Roger Williams University School of Law is a private law school established in 1993. The school of law is part of the Roger Williams University complex and is the only one in the state. Roger Williams offers the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degrees, with multiple joint degree programs available. Roger Williams also has a main campus in Bristol and an experiential campus in Providence, exposing students to various resources and firms around the city. Upon graduation, students can look forward to a vibrant and thriving law career with many opportunities state and nationwide.
Law school prepares you to become an attorney with many responsibilities and a duty to the public. However – you're still learning, and mistakes are one of the ways you overcome obstacles and become proficient. Yet some mistakes are more impactful than others, causing issues that delay or even prevent you from graduating altogether. Academic dishonesty is one such example. Without the help of an experienced attorney-advisor specializing in student defense, you risk losing time, money, and effort with sanctions that affect your short- and long-term goals.
Honor Code and Academic Dishonesty
The Honor Code applies to all law students registered at the Roger Williams School of Law. Academic dishonesty falls under prohibited conduct. It “serves as the basis for a complaint against, and sanction upon, a student, or a student who was a student when such conduct occurred.” The following actions are examples of what constitutes a violation:
- Giving or receiving assistance during an academic exercise
- Gaining an unfair advantage over one's peers by cheating
- Engaging in prohibited conduct as outlined by the school of law
- Engaging in plagiarism, misappropriation, or failing to acknowledge work or ideas provided by a source
- Destroying or defacing property owned by the school of law
- Intentionally disrupting activities conducted under the auspices of the school of law
- Misrepresenting data or information with the deliberate intent to deceive
- Refusal to cooperate with university administrators and faculty members
- Failure to report a violation
- Abusing or obstructing honor board policies
Roger Williams Law School takes these violations seriously. It implements strict sanctions as penalties for one or a combination of these actions. The school of law also reserves the right to categorize activities not listed above as violations, depending on the mistake.
Honor Board and Adjudication Process
According to the website, any person part of the law school may submit a complaint of a suspected violation to the chair of the Honor Board. After receiving the complaint, the student chair forwards the matter to the Associate Dean to determine if it is a credible claim. If it is, the Associate Dean assembles a disciplinary panel. The school also updates the list of honor board members and the faculty protection council on the page.
The disciplinary panel's purpose is to investigate the activities mentioned in the complaint and hold one or more hearings. It is also responsible for recommending sanctions based on the severity of the violation. The accused must gather evidence and submit it to the panel for review to defend against accusations. Once the board hears both sides and investigates the claims, they recommend appropriate penalties for the violation, taking the severity of the mistake and the student's history into consideration.
Appeals
Roger Williams School of Law policy allows students to appeal a panel's decision under some conditions. Students may appeal the board's decision within five business days to the Associate Dean. However, they must submit a written request and provide concrete reasons for requesting a modification of the decision. The Dean may keep or modify the disciplinary panel's sanctions and deliver the student's response in writing. The Dean's decision is final.
Possible Sanctions for Academic Dishonesty
Sanctions vary depending on the severity of the violation and the student's history. Although some are not damaging to a student's progress, others cause irreversible harm, affect the student's reputation, and delay their graduation prospects. In worst-case scenarios, the law school lists the sanction on the student's transcript. They may not graduate due to permanent discharge from the university. Below are some of the sanctions imposed for academic dishonesty at Roger Williams School of Law:
- Continued attendance of courses at the school of law under specific conditions
- A verbal or written admonition
- A written reprimand
- Removal from law school programs and activities
- Involuntary withdrawal from a course
- Receiving an “F” on the course or a lower grade
- Temporary suspension from the law school
- Permanent dismissal (expulsion)
It may be challenging to continue your education after a dismissal but finding another law school after expulsion is challenging. The more severe sanctions, such as suspension and expulsion, harm your reputation and trajectory. Since much can go wrong during this stressful time, consider working with an expert who understands what is at stake and operates in your best interests.
Contacting an Attorney-Advisor
During one of the most stressful periods of your university life, you need the help of an expert who works with students nationwide facing accusations of academic misconduct. Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento specializes in student defense. With years of experience working with students and panels throughout the US, advisor Lento expertly identifies procedural errors and bias. Whether you made a genuine mistake or had a lapse in judgment, advisor Lento understands your concerns and works with you to decrease the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome.
You worked hard and spent countless hours studying and preparing to be an attorney. Accusations of academic dishonesty may be one of the most challenging obstacles on your journey. You don't have to participate alone. Instead, work with an expert who has your best interests in mind.
If you or someone in your family face accusations of academic misconduct at Roger Williams School of Law, don't wait until it's too late. Call the Lento Law Firm today for a discreet and thorough consultation at 888-535-3686.
