Dear Colleagues:

Rhode Island Law Day is just around the corner, and we’re inviting you to be part of this meaningful tradition on Friday, May 2, 2025. This year’s theme, The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One, highlights the power of our Constitution to unite us as a nation. It bridges differences to fulfill the ideal of E pluribus unum, which means "Out of many, one."

Participating as a Rhode Island Law Day volunteer provides a unique opportunity to inspire and educate middle and high school students (grades 7–12) across the state. The program features a Rhode Island judge and lawyer team delivering an interactive, hour-long classroom session. To make volunteering seamless, the Bar Association provides a sample program guide and PowerPoint presentation that you and your team can use to prepare. We also make every effort to assign teams based on location, ensuring convenience for our volunteers.

The time commitment is minimal, typically requiring an hour in the classroom plus some preparation time with your team. Your efforts can leave a lasting impression on the lives of Rhode Island’s students.

If you’d like to join us for Law Day, or participate in one of our other Law Related Education (LRE) programs, such as Lawyers in the Classroom or the Speakers Bureau, please complete the updated LRE Volunteer Application. The form helps us maintain an accurate database and includes a new section where you can indicate additional languages you speak to better match volunteers with language-specific opportunities.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with students across Rhode Island.

Sincerely, 

Christopher Gontarz

President

Photo 1, from l to r: Angelyne Cooper, Esq. and RI Supreme Court Associate Justice Melissa A. Long

Photo 2, from l to r: RI Superior Court Associate Justice Brian Stern and Michael Goldberg, Esq.

Photo 3, from l to r: Law clerk Emma Spero; Mary Cavanagh Dunn, Esq.; United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Judge Lara E. Montecalvo; and Detective David Perez

The Ins and Outs of Workers’ Compensation in RI CLE

Join us on Thursday, January 23rd, for "The Ins and Outs of Workers’ Compensation in RI". This session will guide you through the key steps and potential pitfalls in prosecuting workers’ compensation claims, drawing from their experiences with a range of cases, including work-related COVID-19 exposures. It will benefit both seasoned practitioners and attorneys new to workers' compensation law. To register, please click here.

The opinions, statements, and facts presented in our newsletter do not necessarily reflect the official stance of the Rhode Island Bar Association or its members unless specifically highlighted.