The Rhode Island Bar Association (RIBAR or RIBA) is the unified (mandatory)

bar association A bar association is a professional association of lawyers as generally organized in countries following the Anglo-American types of jurisprudence. The word bar is derived from the old English/European custom of using a physical railing to separ ...

of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

Organization

Founded in 1898, the Rhode Island Bar Association is a unified bar association with over 6,000 attorney members licensed to practice in Rhode Island. Bar Association membership and dues are mandatory, and Bar Association dues are in addition to licensing fees charged by the Rhode Island Supreme Court. The objectives of the Rhode Island Bar Association are to uphold and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Constitution and laws of Rhode Island and to maintain representative, democratic government; to advance the science of jurisprudence; to promote the administration of justice; to uphold the honor and dignity of the process of law; to apply its knowledge and experience in the field of the law to the promotion of the public good; to encourage and cultivate social intercourse among the members of the Rhode Island Bar; and to cooperate with the American Bar Association, other national, regional and state bar associations and the local bar associations in the State of Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Bar Association's website a
www.ribar.com
serves as a source of information and provides contact information for its attorney members, as well as for members of the public. On the Bar's website
For Attorneys
highlights the Bar's many programs including
Continuing Legal Education
(CLE) seminars, Lawyer Referral Service (LRS), Bar Committees and membership benefits
Members Only
provides a wealth of Bar members services including CASEMAKER, the 24/7, online, law library and OAR, the Bar's attorney-to-attorney information resource center
Attorney Directory
includes all registered members’ contact information, and is accessible to all visitors to the Bar's website
For the Public
contains valuable information to help choose a lawyer and find guidance on a range of legal issues, as well as law related education programs
Rhode Island Bar Foundation
provides information about Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and the Bar's Law School Scholarship Program.

Governance & Structure

A Bar President, who serves a one-year term from July 1 through June 30, three Officers of the Bar, an elected House of Delegates, which meets quarterly, and an executive committee, which meets monthly, govern the Association. The Association holds an Annual Meeting in June. In fulfilling its stated purposes, the Bar's programs and activities are designed to serve the needs and interests of the membership, the public and the administration of justice. Standing and special committees direct much of the programming of the Rhode Island Bar Association. Standing committees are created by the Bylaws for the investigation and study of matters relating to the accomplishment of the general purposes, and business of the Association. Committee members are appointed by the incoming Bar President and serve for one-year terms, which may be renewed. The Bar's Governance & Bylaws may be accessed here: https://www.ribar.com/About%20the%20Bar%20Association/GovernanceAndByLaws.aspx 2018-2019 Rhode Island Bar Association Officers * Carolyn R. Barone, Esq. President * David N. Bazar, Esq., President-Elect * Richard P. D'Addario, Esq., Treasurer * Lynda L. Laing, Esq., Secretary The Rhode Island Bar Association is headquartered at the Rhode Island Law Center, 41 Sharpe Drive, Cranston, RI 02920. The Center provides a venue for a number of Association services, activities and meetings, houses the Bar staff, and available to members for meetings. Office hours are 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, weekdays. The Rhode Island Bar Association publishes the Rhode Island Bar Journal, a bi-monthly news magazine featuring articles and important information for members and those interested in Rhode Island law. Articles on current legal issues and news about the Association are in the Journal and available on the web site.

Bar Exam

All attorneys licensed to practice in the state belong to the Rhode Island Bar Association after passing the

bar examination A bar examination is an examination administered by the bar association of a jurisdiction that a lawyer must pass in order to be admitted to the bar of that jurisdiction. Australia Administering bar exams is the responsibility of the bar associa ...

. As of 2012, the

bar exam A bar examination is an examination administered by the bar association of a jurisdiction that a lawyer must pass in order to be admitted to the bar of that jurisdiction. Australia Administering bar exams is the responsibility of the bar associa ...

in Rhode Island tests knowledge of the common law through the

Multistate Bar Exam In the United States, those seeking to become lawyers must normally pass a bar examination before they can be admitted to the bar and become licensed to practice law. Bar exams are administered by states or territories, generally by agencies under ...

and

Multistate Essay Exam In the United States, those seeking to become lawyers must normally pass a bar examination before they can be admitted to the bar and become licensed to practice law. Bar exams are administered by states or territories, generally by agencies under ...

, and the exam tests Rhode Island law on the state essay portion. The exam also includes a practical component, the

Multistate Performance Test In the United States, those seeking to become lawyers must normally pass a bar examination before they can be admitted to the bar and become licensed to practice law. Bar exams are administered by states or territories, generally by agencies under ...

. Applicants must also pass the

MPRE The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a 120-minute, 60-question, multiple-choice examination designed to measure the knowledge and understanding of established standards related to a lawyer's professional conduct. It i ...

ethics exam, pass a

background check A background check is a process a person or company uses to verify that an individual is who they claim to be, and this provides an opportunity to check and confirm the validity of someone's criminal record, education, employment history, and oth ...

, and pay all necessary fee

References

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External links

Official website
American state bar associations 1898 establishments in Rhode Island Rhode Island law Organizations established in 1898

Organization

Governance & Structure

Bar Exam

See also

References

External links