SEPTEMBER 2022 E-NEWSLETTER
2022-23 Bar Member Dues Invoices Now Available
The Rhode Island Bar Association online dues invoices are now available for the 2022-23 year. The Bar no longer postal mails invoices to members. Please go to the Bar's website at ribar.com and log in with your Bar ID and password. Click DASHBOARD and then MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL. Once there, you may access your personalized invoice and make your payment online by following the prompts. *Please note: your username to login to the RIBA website is your Bar number.

Once again, the Rhode Island Bar Association is going digital with our Bar ID Cards and will no longer postal mail hard copies to members unless requested. Once your dues have been paid and processed, you can access your bar card through the DASHBOARD area of the MEMBERS ONLY section on our website. From there click on MEMBERSHIP CARD which will allow you to print the card or download it to your phone for easy access! Please note, once your payment has been processed it may take up to 24 hours for your card to become available. You may request a paper copy of your card by contacting Office Manager Susan Cavalloro by phone at 401-421-5740 or email at scavalloro@ribar.com.

You do not have to pay your dues online. As an alternative, you may download your invoice and pay by check. Or, you may contact the Bar at (401) 421-5740 and request your invoice be sent to you via postal mail. Please remember you must request the postal mailed invoice, as otherwise the only way to access your invoice is online.

If you have any questions, please contact Office Manager Susan Cavalloro by phone at (401) 421-5740 or email: scavalloro@ribar.com
FREE Fall CLE Seminars 
2022 Aon Sponsored FREE
Ethics Seminars 

Don't miss the 29th annual FREE ethics program! This year's speaker is Professor Heidi K. Brown. Her program, Civility Reboot: Defusing Bullies and Cultivating Respectful Rigor in Advocacy, offers a fresh approach toward addressing the detrimental effects of incivility, bullying, rudeness, and inappropriate intimidation that unfortunately pervade the legal profession and appear to have been exacerbated by the stress of the pandemic. This program will:

  • Explore the negative ripple effects of incivility and bullying in our profession, including issues relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging,
  • Seek to inspire a civility reboot by highlighting ethical principles that can get overshadowed by the day-to-day intensity and stress of lawyering, and
  • Offer practical tips for defusing toxicity (in ourselves and others) and instead cultivating respectful rigor in service of our clients, the profession, and society.

Click below to register for your preferred date!

5:30pm-7:30pm | 2 ethics
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston
 
2:00pm-4:00pm | 2 ethics
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston
 
9:00am-11:00am | 2 ethics
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston
Guardianship Practice -
The Essentials

Thursday, October 27, 2022
1:00 - 4:30 pm
3.0 credits + .5 ethics

At this seminar, skilled practitioners will discuss the practicalities and procedures required for guardianship practice. Included will be the many considerations required before filing a petition for guardianship, the “nuts & bolts” of where, when and how to file, and the role of the guardian ad litem. Focus will be given to alternatives to guardianship and less restrictive measures including supported decision making, as well as the various ethical concerns that arise in a guardianship with a view from the bench. Today’s prevalent issues surrounding the guardianship process for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum will also be presented.
This seminar will be available as a live webinar through Zoom or in-person at the Rhode Island Bar Association classroom. Please indicate your preference when calling to register. In-person seating is limited.

If you are not a member of the Volunteer Lawyer Program, Elderly Pro Bono program, or US Armed Forces Legal Services Project, please contact us to join today and receive further information on the upcoming registration process.

Please note you must be a member of the pro bono programs and agree to accept a family law case to register.

Staff members John Ellis, jellis@ribar.com or Elisa King, eking@ribar.com will be happy to provide further details. You may also reach them at 401-421-7758 or 421-7799.
The Rhode Island Bar Journal Returns to Print!
We are excited to announce the return of print editions of the Rhode Island Bar Journal. The September/October issue is now available to view digitally on the Bar’s website or by clicking on the cover image to the left. The print version will be hitting your doorsteps later this month! Moving forward, we will continue to share the Bar Journal via email with members and send hardcopies via postal mail. If you would like to opt out of receiving the printed version of the Journal, please contact Director of Communications Erin Cute via email at ecute@ribar.com or via phone 401-421-5740. 

CLE Corner
Don’t wait to earn your credits - register today for a fall RIBA CLE seminar! Below are just a few programs that we are offering this fall. For our full list of programs visit the CLE calendar.

Can You Legal Zoom, Too? How to Build Product Offerings into a Traditional Law Firm
Thursday, September 15th
1:00 – 2:00 pm | 1.0 credit

Expanding Access to Justice: RI Judiciary
Thursday, October 6, 2022
12:30pm-1:30pm | 1.0 credit

Forbearance Agreement
Friday, October 14, 2022
12:30pm-1:30pm | 1.0 credit

Planning for and Administering an Estate
Thursday, October 20, 2022
9:00am-4:00pm | 6.0 credits

Intro to New UPA and ULPA
Thursday, November 3, 2022
3:00-5:00pm | 2.0 credits

Discrimination Issues in the Workplace
Thursday, November 17, 2022
12:00pm-1:30pm | 1.5 credits

Recent Developments in the Law 2022
Friday, November 18, 2022
9:00am-3:30pm | 6.0 credits
Do you have an idea for an article?
The editors of the Rhode Island Bar Journal invite Bar members to submit articles and information for Rhode Island Bar Journal publication consideration. As a primary source of news and information for all Rhode Island Bar Association members, the Bar Journal is an outstanding forum for articles concerning all areas of practice. The Journal seeks original articles, written expressly for the first publication in the Bar Journal, by members of the Rhode Island Bar Association. Rhode Island Bar Journal submissions include:

  • Articles written about specific areas of the law or relating to the practice of law.
  • Case Studies of historic or recent past cases.
  • Counterpoint pieces to recent, previously published articles.
  • Histories regarding the practice of law and government in Rhode Island.
  • Book Reviews about law practice, legal, or political topics.
  • Bar Committee reports and information of interest to members.

Please click here to review the Rhode Island Bar Journal Article Selection Criteria, which also appears on page 4 of every Rhode Island Bar Journal. All issues of the Bar Journal since 2009 are located in the Bar Journal Archive on our website or by clicking here. To view the most recent issues of the Bar Journal, please click here or visit the Bar Journal Homepage. If you have any questions concerning Bar Journal article or news item submissions, please contact Rhode Island Bar Journal Editor Erin R. Cute by telephone: (401) 421-5740 or email: ecute@ribar.com
Follow Us on Social Media So You Never Miss an Update!
Make sure you are following us on all our social media accounts, so you never miss an update!

Facebook: @RIBarAssociation
Twitter: @RIBarAssoc
Instagram: @RIBarAssociation
LinkedIn: RI Bar Association
Public Services Corner
Lawyer Referral Service Renewal

Please note the quickest and easiest way to renew your Lawyer Referral Service membership is on your Rhode Island Bar Association Membership Dues Invoice. Simply check off the box for the Lawyer Referral Service and include your $100.00 LRS annual membership fee. If you prefer, you may send your check directly to the LRS, 41 Sharpe Drive, Cranston, RI 02920 to the attention of Caitlin Poland. If you have any questions on the renewal process or joining, please email cpoland@ribar.com or phone 401-421-7799.
Serving Our Public
The RIBA Public Service department receives hundreds of calls every month and in turn those seeking legal assistance receive referrals through the programs that most suit their needs and eligibility. Hundreds of others receive pertinent information and referral to other offices/agencies appropriate for their issue.

Between May and August 2022, the public service area handled a total of 5,278 phone calls resulting in the following:
  • 2,459 - Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) referrals 
  • 715 - LRS Reduced Fee referrals
  • 209 - Legal Information & Referral Service for the Elderly referrals 
  • 111- Elderly Reduced Fee
  • 84 Client Intakes - Elderly Pro Bono
  • 220 Client Intakes - Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP)  
  • 5 Referrals - LRS Lawyers for the Arts
  • 7 Client Intakes - US Armed Forces Legal Services Pro Bono Program

Please note, the department also responded to 380 website inquires for legal assistance.

If you would like to know more about these programs, please contact Public Services Director Susan Fontaine, sfontaine@ribar.com, or phone 401-421-7799 or 421-7758.
Introducing CorpCare - the Bar’s NEW Lawyer Assistance Program 

Your Bar Association is proud to offer you free and confidential help, information, assessment, and referral for personal concerns through our long-standing Lawyers Helping Lawyers Program (LHL). In addition to the LHL program, the Association recently contracted with CorpCare - a lawyer assistance program that provides professional clinical assessments and facilitates getting appropriate treatment for Bar members free of charge.

The CorpCare helpline provides counseling resources that quickly and professionally assist you in handling problems affecting your personal or work life. Counselors answer the phone 24/7 to provide immediate support and assistance. Simply pick up the telephone and call 866-482-8378 for confidential, round the clock support. Virtual telehealth consultations with a counselor are available upon request. Bar members can also access a wide variety of resources online by visiting corpcareeap.com and enter the Life Advantage code: RIBALAP
Wellness Tip
Did you know that September is Suicide Prevention Month? Suicide is a problem that touches the lives of many Americans. It’s important for you to know that suicide is preventable. Click on the image above for more information on how you can access support.

This tip is brought to you by the Bar's new Lawyer Assistance Program - CorpCare. Please call the professionals at CorpCare at 866-482-8378 for confidential, round the clock support.
NEW! RI Municipal Court Listing
The Rhode Island Bar Association recently created a Municipal Court Listing, similar to our popular Probate Court Listing. The listing provides contact information for the judge and clerk in each RI city/town. Bar staff will regularly update the listing to ensure information stays current. The Municipal Court Listing and the Probate Court Listing are available on the Bar’s website at ribar.com by clicking on FOR ATTORNEYS on the home page menu and then clicking on MUNICIPAL COURT INFORMATION or PROBATE COURT INFORMATION on the dropdown menu. Both Listings are provided in a downloadable pdf format. Bar members may also increase the type size of the words on the Listing by using the percentage feature at the top of the page.
Friendly Reminders
It’s Not Too Late to Sign Up
for Your 2022-2023 Bar Committees!

If you have not yet signed up as a member of a 2022-23 Rhode Island Bar Association Committee, you can still do so! Bar committee membership runs from July 1st to June 30th. Even Bar members who previously served on Bar committees must reaffirm their interest for the coming year, as committee membership does not automatically carry over from one Bar year to the next.

We anticipate offering Bar committee participation in a hybrid manner starting in the fall, whenever possible, to accommodate those who would prefer to attend meetings virtually.

Anyone signing up for Bar committees after August 15th can do so by contacting Director of Communications Erin Cute at ecute@ribar.com.
Seeking Law Related Education Program Attorney Volunteers!

Your Bar Association supports law related education (LRE) for
Rhode Island children and adults through three longstanding programs: Lawyers in the Classroom and Rhode Island Law Day for upper and middle school teachers and students, and the Speakers Bureau for adult organizations. Responding to LRE requests, Bar volunteers are contacted, based on their geographic location and noted areas of legal interest, to determine their interest and availability.

Following a recommendation from the Bar’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and to enhance both the Lawyers in the Classroom program as well as the Speakers Bureau, topics related to DEI in the legal profession have been added to our current areas
of focus. The full list of topics is included on the LRE sign up form.

Please click here to fill out the attorney LRE sign up form. All Bar members interested in serving as LRE volunteers, now and in the future, must signup this year, as we are refreshing our database.

Questions? Please contact: Director of Communications Erin Cute by phone at (401) 421-5740 or email at ecute@ribar.com
Technology Tip
Strong passwords are good; adding a second factor of authentication is better. If you want a simple way to far more effectively lock down your systems, add another (or multiple) authentication method(s) for as many systems as you can. That could be a text or email message with a 4- or 6-digit code to enter; or, it may be a biometric indicator, like a fingerprint, facial recognition or voice-assisted application. Each software system is different; but, it’s worth the effort to find and apply further authentication methods, in order to better secure your data.

This tech tip is brought to you by the Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Consultant, Jared Correia, of Red Cave Law Firm Consulting. If you need help with billing, client relations, data management, financial management, marketing, office technology, time management, disaster prevention & recovery, or any other area related to managing your practice, Red Cave Law Firm Consulting will provide Rhode Island Bar Association members with unlimited virtual consulting services (email, telephone, chat, video) FREE OF CHARGE. To get started, visit the Bar’s LPM page here, or just email Jared directly at jared@redcavelegal.com.
Rhode Island Bar Association
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