Our Work

The Coastal Resilience Law and Policy Clinic provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with local and state government agencies on proactively addressing coastal resilience. 

Students are exposed to local land use law and planning, municipal, state, and federal laws, environmental law and policy, research techniques, and writing. Students have the opportunity to work with stakeholders on important issues, to gain in-depth substantive knowledge on the applicable law and its real-world application, and to draft a high-quality written product, and may have the opportunity to present their work in a professional setting.

The Marine Affairs Institute at Roger Williams University School of Law, in partnership with Rhode Island Sea Grant, created the Coastal Resilience Law and Policy Clinic as an effort to assist communities that are facing the effects of changing environmental conditions. In the United States, environmental change has significantly affected homes, public infrastructure, and other developments, which has led to some state and local governments having the desire to implement novel policies and regulations to address the increasing environmental pressures.

Student Reseach

Past Projects

Symposia/Conferences

The Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal program through the Marine Affairs Institute sponsors speakers, symposia and interdisciplinary training programs that provide law students and practitioners alike with opportunities to meet with other marine law professionals in both formal and informal settings, and learn about recent developments in ocean and coastal law.

Recent topics have included marine renewable energy, such as wind power; international cargo liability; ecosystem-based management and fisheries law.