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Marine Law & Policy

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Legal program staff attorney talks to two students at a conference table

Legal program research attorney presents resarch to audience at Roger Williams University

About

Rhode Island Sea Grant is the only Sea Grant program serving the New England region with dedicated capacity in legal and policy research and extension. The Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program is housed at the Marine Affairs Institute at the Roger Williams University School of Law and provides research and outreach on marine and coastal law and policy issues. Through engagement of law students as Law Fellows, the program helps build the next generation of legal and resource management professionals.

Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow Program

The Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow Program is an experiential education opportunity in which Law Fellows research and analyze marine law issues requested by outside professional organizations, under the guidance of Marine Affairs Institute staff.

Students are eligible to become Law Fellows after their first year of study, and projects are typically completed in one semester, though some projects last more than one semester. Outside organizations requesting Law Fellow assistance may include government agencies, nonprofit groups, and corporations. Project topics cover the full range of ocean, coastal, and maritime topics and may focus on local, regional, national, or even international law. The Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow Program does not litigate or advocate.

FAQs

Contact

Julia Wyman, Legal Program Director
jwyman@rwu.edu

Managing “Managed Retreat”

Moving structures and community members out of flood-prone areas can improve safety and reduce flood impacts, but it can be complicated and stressful. A recent workshop sought to answer questions and provide best practices.

Legal Research Offers Better Option for Shellfish Management in Massachusetts

Some Massachusetts emergency shellfish harvest closures could be overly strict; other management tools could protect consumers while avoiding harm to industry, Marine Affairs Institute/Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program research finds

Marine Law Propels Career from Coast Guard to Knauss Fellowship

A fellowship in a national government agency in Washington, D.C., would be a big change for most graduate students, but for Chris Perrett, it’s a continuation of federal service that began over a decade ago.

Law Clinic Engages Students in Block Island Coastal Resilience

Law students apply a legal and policy perspective to addressing climate impacts to Block Island’s infrastructure and community resources.

With Marinas Filling Up, How Can RI Preserve Space for Working Boats?

Commercial Users’ Access to Rhode Island Marinas: A Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program Research Summary The competition for marina slips has become challenging in Rhode Island, in part due to the surge in recreational boating during the Covid-19 pandemic. A...

Offshore Wind Developers Set Up Compensation Funds to Offset Harms to Fishers, Coastal Communities

Recent legal research examines the various compensation programs offered by offshore wind developers to communities in southern New England. As offshore wind farms are developed along the East Coast and even more are proposed, communities may want to understand the...