RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island Bar Association

Public Service Programs

115 Cedar Street

Providence, RI 02903

(401) 421-5740

Fax (401) 421-2703

e-mail:

Contact person: Susan A. Fontaine, Director

 

• State Bar Staff

Bar Foundation Staff

Other: __________

State Support Program

State Support Function

Access to Justice Program

• Statewide Direct Delivery

Independent Program

None of the Above

 

The Rhode Island Bar Association maintains two public service programs: the Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP) and the Legal Information and Referral Service for the Elderly (LRIS). The VLP provides services to low-income clients which range from giving advice and counsel or writing a letter on behalf of a client to actual representation in court. The director reports to the Rhode Island Bar Association's executive director and also staffs the bar's Committee on Legal Services. The LRIS for the Elderly is designed to help persons 60 years of age and older obtain legal information and advice.

 

# of Active Lawyers 4,600

# of Lawyers Providing Pro Bono Service 1,500

# Pro Bono Programs 3

Poverty Population 100,000

# of Legal Services Programs 3

# of IOLTA Funded Programs 3

 

1995 Statewide IOLTA Revenue $400,856

Program Budget n/a

Funding n/a

% of Funding paid by the Bar Foundation 20%

% of Funding paid by the IOLTA n/a

Other (foundations, filing fees, legal services) 80%

 

Ethical Rules & Bar Resolutions

Policy on pro bono

4 state bar resolution

state supreme court ethical rule

rule similar to revised ABA MR 6.1 (includes hours and categories)

4 pre 1993 version of ABA MR 6.1

other rule

Reporting of Pro Bono Activity

mandatory (___ under consideration)

voluntary (___ under consideration)

Activities

Communication

4 newsletter

4 media publicity

Recruitment

4 mass mailings to new admittees

4 targeted mailings

4 work with individual law firms

bar event presentations

4 personal contacts/phone calls

phonathons

4 bar section or committee presentations/projects

Training

4 sponsor substantive legal training for volunteers

coordinate training programs for legal services providers

4 publish training materials

Coordination

4 assist development of local programs

4 coordinate activities with providers (i.e. training, recruitment)

statewide pro bono coordinator meetings

liaison with state bar foundation

Technical Assistance

4 outreach to programs

sponsor state pro bono conference

provide technical assistance to:

4 law firms

corporate counsel

governmental attorney offices

Recognition

4 program awards

4 state bar sponsored awards

state bar foundation sponsored awards

4 personal letters

4 magazine/newsletter articles

4 honor roll

4 certificates

CLE vouchers/publications

Case Intake & Referral

4 direct case referrals to volunteers

4 case referral to pro bono programs

statewide or regional:

centralized intake

hotline

4 clinics

4 toll-free 800 number

Legislative Work

involved in legislative advocacy

4 participate in state planning for legal services and pro bono

Staff State Bar or Access to Justice Committee

pro bono ethics rules/resolutions/reporting

delivery of legal services/legal aid

Access to Justice

Other __________

Technology

4 website (address: riba@ids.net)

fax referrals