Roger Williams Law Forum

[apm5743]

Does anyone go to RWU or have any information regarding the school. I have received a full-tuition merit scholarship to attend the school. I have narrowed down my options to spending 22k/yr. to attend University of the Pacific or 0k/yr. to attend RWU. Any info./recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

[waker57]

Does anyone go to RWU or have any information regarding the school. I have received a full-tuition merit scholarship to attend the school. I have narrowed down my options to spending 22k/yr. to attend University of the Pacific or 0k/yr. to attend RWU. Any info./recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

Pacific, not even close to a question. Roger Williams is consistently considered one of the worst schools in the country. Pacific is T2. Yes it'll cost about 66k more, but that will definitely pay off in the long run, remember you're not just investing your money, but also 3 years of your life.

[A'nold]

I was considering applying there and fishing for a big scholly, but after hearing what people said about the school I took a closer look. Check out their employment stats. They actually place an extremely large amount of people into "business and industry" which is a red flag and a half. People go to law school for 3 years only to have to go back to their old jobs? Yikes.

[apm5743]

That is a good point. I have been doing a lot of research lately and some says go to the best law school possible, but others say if you do not get into a T20 law school, you should aim to keep the debt load as low as possible. The prospect of graduating w/ 50k in debt seems more appealing than graduating w/ 120k in debt. Pacific does have a better rep, but neither has a national rep from what I understand. I would be perfectly happy with a govt. job making 50k/yr., but am afraid that if I have 120k in debt, it might not be an option.

[seb819]

The only thing I want to add to this discussion is that Roger Williams is listed on RipoffReport.com

[apm5743]

The ABA data lists RWU as having 17.6% employed in business and industry as compared with UP McGeorge listed at 15.4%. This does not seem like a huge difference, but McGeorge did know the employment status of 100% of its graduates as opposed to 85.9% at RWU.

[A'nold]

That is a good point. I have been doing a lot of research lately and some says go to the best law school possible, but others say if you do not get into a T20 law school, you should aim to keep the debt load as low as possible. The prospect of graduating w/ 50k in debt seems more appealing than graduating w/ 120k in debt. Pacific does have a better rep, but neither has a national rep from what I understand. I would be perfectly happy with a govt. job making 50k/yr., but am afraid that if I have 120k in debt, it might not be an option.

I'm not a rankings whore and I think there are a lot of good t3 and t4 schools, but I am just cautioning you against this particular school. If you were asking about McGeorge vs. Suffolk or Ole Miss, I'd be telling you to go to the school you can get out of with the least debt in an area you would like to work in.

[waker57]

The only thing I want to add to this discussion is that Roger Williams is listed on RipoffReport.com

Even Cooley doesn't have that honor.

What's so shocking is it's not an unattached law school like most of the bottomfeeders out there, it's actually attached to what seems to be a pretty decent university.

[apm5743]

I did see the posts on ripoffreport.com, but there are 2 posts and neither of the people really seemed to have been ripped off. Perhaps they were thinking they were going into BigLaw coming from a T4, but that is not my expectation.

[A'nold]

My bad. What I was talking about was the average starting salary. It was like twice the private practice salary (not quite but you get the point).

[Anonymous0L]

wow.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/1 ... 188165.htm

[apm5743]

wow.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/1 ... 188165.htm

Maybe I am stubborn, but this guy is not convincing to me. He thinks 150 is a good LSAT and is trying to find work outside of the New England region with a degree from RWU. I do not expect to find employment outside of the RI,MA,CT area with a J.D. from RWU.

[Anonymous0L]

well then perhaps RWU is for you?

[apm5743]

Maybe so. There have been some posts bashing RWU, which is definitely a point of concern. However, it seems that most of these posts are at least a couple of years old and the bar passage/employment rates seem to be on the rise. I guess I should head up to Bristol and talk to some current students to get a good idea of whether or not I should attend. This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make.

[Anonymous0L]

Maybe so. There have been some posts bashing RWU, which is definitely a point of concern. However, it seems that most of these posts are at least a couple of years old and the bar passage/employment rates seem to be on the rise. I guess I should head up to Bristol and talk to some current students to get a good idea of whether or not I should attend. This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make.

well... this is TLS, most people here won't even take another glance at RWU.

[crystalhawkeye]

Their pamphlet made the area look nice...

[jeisner]

I go to UG in Rhode Island (not at RWU). I've driven past the area. Very nice, literally right on the beach, about 15 mins. or so from Newport. RWU is the only law school in R.I., so they place relatively well within the state, yet probably significantly less the further you travel outside of R.I. Apparently they DO have a really good Marine Law program (if you're into that), where you do a dual JD and MA with the URI Marine Affairs dept.

[apm5743]

TYVM jeisner. Do you know any RWU grads, and if so, do they have decent jobs?

[law_mama]

The only thing I want to add to this discussion is that Roger Williams is listed on RipoffReport.com

OMG

Funny ... and sad.

[jeisner]

TYVM jeisner. Do you know any RWU grads, and if so, do they have decent jobs?

I don't know any RWU grads. I took a Con Law course last year which was taught by a partner at a big firm in Providence (http://www.brownrudnick.com/), which also has offices in Boston, DC, etc. He was telling us that they (the Providence firm) recruit a lot in both Boston (and surprisingly) RWU. I'm assuming the individuals that they are recruiting are obviously top of their class (which I'd assume you should have no problem with if you got a full ride), so its definitely possible.

[apm5743]

Thanks again jeisner. I just e-mailed an associate that works for Brown Rudnick (RWU class of 2008) to see if she could give me any advice.

[Chaosnyli]

Is it true they just tied in 3rd for Mass. Bar passage rate..their majority bar exam state?

[jeisner]

Is it true they just tied in 3rd for Mass. Bar passage rate..their majority bar exam state?

The only law school in RI having a majority bar taking in Mass? Is this true??

[A'nold]

The area around RWU looks absolutely gorgeous, FWIW. At the beginning of the cycle I shot them a fee waiver request before researching the school. They turned me down, haha. Schools like Buffalo, Vermont, and Idaho all gave me them but RWU, with their significantly lower entry stats said nope.

[Someperson]

Rofl. One of the Rip-Off reports is from an alumni who won't even hire people from his own school because it's so bad.