2024 RI Bar Association Annual Meeting | |
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The Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14, 2024! Our opening plenary speakers, Dean Andrew Perlman from Suffolk Law School, and Professor Sonia Gipson Rankin from the University of New Mexico School of Law, promise enlightening insights on artificial intelligence and the legal profession. Our closing plenary speaker is Kori Carew, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer at Seyfarth Shaw and a TEDx Speaker. Kori’s dynamic presentation is designed to enhance your understanding of the importance of inclusivity while fostering a sense of belonging within our legal community.
In addition to the always popular Civil Case Law, Criminal Case Law, Family Case Law, and Commercial Law Update programs, we have a great lineup of 40 fantastic workshops.
Mark your calendars and join us as we once again gather in-person at the Rhode Island Convention Center, to catch up with old friends, colleagues, and members of the judiciary. This is one meeting you don’t want to miss! More information will be disseminated to members in the coming months.
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Continuing Legal Education Corner | |
Stay on top of your education by attending a CLE seminar. Check out the programs we’re offering in March below! | |
End Game: The Many Considerations Surrounding Law Firm Succession Planning
March 12 | 1:00-2:00 PM
1.0 credit | Live Webinar Only
Register Here!
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Financial Empowerment for
Women in Law
March 19 | 12:00-1:00 PM
1.0 credit | Live Webinar Only
Register Here!
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LawGPT? Generative AI, Chat GPT, LLMs, and the Legal Data-Driven Revolution
March 22 | 1:00-2:30 PM
1.5 credits | Live Webinar Only
Register Here!
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🍕 Food for Thought 🥪
Defending Mental Health Court Clients
March 26 | 12:30-2:00 PM
1.5 credits | Hybrid
Register Here!
| Be sure to visit the CLE calendar as new programs are added regularly! | |  |
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2024 DUI Laws & Hardship Licenses
March 14 | 2:00-4:00 PM
2.0 credits | In Person Only
The prosecution and defense of DUI cases are rapidly changing. Significant changes include the introduction of the Intoxilyzer 9000 breath testing machine, the use of drug recognition experts in addition to the standardized field sobriety tests, and the potential for individuals in drunk driving and refusal cases to obtain a hardship license after the installation of an ignition interlock device.
This program will provide a comprehensive nuts-and-bolts analysis of the basics of drunk driving and refusal cases and an extensive review of the changing science and technology in these cases.
The interactive program is appropriate for both new and experienced attorneys. Attendees will receive a digital copy of the 2024 DUI Practice Manual.
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New Season, New Clients!
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 2024 at which time you can choose to renew for the annual membership fee of only $100.00.
There is a definite need to expand our referral panels statewide in all areas of law including: appeals, employment, education, FEMA, guardianship, HIPPA, landlord tenant, lemon law, medical licensing, Medicare-Medicaid, non-profit, taxation, and timeshare. If you are an existing LRS member and would like to update any of your practice areas, please contact Caitlin Poland at 401-421-7799 or email her at cpoland@ribar.com.
Joining is an easy process! Applications are available for completion on the Bar Association website at ribar.com. You may also contact Caitlin Poland directly at cpoland@ribar.com to receive an application or for additional information.
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We "Gnome" You Want to Help
This spring, let us be the garden gnomes in your legal landscape, cultivating justice and growth for all through our pro bono programs. If you are not already a member of the Volunteer Lawyer Program, Pro Bono Program for the Elderly or US Armed Forces Legal Service Project and would like more information on the numerous pro bono opportunities available in many areas of civil law, please contact Susan Fontaine at sfontaine@ribar.com or give her a call at 401-421-7758.
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Our 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. Many others receive pertinent information or referrals to other offices and agencies. | | |
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To see the break down of these calls, click here or on the image above.
We are extremely grateful for our members participation in each of these public service programs.
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For those who may be interested, the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Pledge that 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. For more information on the Pledge and how to sign up, visit the DEI page on the Bar’s website.
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The Rhode Island Bar Foundation is offering several scholarships for Rhode Island residents pursuing a legal career in the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarships include the Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Patrice A. Tarantino Memorial Scholarship, the Nicole J. Benjamin Scholarship, and two additional scholarships from the Papitto Opportunity Connection Foundation. Each scholarship is worth $25,000 and is for first-year law students who demonstrate financial need and commitment to the legal profession. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2024. For more information on each scholarship opportunity and application forms, please click here. Questions? Please contact Theresa Gallo by phone at (401) 421-6541 or email at tgallo@ribar.com. More Information and application forms are also available on the Rhode Island Bar Association website: ribar.com in the Rhode Island Bar Foundation section.
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We want to remind members to be diligent when it comes to recognizing scams. A recent scam that has been brought to our attention involves a scammer posing as a client seeking an attorney to draft a commercial equipment lease agreement. The scammer claims to be a company located in NC that will be entering a one year, $3.4 million lease for well intervention equipment to a RI based company. RIBA members reported that they attempted to set up an account for the “client” after being sent a check for a sizable amount of money. When a RIBA member went to deposit the check, they discovered it was fraudulent. We advise Bar members to always exercise caution and perform due diligence before accepting new cases and performing financial transactions.
| 2024 Rhode Island Bar Award Nominations | |
There are four Rhode Island Bar Association awards open for nomination in 2024. Nominations for all the awards are due no later than March 15, 2024. The four awards open for nominations are listed below. Please click each link for more information.
Ralph P. Semonoff Award for Professionalism
Florence K. Murray Award
Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Trailblazer Award
Victoria M. Almeida Servant Leader Award
The award committees welcome nominations of all qualified candidates, including those of diverse backgrounds and from underrepresented identity groups.
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Get to Know Aon Attorneys Advantage | | |
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Are you taking advantage of your Rhode Island Bar Association member benefits? The Attorneys Advantage program provides:
- an exclusive focus on lawyers/law firms
- a high level of experience when it comes to legal malpractice issues
- a network of insurance carriers to help find solutions for various types of exposures
- a commitment to educating lawyers about their malpractice risks to help us avoid claims
- an easy-to-use, digital application process, making it simple to get an insurance quote for you or your practice
The Aon Attorneys Advantage program is committed to providing solutions for your professional liability insurance needs and delivering risk management resources to protect your firm. Visit attorneys-advantage.com/RIBA to learn more or call us at 267-459-3233.
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Visit the Committee Calendar! | |
Did you know that the RIBA has 28 different Committees for our members? These Committees are not just about networking; they're about fostering a sense of community and providing invaluable educational opportunities. From exploring specific legal practice areas to fostering collaboration with the courts, our Committees are dedicated to enriching your membership experience and keeping you informed. Click the image above to access the Calendar and view all of the upcoming committee meetings we have scheduled!
This March, mark your calendars for engaging meetings with the Title Standards, Traffic Tribunal, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees, as well as many more! RIBA members interested in attending or seeking more information, please contact our Membership Services Coordinator via email at nlittle@ribar.com.
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RI Ethics Advisory Panel Opinion
The RIBA will be sharing the recent Ethics Advisory Panel Opinions in our monthly newsletters.
Ethics Advisory Panel Opinion 2024-01
Do you want to learn more about the RI Ethics Advisory Panel? Check out the 2023 May/June issue of the RI Bar Journal and read the article “Ethics Advisory Panel: Legal Advice that is Free, Confidential, and Assists Fellow Lawyers Navigating Ethical Dilemmas” by Panel members Lise J. Gescheidt, Esq., and Chris S. Gontarz, Esq. Click here to read the issue.
| 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
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If you work in common drafting applications all day long, there’s really no greater time-saver than utilizing keyboard shortcuts. If you’re a Microsoft 365 user, like most attorneys are, there are a multitude of keyboard shortcuts for the major applications: Word, Excel, Outlook and Powerpoint.
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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