and resilience. The URI joint degree adds interdisciplinary study, while courses such as Admiralty Law and Ocean & Coastal Law connect commercial and environmental questions.
Criminal Law: The Criminal Defense Clinic puts students in Rhode Island trial courts, while the Prisoners' Rights Clinic addresses civil litigation involving incarceration. The JD/MS in Criminal Justice adds research methods and policy study for students seeking a broader institutional perspective.
Business Law: The Business Law Clinic serves entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits through contracts, governance, and entity formation. Participation in the USPTO's clinic certification program also creates supervised trademark opportunities. The Gabelli School of Business supplies the joint MBA pathway.
Labor and Employment Law: Michael J. Yelnosky's teaching and scholarship cover employment discrimination, labor law, and enforcement. The joint degree with URI's Schmidt Labor Research Center adds collective bargaining and labor-market study, connecting legal doctrine with organizational and economic analysis.
Housing and Land Use: The Housing Policy Clinic develops legislative advocacy skills around Rhode Island housing issues. The JD/MS in Preservation Practice adds planning, regulation, and heritage management, giving applicants interested in property a route into community-scale legal work.
11. Roger Williams Law Clinics and Experiential Learning
RWU offers six in-house clinics and a separate veterans field clinic:
- Coastal Resilience Law and Policy Clinic: Research coastal regulation and prepare written work for local and state governments during the summer.
- Veterans Disability Appeals Field Clinic: At Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick, review records and prepare appeals involving denied veterans' benefits.
- Business Law Clinic: Counsel organizational clients and draft contracts, governance documents, and appropriate trademark filings.
- Criminal Defense Clinic: Interview defendants, investigate cases, negotiate with prosecutors, and conduct supervised trial work.
- Immigration Clinic: Prepare applications, witness affidavits, and removal-defense cases for immigration agencies and court.
- Housing Policy Clinic: Develop policy briefs, legislative proposals, and advocacy strategies with community partners during the fall.
- Prisoners' Rights Clinic: Litigate civil-rights claims through pleadings, discovery, depositions, and settlement work.
Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
The graduation requirement is 50 hours of approved law-related pro bono work, unpaid and without academic credit. The Pro Bono Collaborative connects students, law firms, and community organizations through projects such as the Eviction Help Desk.
The Clinical Guarantee covers a substantial experience for qualified students; program selection and prerequisites still apply. Externship placements include the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, U.S. District Court, Save The Bay, and CVS. Semester-in-Practice supports approved full-time fieldwork locally or elsewhere, paired with a seminar. The Providence clinic office and Bristol classes make location part of the weekly schedule.
12. Roger Williams Law Notable Faculty and Journals
Faculty
- Andrew Horwitz: Professor of Law and Criminal Defense Clinic director. His criminal-practice background includes the Legal Aid Society of New York City; he supervises student representation in Rhode Island courts.
- Laurie Barron: Clinical Professor of Law and director of the Feinstein Center and clinical externships. She teaches Public Interest Lawyering and previously practiced at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem.
- Michael J. Yelnosky: Professor of Law and founding faculty member. His labor and employment scholarship examines enforcement of workplace discrimination laws. He served as RWU's dean from 2014 to 2020.
- Gregory W. Bowman: Dean and Professor of Law. His work includes international trade and corporate compliance; before academia, he practiced at Baker McKenzie.
Journals
- Roger Williams University Law Review: The student-edited flagship publishes legal scholarship and develops members' research, writing, and editing skills.
13. Roger Williams Law Culture and Student Life
RWU's Bristol campus offers a different daily setting from a downtown law school. The Student Bar Association organizes student life, while the Maritime Law Association connects students around a distinctive regional interest. Moot Court and the Trial Team provide separate settings for appellate and courtroom advocacy.
Providence is the practical counterpart to Bristol. The clinic office, Rhode Island courts, public agencies, and local firms connect students to the state's legal community. Plan housing and transportation around both locations, especially during a clinic or externship semester. The Pro Bono Collaborative offers another way to build those working relationships through service.
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Related Reading
→ How to Build a Smart Law School List
→ Should You Apply Early Decision to Law School?
→ How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships
→ 6 Proven Steps to Get Off a Law School Waitlist
→ How to Get Into Law School Below Both Medians
→ What Holistic Law School Admissions Really Means
→ Blog Directory
Note: While I try to keep this guide up to date, always verify deadlines, requirements, and policies at the Roger Williams Law website before applying.
Think you spotted an outdated requirement or something that doesn't look right? Email moshe@sharperstatements.com with the school and a link to the current information.
