Why Roger Williams University?
As Rhode Island's only law school, Roger Williams University School of Law offers unparalleled access to the state's legal community, emphasizing social justice and guaranteed experiential learning.
Roger Williams University is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 67.3%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.43 GPA and 150 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.02–3.73 GPA and 148–154 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 181 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Roger Williams University admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class. 8 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #171
- Median GPA
- 3.43
- 25th–75th: 3.02–3.73
- Median LSAT
- 150
- 25th–75th: 148–154
- Acceptance rate
- 67.3%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 181
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 1
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Roger Williams University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
8 1Ls transferred out of Roger Williams University in the same cycle — context for how portable Roger Williams University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Rhode Island
- 2Massachusetts
- 3New York
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Roger Williams University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Roger Williams University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Criminal Defense ClinicProvides legal advice and representation for indigent clients in criminal cases, allowing students to handle all stages of litigation.
- Immigration Law ClinicOffers legal services to indigent immigrants and provides students with practical experience in immigration law.
- Business Start-Up ClinicAssists entrepreneurs and small businesses with legal needs during their start-up phase.
- Prisoners' Rights ClinicFocuses on providing legal assistance to incarcerated individuals.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Roger Williams University Law Review— Publishes legal scholarship and commentary, including a focus on Rhode Island law.
- Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce— A scholarly publication devoted to all aspects of admiralty and maritime law.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
Clinical Legal Education
- Laurie Barron· also Pro Bono & Experiential Education
- Eliza Vorenberg· also Pro Bono & Community Partnerships
Law and Technology
- John Chung· also Intellectual Property
Business Law
- Erika Dunyak· also Business Start-Up Clinic
Environmental Law
- Ellen Farwell· also Land Use
Constitutional Law
- Jared A. Goldstein· also Prisoners' Rights
Pro Bono Programs
- Suzanne Harrington-Steppen· also Clinical Legal Education
International Law
- Louise Ellen Teitz· also Civil Procedure
Labor Law
- Michael J. Yelnosky· also Employment Discrimination
What makes Roger Williams University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·As the only law school in Rhode Island, it offers unique access to the state's legal community for internships and networking.
- ·Guarantees every qualified student a substantial, hands-on clinical experience.
- ·Requires a three-credit course on Race & the Foundations of American Law, one of few law schools nationwide to do so.
- ·Houses the Marine Affairs Institute, preparing students for careers in ocean and coastal law and policy.
- ·Features the Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education, serving as a hub for public interest and pro bono work.
- ·Offers joint degree programs including JD/Master of Marine Affairs (with URI) and JD/Master of Science in Criminal Justice.
- ·Launched the Institute for Race and the Law to drive justice reform through scholarship and address systemic inequality.
Using this for your "Why Roger Williams University" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Roger Williams University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Roger Williams University?▾
Roger Williams University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.43 and a median LSAT of 150. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.02–3.73 GPA and 148–154 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Roger Williams University's acceptance rate?▾
Roger Williams University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 67.3%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Roger Williams University offer?▾
Roger Williams University's notable clinical programs include: Criminal Defense Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic, Business Start-Up Clinic, Prisoners' Rights Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Roger Williams University publish?▾
Roger Williams University's notable student-edited journals include: Roger Williams University Law Review, Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce.
Where do Roger Williams University graduates work?▾
Roger Williams University graduates concentrate employment in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Roger Williams University admit?▾
Roger Williams University admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to Roger Williams University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (9) — verify any fact above
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/clinics-and-externships/criminal-defense-clinic
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/journals
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/institutes-and-programs
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/joint-degree-programs
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/clinics-and-externships
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/feinstein-center-pro-bono-experiential-education
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/marine-affairs-institute
- https://law.rwu.edu/academics/juris-doctor/institute-race-and-law
- https://law.rwu.edu/faculty-staff/directory
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.