One of the first goals of the Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion is to better educate members of the Bar on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. To support their efforts, the Task Force will circulate a quarterly newsletter to all Rhode Island Bar members. The purpose of the newsletter is to bring attention to steps the Bar is taking to be more inclusive and to share relevant information about diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Be on the lookout in January for the next Diversity & Inclusion newsletter! |
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Rhode Island Bar Association Leaders |
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Meredith Howlett, Esq.
Meredith Howlett is currently an associate attorney at Howlett Law, Inc. focusing her practice on family law, divorce/separation matters, domestic matters, DCYF matters, and child custody matters. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Roger Williams University School of Law. As a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, Meredith has served as the Chair of New Lawyers Committee for the past three years and is a member of the Family Law Bench Bar Committee, the House of Delegates, and the Nominating Committee. Meredith is also a member of the Edward P. Gallogly American Inn of Court. Meredith has been the recipient of RI Monthly’s Professional Excellence in the Law designation, has been recognized as a Rising Star in Super Lawyers, and was nationally ranked as “Top 10 under 40” by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys.
To learn more about Meredith and what diversity and inclusion mean to her, click here to read a brief Q&A.
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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) |
Each October, the ABA Commission on Disability Rights celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year, the ABA is celebrating the 76th observance of NDEAM with the theme: America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion. NDEAM is an annual awareness campaign that celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates them about the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. To learn more please click here. Please note, NDEAM activities do not have to end in October but can continue throughout the year to highlight the importance of including disability in your diversity and other endeavors. |
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New ABA Young Lawyers Division Survey |
According to data released in September by the ABA Young Lawyers Division and the AccessLex Institute, when it comes to student loan debt, for early-career lawyers, the burdens are not only financial but also emotional. For example, 67 percent of the 1,300 survey respondents said they felt "high or overwhelming stress" over their finances; and among those with $200,000 or more in loans, 68 percent said they were "embarrassed and ashamed" by their debt (compared with 37 percent of those with $100,000 or less in loans). The survey, a follow-up to one released in 2020, also found that the debt load varies by race and ethnicity, with Black borrowers reporting higher balances than borrowers of other races and ethnicities. Click here to read an article from Reuters that includes more information on the survey findings and a link to the full report. |
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Meet the Task Force Members |
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Siobhan L. Stephens-Catala, Esq.
Siobhan L. Stephens-Catala has been an attorney practicing in the State of Rhode Island for 15 years, committing her entire career to public service. Currently, she is Legal Counsel in the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. She has also worked as Senior Legal Counsel for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and as a Staff Attorney for Rhode Island Legal Services representing victims of Domestic Violence on various Family Law issues. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (English-Liberal Arts) Magna Cum Laude from Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in 2001. She graduated from Roger Williams’ School of Law in 2004 and was the recipient of both the Feinstein Institute Public Service Award and stipend. She can be credited with contributions to Roger Williams University School of Law early on with helping to shape their Diversity Outreach Program geared toward supporting a culture in which all individuals feel valued, supported, and encouraged to excel during their law school experience. She is admitted to practice law in both Rhode Island and New York. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, which is committed to scholarship, sisterhood and public service, the Thurgood Marshall Law Society, the Woman’s Bar Association and is currently serving on the Rhode Island Bar Association’s House of Delegates. She resides in the city of Providence with her husband and two children.
To learn more about why Attorney Stephens-Catala joined the Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion and what diversity and inclusion mean to her, click here to read a brief Q&A. |
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Have you read the September/October issue of the Rhode Island Bar Journal?
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Be sure to check out the Focus on the Future interview with Samantha Armstrong, Esq. by D&I Task Force member Nicole P. Dyszlewski, Esq., MLIS and Meghan L. Hopkins, Esq. Focus on the Future is a spotlight series where members of the Rhode Island Bar Journal Editorial Board interview attorneys who are newer to the Rhode Island Bar.
To view the September/October issue click on the cover image to the left, or visit our website at ribar.com, sign in to the Members Only area using your Bar ID number and Password, and click on the Rhode Island Bar Journal Homepage.
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Articles
by Sharon Miki
A blind law student discusses his experiences navigating law school.
Podcast
Littler Diversity & Inclusion Podcast
The podcast includes conversations related to the human resource challenges of an ever-evolving workforce. Click here to find the podcast on iTunes.
The Will To Change: Uncovering True Stories of Diversity & Inclusion
Hear from leading CEO’s, bestselling authors and entrepreneurs as the host uncover their true stories of diversity and inclusion. Hosted by Jennifer Brown an award-winning entrepreneur, dynamic speaker, and author and diversity and inclusion expert. Click here to find the podcast on iTunes.
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FREE NON-CLE WEBINAR
Trans Awareness for Legal Professionals: Why it Matters and Tools to Help
November 17, 2021 at 5:00 pm
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The RI Bar Association is committed to presenting a wide variety of CLE programming to meet the needs of our diverse membership. Below are a few programs that are being offered in the next few months and available to view in our on-demand catalog. Be sure to check out the CLE calendar to see all our upcoming programs!
Upcoming Live Webinars:
I Think, Therefore I Am: How Implicit Biases Manifest in the Legal Profession
1:00 – 2:00 pm, 1.0 credit
Live Webinar Only
Check the CLE calendar in a few weeks for the link to register for the following program!
Gender-Identity Harassment & Discrimination
Thursday, December 16th
12:00 – 2:00 p.m., 1.5 credits + 0.5 ethics
Live Webinar Only
On-Demand Programs:
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