JANUARY 2022 E-NEWSLETTER |
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2022 Rhode Island Bar Award Nominations |
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There are three Rhode Island Bar Association awards open for nomination in 2022. Nominations for all the awards are due no later than March 18, 2022. The three awards open for nominations are listed below. Please click each link for more information. A more detailed email will be sent out later this month.
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2022 is officially here! Stay on top of your education by attending a CLE seminar. Check out the programs we’re offering in January below. Be sure to visit the CLE calendar as new programs are added regularly.
The Lawyer’s Guide to the Access to Public Records Act
12:30 – 1:30 p.m., 1.0 credit
Live Webinar Only!
Forming a Nonprofit Organization in Rhode Island
12:30 – 2:00 p.m., 1.0 credit + 0.5 ethics
Live Webinar Only!
The Senate’s Discovery Task Force: Recommendations for a Comprehensive Approach to Improving Discovery Procedures in Criminal Cases
10:00 – 11:30 a.m., 1.5 credits
Live Webinar Only!
I Think, Therefore I Am ... Biased - How Implicit Biases Manifest in the Legal Profession
1:00 – 2:00 p.m., 1.0 credit
Live Webinar Only!
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RIBA Government Lawyers Committee is Sponsoring a Free-to-Bar-Members, One-Credit, Virtual Committee CLE Seminar |
The Rhode Island Bar Association’s Government Lawyers Committee is sponsoring a free-to-Bar-members, one-credit, virtual Committee CLE seminar on Thursday, January 13, 2022, from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Attorney Kate Constance Brody of the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights will present Introduction to Anti-discrimination Law. This seminar will provide attendees with an overview of Rhode Island antidiscrimination laws under the jurisdiction of the Commission for Human Rights, specifically in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and delivery of services. Click here for more details about the Commission and the applicable laws.
Space is limited! To register, please contact Sherilyn Gutierrez at [email protected] 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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Law Day 2022 – Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change
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Rhode Island Law Day is scheduled for Friday, May 6, 2022. The classroom program topic will be Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change. The Constitution is a dynamic document, that not only outlines a blueprint for government, but also delegates power, articulates rights, and offers mechanisms for change. It is neither perfect, nor exhaustive, as our nation’s history makes clear. Legislation, court rulings, amendments, lawyers, and “we the people” have built upon those original words across generations to attempt to make the “more perfect Union” more perfect. That effort continues today, as contemporary leaders and everyday citizens raise their voices as loud as ever to fulfill the promise of the Constitution and create a more perfect Union.
There is still time to volunteer to participate if you have not done so already! Bar members interested in volunteering for Rhode Island Law Day and the Bar’s other Law Related Education (LRE) programs are asked to contact Erin Cute by telephone: (401) 421-5740 or email: [email protected]. |
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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 2022-2023 Rhode Island Bar Association House of Delegates. The term of office is July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023. 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 February 25, 2022. For more information, please 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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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 2022. The scholarship is for the first year of law school only and is 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 Scholarship Committee will also award two additional $25,000 scholarships to applicants who meet the same criteria and who self-identify as black, indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC).
The Rhode Island Bar Foundation Scholarship application deadline is March 31, 2022. 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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Attorneys Advantage Advice |
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Almost every attorney now relies on computers, software, email, and other technology in their practice. These products allow attorneys to effectively represent their clients in a timely manner. With the use of technology comes additional risks for cyberattacks and other leaks of data. Data privacy breaches in your law firm may cause irreversible damage to your clients, your reputation, and the future of your firm.
Recent developments in ethical obligations surrounding data privacy can also be an issue when reasonable precautions aren’t taken. Naturally, maintaining data privacy should be a high priority for all attorneys amidst constantly changing technology.
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Welcome 2022 with LRS
The Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) offers you a major opportunity to obtain new clients for only $100 annually. For approximately $8.00 a month we can help market your practice while you increase your client base. As an LRS member, you will greatly contribute to public service by providing a free half hour consultation to potential clients. Last year alone over 7,000 full fee referrals were made through the LRS. Please know additional referral opportunities are available through our optional Referral Service for the Elderly and reduced fee programs.
Please contact us today, joining is such an easy process! Simply contact Caitlin Poland, [email protected] or Elisa King, [email protected], or call them at 401-421-7799 to get started.
We look forward to referring new clients to you throughout the New Year!
Because of You
The Bar Association’s Holiday Pro Bono Appeals began in November with “Thanks for Giving,” and continued in December with the “Twelve Days of Pro Bono.” Through this period, 55 cases were accepted for low-income families and individuals. Many of our elderly were included in this group, who were in desperate need of representation. Thank you again to our volunteer attorneys, you made a phenomenal difference for those losing hope and made the holidays brighter for those in distress.
Resolve to Join a Pro Bono Program
Whether you have been practicing for one year or twenty plus, we need your legal expertise. Right now, we have several civil matters from 2021 that have not yet been placed. There are guardianship matters for our most vulnerable senior citizens, bankruptcy, collections, housing, and family law. Mentors are available should you wish to accept a matter outside of your regular practice area!
For those of you who are interested in receiving further details on joining, please contact Elisa King, [email protected] or John Ellis, [email protected] to learn more. You may also reach them at 401-421-7758. |
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6 Habits to Make the New Year Your Best Year Yet
The start of the New Year signals a time for change; however, it isn’t necessary to treat the New Year as a time to overhaul your life. This year, try creating habits that make a positive and healthy impact on your life. Below are six habits to try implementing in 2022.
Be Kind: Everyone is allowed to have a bad day, but your bad day doesn't have to ruin someone else's. Try to simply be nicer, whether to the grocery cashier, your colleagues, or just a stranger you encounter during your day.
Make Time for You: Taking time for yourself is not selfish. In fact, it’s imperative for optimal health and wellbeing. Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate or time consuming. It can simply mean taking a bath every week, attending your favorite weekly yoga class, preparing a healthy meal for yourself, or getting an extra hour of sleep.
Practice Gratitude: Practicing gratitude can improve your mental health and boost your relationships with others. It can remind us that even in the darkest moment, there are things to be thankful for which can lead to the mindset of more generosity and positivity when things are tough.
Get Outside: For most of us, we spend the bulk of our days inside. Sometimes a simple walk in the park or around the neighborhood can change your perspective. This year, make it a point to enjoy nature more.
Be in the Moment: Time flies, and often, we realize we've done a task without really paying attention. Decide to be more present this year. Spend quality time with your family, take a moment to smell dinner cooking, and watch TV without scrolling through your smartphone.
Revisit Goals: As the new year proceeds, keep checking in on the goals you've set for the year. There's nothing wrong with revisiting something you've let slide. As long as you don't give up completely, no matter what habit you're cultivating, it just may stick after all.
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If you use Microsoft Outlook calendar, but hate Microsoft Teams (raises hand) you may have noticed that Microsoft recently started adding Teams video meeting links to calendar invitations as a default.
Obnoxious, I know.
But, you can turn it off. Here’s how:
-Go to ‘Settings’ in Outlook 365.
-Select the ‘Calendar’ settings.
-Then choose ‘Events and invitations’.
-You’ll see that ‘Add online meeting to all meetings’ is checked off.
-Uncheck it.
Now, you’ll one again be free to add your own online meeting links, as it should be.
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 [email protected]. |
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Rhode Island Bar Association
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