JANUARY 2023 E-NEWSLETTER |
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2023 Rhode Island Bar Award Nominations |
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There are five Rhode Island Bar Association awards open for nomination in 2023. Nominations for all the awards are due no later than March 17, 2023. The five awards open for nominations are listed below. Please click each link for more information. A more detailed email will be sent out later this month.
The award committees’ welcome nominations for candidates of diverse
backgrounds and from underrepresented identity groups.
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CLE Corner
2023 is officially here! Stay on top of your education by attending a CLE seminar. Check out the programs we’re offering this winter below. Be sure to visit the CLE calendar as new programs are added regularly.
January 10, 2023
12:30-1:30 pm | 1.0 ethics
Live webinar only!
January 19, 2023
4:00-5:00 pm | 1.0 credit
January 20, 2023
12:00-3:00 pm |3.0 credits
January 27, 2023
2:00-4:00 pm | 2.0 credits
In-Person Only!
February 2, 2023
12:00-3:00pm | 3.0 credits
February 16, 2023
12:30-1:30 pm | 1.0 credit
February 23, 2023
12:00-1:30pm | 1.5 credits
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Share Your Wealth of Knowledge! |
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 on 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
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Rhode Island Law Day is scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2023! The classroom program topic, Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration, will focus on rebuilding trust in our institutions, respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation. In recent years, tensions in our democratic system have revealed deep divisions in American society. These divisions are aggravated by incivility in public discourse and insufficient understanding among many people about the Constitution and the way American government works. Together, however, we can collaborate to overcome our differences, resolve our disputes, and preserve our democracy and republic. To that end, we call on members of the legal profession to lead the way in promoting civics, civility, and collaboration—the cornerstones of our democracy.
There is still time to volunteer to participate if you have not done so already! Bar members interested in volunteering for Rhode Island Law Day and the Bar’s other Law Related Education (LRE) programs are asked to contact Erin Cute by telephone: (401) 421-5740 or email: ecute@ribar.com.
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House of Delegates
Letters of Interest
Involvement in the activities of our Bar Association is a richly rewarding experience. One way to become familiar with Bar Association activities is by serving as a member of the House of Delegates. For those interested in becoming a member of the Bar’s Executive Committee and an eventual Bar officer, House of Delegates’ membership is a necessary first step. To learn more about Rhode Island Bar Association governance, please go to the Bar’s website.
The Nominating Committee will meet soon to prepare a slate of officers and members of the 2023-2024 Rhode Island Bar Association House of Delegates. The term of office is July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. If you have not already done so, to be considered for appointment to the House of Delegates, please send a letter of interest no later than February 24, 2023. For more information, please click here. The Nominating Committee welcomes letters of interest from candidates of diverse backgrounds in regard to race, color, religion, country of ancestral origin, handicap, age, sex, or sexual orientation.
PLEASE NOTE: Current members of the Bar’s House of Delegates who wish to be considered for reappointment must also send a letter of interest by this date.
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Foundation Scholarships
For its Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship program, the Bar Foundation intends to award two scholarships of $25,000 each to Rhode Island residents who enroll as first-year students in an American Bar Association accredited law school for the academic year beginning September 2023. The scholarship is for the first year of law school only and non-renewable. Each scholarship award is made on the basis of demonstrated financial need, superior academic performance, community and public service, and demonstrated contacts with and commitment to the State of Rhode Island. The Scholarship Committee seeks applications from candidates without regard to race, color, religion, country of ancestral origin, handicap, age, sex, or sexual orientation.
Two additional scholarships from the Papitto Opportunity Connection Foundation in the amount of $25,000 each will be awarded to candidates who self-identify as black, indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC). Founded in December 2020, the Papitto Opportunity Connection was formed by Barbara Papitto as a continuation of the long-time commitment she and her late-husband Ralph have made to creating educational opportunities and supporting the BIPOC community in Rhode Island.
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Follow Us on Social Media So You Never Miss an Update! |
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Make sure you are following us on all our social media accounts, so you never miss an update!
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Visit the Committee Calendar! |
Did you know the Bar lists all the upcoming Bar committee meetings on the Bar Committee Calendar page on the website? Click the image above to access the Calendar and view all of the upcoming committee meetings we have scheduled!
If you have not yet signed up as a member of a 2022-23 Rhode Island Bar Association Committee, you can still do so! To sign up for any of our 27 Bar committees, please contact Membership Services Coordinator NaKeisha Little at nlittle@ribar.com.
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For those who may be interested, the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force created this Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) Pledge and invites lawyers, law firms, legal departments, legal services, and law-related organizations to join RIBA in its commitment to increase diversity in the legal profession. Those who participate in the Pledge will be acknowledged on the RIBA website and in the quarterly DEI Newsletter for their good faith efforts. Click the image below to see who has joined our pledge so far. |
For more information and to take the pledge, click the button below! |
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Over the past few months, RIBA has added new staff members to the team. To learn more about the different responsibilities of each staff member, please click on the staff directory above. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need assistance! |
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Combine Profit & Public Service in 2023 with LRS! |
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The Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) offers you a major opportunity to obtain new clients while you provide a public service. For only $8.00 a month we can help market your practice and increase your client base. New members may join now for the special price of only $50.00 until September 2023 at which time you can choose to renew for the annual membership fee of only $100.00.
Last year alone 6,000 referrals were made through the full fee LRS program with additional referrals through the optional reduced-fee and referral service for the elderly. Referrals are made in almost all areas of civil and criminal law. Please note we have added Limited Scope panels.
Please contact us today to get started. Joining is an easy process! Applications are available for completion on the Bar Association website at ribar.com. You may also contact the LRS directly at 401-421-7799 or email cpoland@ribar.com or eking@ribar.com to receive an application. If you have any questions about the referral process, please call or email us. We look forward to having you as an LRS member.
Join today and kick start the New Year with new clients!
We are looking forward to sending you referrals!
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Our 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. |
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We are extremely grateful for our members participation in each of these public service programs. If you would like to know more specific information about these programs, please contact Susan Fontaine, sfontaine@ribar.com, or phone 401-421-7799 or 421-7758.
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6 Tips to Survive Cold & Flu Season |
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Many people catch the flu or the common cold between October and May. During this time, taking the right precautions reduces your chance of getting ill or making others sick. Protect yourself against cold and flu viruses with these germ-busting tips. Click on the image below for more information. |
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One of the biggest challenges for a modern attorney is consolidating information from clients. Sure, there are emails + texts; but, that’s just table stakes these days. There are so very many messaging apps in use, that it’s difficult to consolidate everything. But, if you want to try, check out Kommo, which creates a holistic dashboard for all your messaging applications.
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.
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