Degree program: J.D./M.M.A. (joint degree with Roger Williams University School of Law)

Year accepted: 2026

Advisor: TBD

Research: Fisheries Management, Marine Environmental Law, Coastal Resilience, Ocean Governance, Environmental Enforcement

Background: B.A. Administration of Justice, Salve Regina University

Profile:

Timothy Picard is a native of Scituate, Rhode Island, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University. He is currently pursuing his J.D. at Roger Williams University School of Law and a Master of Marine Affairs through the joint degree program with the University of Rhode Island.

Prior to law school, Tim worked full-time as a stone masonry foreman, managing crews and completing custom masonry projects throughout Rhode Island. He later began working at a criminal defense firm in Boston, where he continues to assist on cases and has gained practical experience with criminal trials and appellate work. That background in criminal law, combined with his growing focus on environmental law and marine policy, has shaped his interest in eventually practicing environmental litigation involving both civil and criminal matters.

During law school, Tim worked in the Roger Williams University School of Law Marine Affairs Coastal Resilience Law and Policy Clinic, where he focused on legal and policy issues involving municipal resilience, environmental planning, and coastal adaptation. He is also completing a legal externship with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, gaining firsthand exposure to environmental regulation, administrative law, and the work of a state environmental agency. Additionally, Tim serves on the Law School’s Moot Court Board and as a Teaching Assistant in the Law School’s Writing Center.

Timothy’s curiosity in Marine Affairs grew from a lifelong connection to Rhode Island’s waters and a particular interest in fishing, fisheries, and the marine environment. His academic interests include fisheries management, marine environmental law, coastal resilience, ocean governance, and environmental enforcement.

Outside of academics and legal work, Timothy spends much of his free time fishing and learning about marine ecosystems and maritime history. His favorite book is Jeremy Wade’s How to Think Like a Fish, and he has a longstanding fascination with the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.