2021 Law Day Volunteer Acknowledgement |
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The Rhode Island Law Day Committee, chaired by Rhode Island Supreme Court Associate Justice (ret.) Gilbert V. Indeglia, voted to conduct Law Day virtually again this year due to the uncertainty of class schedules related to the pandemic. Teachers received a PowerPoint presentation put together by volunteer attorneys and were given the option of having an attorney and judge team join them for a virtual presentation on or around Law Day, April 30, 2021.
We want to thank all of the attorneys and judges listed below who volunteered their time for a virtual Law Day program. We sincerely appreciate their generous efforts and willingness to adapt to a virtual format. A special thank you is needed for William Connell, Esq. and Jillian Nobis, Esq., the volunteers who designed an excellent and informative slide show which was distributed to schools on the Law Day topic.
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Rhode Island Bar Association
Steve Bagian, Esq.
MaryJo Carr, Esq.
William Connell, Esq.
Angelyne Cooper, Esq.
David Coughlin, Esq.
Richard P. D'Addario, Esq.
Marc Desisto, Esq.
Gina DiCenso, Esq.
Mary Dunn, Esq.
David Fitzpatrick, Esq.
Philip Gasbarro, Esq.
Jenna Giguere, Esq.
Michael Goldberg, Esq.
Amy Goins, Esq.
Christopher Gontarz, Esq.
Jennifer Griffith, Esq.
Michael Hagopian, Esq.
Robert Humm, Esq.
John Izzo, Esq.
Lynda Laing, Esq.
Melissa Larsen, Esq.
Tracy Loignon, Esq.
Thomas W. Lyons III, Esq.
Valerie Leon, Esq.
Mary Welsh McBurney, Esq.
Mackenzie McBurney, Esq.
Samantha McCarthy, Esq.
Carolyn Medina, Esq.
Eric Miller, Esq.
Sarah Miller, Esq.
Mark B. Morse, Esq.
Jeri Muccio, Esq.
Diana Pearson, Esq.
Matthew Perkins, Esq.
Kristin Pettey, Esq.
Sarah Oster Kelly, Esq.
Gregory Sorbello, Esq.
Nicholas Solitro, Esq.
J. Patrick Youngs, Esq.
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Rhode Island Judiciary
Hon. Alberto Aponte Cardona
Hon. Keith A. Cardoza, Jr.
Hon. William E. Carnes, Jr.
Hon. Alfredo T. Conte
Hon. Melissa A. Darigan
Hon. Laureen D’Ambra
Hon. Michael DiChiro, Jr.
Hon. Melissa R. Dubose
Hon. Brian A. Goldman
Hon. Alan R. Goulart
Hon. Gilbert V. Indeglia (ret.)
Hon. Stephen M. Isherwood
Hon. Paul T. Jones
Hon. Susan L. Kenney
Hon. Erika Kruse Weller
Hon. Jeffrey A. Lanphear
Hon. Richard A. Licht
Hon. Melissa Long
Hon. Karen Lynch Bernard
Hon. Erin Lynch Prata
Hon. Luis M. Matos
Hon. John F. McBurney, III
Hon. Mary E. McCaffrey
Hon. Susan E. McGuirl
Hon. Edward H. Newman
Hon. J. Patrick O’Neil
Hon. Elizabeth Ortiz Whited
Hon. Susan Pepin Fay
Hon. Richard Raspallo
Hon. Kevin B. Reall
Hon. Linda Rekas Sloan
Hon. William P. Robinson
Hon. Christopher Smith
Hon. Brian P. Stern
Hon. Sarah Taft-Carter
Hon. Brian Van Couyghen
Hon. Netti C. Vogel
Hon. Pamela Woodcock-Pfeiffer
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Rhode Island Bar Association 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting!
The Rhode Island Bar Association Virtual Annual Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23 and Thursday, June 24, 2021. Our plenary speakers, the Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the Honorable John J. McConnell, Jr., Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, will draw upon their career experiences to lead a discussion and provoke a meaningful conversation about the practice of law. Our 17 fantastic workshops, skillfully organized by our excellent presenters, include such topics as:
- Case Law Updates - Criminal and Civil
- View from the Bench: Link Between Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
- A Progress Report on Lawyer Well-Being
- Commercial Law Update
- Personal Jurisdiction over Defendants
- And more!
Our program will be presented on the engaging and interactive Eventmobi platform, and we are sure you will be impressed by what it has to offer and how easy it is to navigate. We may not be able to meet in person this year, but we can still embrace technology to increase our professional competence and say hello to old friends. Make sure to check your inbox next week for the Virtual Annual Meeting brochure!
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Compare & Contrast: Video Conferencing Software
The fourth session in the new, FREE, non-credit, technology program series, Compare & Contrast: Video Conferencing Software, is scheduled for Monday, May 17th at 12:30 pm. In this session, Jared Correia of Red Cave Law Firm Consulting and Attorney Mike Goldberg, co-chair of the Bar’s Technology in the Practice Committee, will review 3 top video conferencing software providers, and take questions on the subject. Video conferencing became an essential business tool almost overnight last year. But, how do you choose the right software? And, how do you avoid common (and embarrassing) missteps when you’re on a video call? It’s a tangled online web we weave.
This quick (30 minute) and free presentation will get you the information you need to make an informed choice. Please click here to register for the program via Zoom. No cat filters, please.
This series will review different law-related products and services and each webinar will be focused on a particular topic. In just 30 minutes, Jared will discuss what makes the most sense for members depending on practice size and budget. All sessions will be recorded and available to view free of charge on the Bar’s Law Practice Management page on ribar.com.
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Have You Read the May/June Issue of the
Rhode Island Bar Journal?
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Be sure to check out The Changing Environment for Social Investment article written by attorney Peter J. Miniati, CFP®, JD. This informative article explores the complicated world of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and provides an overview of the state and federal laws, the absence of clear regulations in the financial services industry, and the impacts of social investing in the U.S. and beyond.
As a reminder, the Rhode Island Bar Journal is now being distributed to members in a digital format via email only. To view the May/June 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 May! Below are just a few. Don’t forget to check out the CLE Calendar for all of our program offerings.
Open Arms: Creating a Modern Intake System for Your Law Firm
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1.0 credit
Live Webinar Only
Unemployment Updates & Unemployment Fraud
12:30 – 1:30 p.m., 1.0 credit
Live Webinar Only
Mindfulness for the Busy Lawyer - Part 5
12:30 – 1:30 p.m., 1.0 ethics
Live Webinar Only
Virtual Mediation: RI Mediators Share Experiences and Offer Tips for Best Results
12:30 – 2:30 p.m., 1.5 credits + .5 ethics
Live Webinar Only
The Lawyer’s Guide to A Productive Virtual Conference Room Experience
12:00 – 1:00 p.m., 1.0 credit
Live Webinar Only
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2021-2022 Committee Membership
If you have not yet signed up as a member of a 2021-2022 Rhode Island Bar Association Committee, please do so today. Bar Committee membership runs from July 1st to June 30th. Even Bar members who served on Bar Committees this year must reaffirm their interest for the coming year, as committee membership does not automatically carry over from one Bar year to the next.
To sign up for a 2021-2022 Bar Committee, please click here to access our Bar Committees page on our website. Click on the BAR COMMITTEE SIGN-UP link and log in using your RIBAR credentials. As an alternative, you may download the Bar Committee Application form appearing above the list of committees and mail or fax it to the Bar Association.
Please join no more than three committees and only use one method to register to avoid duplication.
If you have any questions concerning membership or the sign-up process, please contact the Bar’s Director of Communications Erin Cute at (401) 421-5740 or ecute@ribar.com. |
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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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FREE Landlord/Tenant CLE Opportunity
Please contact either Elisa King, eking@ribar.com, or John Ellis, jellis@ribar.com to find out how to register for the upcoming FREE live seminar, An Overview of Tenant Protections & Strategies for Successful Results on May 26, 2021, 3:30-5:00 pm. The program will provide an overview of tenant protections, including protections due to COVID-19 to better represent clients, and successful negotiating strategies for advocates for BOTH tenants and landlords.
Please note, You must agree to accept a pro bono landlord/tenant or eviction case to complete the registration process. The staff will provide further details on how to join the Volunteer Lawyer Program, Elderly Pro Bono Program, or US Armed Forces Legal Services Project if you are not already a member of one or more of these pro bono programs.
Please Help us Make Sure Everyone is Heard
If you are a member of the Lawyer Referral Service or Volunteer Lawyer Program and speak another language or have staff who do, please let us know today. Adding this information to your profile will help strengthen the referral process for those with language requests. Please contact Elisa King by email at eking@ribar.com or phone at 401-421-7799.
Seeking New Clients?
Did you know membership in the highly visible Lawyer Referral Service is only about $8.00 a month? For the annual fee of $100.00, we can help market your practice and increase your client base while you provide a public service. If you join now your membership will be prorated accordingly, so it is an excellent time to come on board. Further details about the LRS and Reduced Fee LRS are available by contacting Caitlin Poland by email at cpoland@ribar.com or phone at 401-421-7799. |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental health is about a person’s overall well-being. From a stressful day at work to receiving bad news to feeling overly exhausted, our mental health is something we all should be focused on improving. Below are 6 tips to help you to start improving your mental health today.
- Let go of emotional clutter. This will lessen stress and allow you to focus on what’s important to you.
- Practice self-care such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and exercising to keep your mind strong.
- Practice deep breathing to reduce momentary anxiety.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everybody needs a little extra support on occasion.
- Start a gratitude journal by writing down one thing you’re thankful for each day. Changing your words can lead to changing your inner thoughts.
- Give yourself permission to feel your emotions so that you can properly release them. It’s ok to not be ok.
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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Maybe this is a ‘non-tech’ tech tip; but, with everybody working from home more than ever before these days, technology companies, for one, are taking an interesting angle on the concept of time off. Many businesses are shutting off access to certain applications and programs at certain times of the day, so employees can unplug, and take some time away for non-work-related activities.
But, if you own your law firm, you don’t need an employer to tell you to take some time off; It may be as simple as shutting down your computer, turning off your phone, or disconnecting from wireless.
It’s okay. The world will (probably) not end.
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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