February 2021 E-Newsletter |
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Introducing Diversity Digest! |
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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. If you missed the first edition, which was circulated to Bar members last month, please click here. Be on the lookout in April for the next edition of Diversity Digest! |
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Please consider joining!
We need to update our Lawyer Referral Service and Volunteer Lawyer Program panel information regarding our members who speak additional languages or have staff who do so. Spanish is the predominant need. Attorney members of the Lawyer Referral Service and pro bono programs who speak other languages, especially Spanish, or have staff who do so. Please let us know by emailing Caitlin Poland at cpoland@ribar.com or phone at 401-421-7799.
Strengthen our Communities by Volunteering
If you are not already a member of one of our pro bono programs and are looking for volunteer opportunities for the New Year, please contact Elisa King or John Ellis at 401-421-7758 or eking@ribar.com, jellis@ribar.com. Your help is needed especially now in most areas of civil law! |
The Lawyer Referral Service is inexpensive and the perfect vehicle to promote your practice while you help expand the public’s access to legal representation. Participation in the Legal Information & Referral Service for the Elderly and reduced rate component programs are encouraged but the choice is yours. Further details are available by calling 401-421-7799 or emailing cpoland@ribar.com. For those of you who are already members, please consider the Limited Scope panel options that are available to you. Also, please note if you speak Spanish or any other additional languages, please let us update your information.
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4 Tips for Better
Mental Health in 2021
Start with the Basics: You’ve heard it over and over again, but it bears repeating: eating a healthy diet, getting a good night’s sleep, and exercising regularly all go a long way in reducing stress, improving self-esteem, and reducing vitamin deficiencies that lead to better mental health.
Try a Virtual Class: Instead of getting caught up in the news or worrying about work, try something new! If you’ve always wanted to learn to cook or improve your culinary skills, sign up for an online cooking class. Have a stack of books sitting unread? Try joining a virtual book club or start your own! Gather a few friends on Zoom once a month, or find a group online.
Socialize at a Distance: Missing your family and friends can really take a toll on your mental health, so it’s important to stay connected with them. One way to stay in touch is to host regular online meetings using Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime. Get together for dinner, movie night, or just to chat.
Talk to Someone: Talking to someone about the challenges, emotional struggles, and mental health concerns you may face on a regular basis goes a long way in helping you maintain good mental health. As a reminder, members of the Bar’s Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee are available to speak with you CONFIDENTIALLY. Visit the Bar's Lawyers Helping Lawyers page for more information, and scroll down the page for a list of members ready and willing to listen. If you feel you need professional assistance, Coastline EAP is a private, non-profit consulting service contracted by the Association who can assist you at no charge. The professionals at Coastline EAP provide confidential consultations for a wide range of personal concerns. You can contact Coastline EAP at 1-800-445-1195 and identify yourself as a RI Bar member seeking help.
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Have You Read the January/February Issue of the Rhode Island Bar Journal?
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Be sure to check out the Clinical Trials Laws and Test Subjects article written by Attorney William J. Connell. This timely article reviews federal laws governing clinical trials, with a focus on the regulations protecting the health and safety of test subjects.
As a reminder, the Rhode Island Bar Journal is now being distributed to members in a digital format via email only. To view the January/February 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. Currently, all issues of the Bar Journal since 2009 are available for download on our website in the Bar Journal Archive. |
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There are so many great CLE programs being offered virtually this February! Here are just a few:
Mindfulness for the Busy Lawyer - Part 2
12:30 – 1:30 pm., 1.0 ethics
Live Webinar Only
Be Prepared: Utilizing a Life Care Planner
11:00 – 12:15 p.m., 1.5 credits
Live Webinar Only
2021 Hardship Licenses and Ignition Interlock Devices
12:30 – 1:30 p.m., 1.0 credit
Live Webinar Only
Don’t forget to check out the CLE Calendar for all of our program offerings. |
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Committee News
The Rhode Island Bar Association’s Government Lawyers Committee is sponsoring a free-to-Bar-members, one-credit, virtual Committee CLE seminar. On Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 9:00 – 10:00 am Attorney Amy Goins of Ursillo, Teitz & Ritch, Ltd and John Marion Executive Director of Common Cause Rhode Island will present Elections: RI Law and Practice. Attendees will learn about the different roles of the Secretary of State, Board of Elections, and local Boards of Canvassers in Rhode Island elections. The program will focus on Rhode Island laws relating to elections with a small segment dedicated to reviewing federal laws. The speakers will review caselaw and significant statutes.
Space is limited! To register, please contact Heather Chea by email at hchea@ribar.com or phone at 401-421-5740.
Please note, per the RI MCLE Commission, the Rhode Island Bar Association can only report the attendance of attorneys completing a minimum of 90% of this CLE program.
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2021 Rhode Island Bar Award Nominations |
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There are three Rhode Island Bar Association awards open for nomination in 2021. Nominations for all the awards are due no later than March 19, 2021.
The three awards open for nominations are listed below.
Please click each link for more information.
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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 2020-2021 Rhode Island Bar Association House of Delegates. The term of office is July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022. 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 March 5, 2021. For more information, 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
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 2021. 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.
The Rhode Island Bar Foundation Scholarship application deadline is March 31, 2021. More information and application forms are available on the Rhode Island Bar Association website: ribar.com in the Rhode Island Bar Foundation section. |
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Follow Us on Social Media So You Never Miss an Update! |
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The Bar is going paperless! As a reminder, the Rhode Island Bar Journal is now being distributed to members in a digital format via email, as well as our monthly CLE seminar brochures. Make sure you are following us on all our social media accounts, so you never miss an update!
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2021 Annual Meeting
Save the date! The 2021 Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 23rd and June 24th and will again be conducted virtually, but the format and platform will be much different than the 2020 virtual Annual Meeting series. More details regarding the format of the meeting will be disseminated to members in the coming weeks.
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Ada Sawyer Centennial Celebration
The event, organized by the Bar Association’s Ada Sawyer Centennial Planning Committee and supported by the RI Women’s Bar Association and the Roger Williams University School of Law, has been rescheduled for October 14, 2021 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. More information will be disseminated to members
in early 2021.
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#ImNotACat is now a trending topic nationally on Twitter, after a lawyer in a court proceeding could not figure out how to turn off a Zoom filter. So, this is my opportunity for a public service announcement: If you’re a lawyer who uses Zoom (read: if you’re a lawyer -- full stop), make sure you understand how to manage the system settings before you get on a video conference as some kind of animal.
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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Rhode Island Bar Association
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