| R 188 |
| 2024 -- H 8120 Enacted 04/02/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW |
Introduced By: Representatives Batista, Kazarian, Potter, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Marszalkowski, Vella-Wilkinson, Chippendale, Shanley, and Kennedy |
| Date Introduced: April 02, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, The Roger Williams University School of Law is located in Bristol, Rhode |
| Island, and is the only law school in Rhode Island; and |
| WHEREAS, Roger Williams University School of Law was established in 1993 after an |
| exploratory committee, chaired by the late Rhode Island Chief Justice Joseph Weisberger, |
| recommended the creation of a law school in Rhode Island. The mission of the Roger Williams |
| University School of Law "is to prepare students for success in the public and private sectors and |
| to promote social justice and the rule of law through engaged teaching, learning, and |
| scholarship"; and |
| WHEREAS, The Roger Williams University School of Law enrolls approximately 370 |
| students and has a faculty ratio ration close to 13:1., has been accredited by the American Bar |
| Association since 1997, and has been a member of the Association of American law schools since |
| 2006. It is also one of the few law schools in the nation that offers a focus on maritime law and |
| has become a national leader in that field; and |
| WHEREAS, From its humble beginnings in 1993, with a class of 110 full-time students |
| and 74 extended division students, the Roger Williams University School of Law has grown to |
| become one of the most active and effective law schools in the nation. Its legal clinics and pro |
| bono programs serve Rhode Island's diverse population exceedingly well, with a particular focus |
| on helping members of Rhode Island's underserved communities. The School of Law is also a |
| leader in the fight for equality and justice for all Americans. The school has most recently |
| established a new Institute for Race and the Law that will help lead the way in training future |
| lawyers on how to effect true justice on this most important issue within American society; and |
| WHEREAS, The Roger Williams University School of Law offers a legal education that |
| focuses on the development of each student's analytical, ethical and legal skills through a deep |
| exploration of United States legal history and doctrine, as well as the study of the interaction |
| between American history and public policy and its relationship and interaction with the law and |
| society. Students are offered ample opportunities to provide pro bono services to individuals, |
| organizations, policy-makers, the legal profession, journalists and elected officials; and |
| WHEREAS, The Roger Williams University School of Law and its esteemed Dean, |
| Gregory W. Bowman, M.A., J.D., understand the struggle so many people face today to pay for |
| college, graduate school and law school, and, as a result, has strived to keep its tuition as low as |
| possible. In the 2023-2024 Academic year, the Roger Williams University School of Law has the |
| lowest tuition in the Northeast, while at the same time providing an excellent law education, as |
| shown by the school's graduates Bar passage rate of 78 percent, its top ten rank for federal and |
| state clerkships, its top ten ranking for "Faculty Accessibility", and, most importantly, the fact |
| that 76.7 percent of its 2017 graduating class obtained full-time, long-term, J.D. required |
| employment within nine months after graduation; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| joyously celebrates the thirtieth Anniversary of the creation of the Roger Williams University |
| School of Law; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Roger Williams University School of Law |
| Dean, Gregory W. Bowman, M.A., J.D. |
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| LC005875 |
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