MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

This area of the Rhode Island Bar Association Web site is a clearinghouse for Association membership benefit programs.

• ABA Practice Management Section - Law Practice Tip of The Week
  The PMA Practice Tip of the Week is a service of the Practice Management Advisors Committee of the ABA Law Practice Management Section. The PMA tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on any bar association or law society. We are offering this information to provide our members with practice management and technology advice from some of the top experts in the country on law office management. Click here to visit the PMA Practice Tip of the Week.
  
  
• ABA Members Retirement Program
  The ABA Members Retirement Program has been providing retirement plans - 401(k), profit sharing, and defined benefit plans to law firms for 40 years. Whether you operate a solo practice or a large firm, the ABA Program can provide an effective plan for your firm. Call (800) 826-8901 or write abaretirement@citistreetonline.com for a free cost comparison and plan consultation. Visit their web site at www.abaretirement.com
  
  
• Legal Career Center
  The Legal Career Center is a network of online, legal-only career centers including 55 bar associations and national and regional paralegal and support staff organizations.  Members of the Rhode Island Bar Association desiring a change can now submit a "confidential" resume online and remain anonymous to prospective employers.  For employers and recruiters, you will be able to manage the details of hiring online. You can post jobs, search resumes and manage your job postings quickly and easily, all online. This service, which will deliver your attorney and support staff job listings to qualified legal professionals, is available at a cost well below the rate of advertising in traditional print publications.  Visit the career center.
  
  
• Lawyers Helping Lawyers
  The Confidential Assistance Program is a free service available to all Rhode Island Bar Association members and their dependents.   This service is a highly confidential, professional source of help for persons needing information, assessment and referral to counseling or treatment resources throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
  
  
• ABA Legal Technology Resource Center
  The American Bar Association (ABA) Legal Technology Resource Center, a free member benefit of the Rhode Island Bar Association, provides help to members through discussion forums, newsletters, articles, CLE, comparison charts, a hotline, and much more. The Center's online monthly magazine, Site-tation, highlights new and useful web sites of interest to attorneys and other legal professionals. Rhode Island Bar members may sign up to get email notification of each free issue at www.lawtechnology.org/site-tation/. To find out more about the many helpful resources provided by the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center, go to www.lawtechnology.org/services.html



• Disability Insurance - Guardian Life
  Discover the advantages of purchasing disability insurance (underwritten by Guardian Life Insurance Company) or term life insurance, The Affinity plan (underwritten by ReliaStar), as a RIBA member.  Robert J. Gallagher & Associates' representatives will be happy to review your insurance needs.   For more information, contact Robert J. Gallagher, Jr., at 401.431.0837, e-mail him at rjgiggs@aol.com, or visit their website at http://www.gallagherassoc.com



• Phone and Web Teleconferencing Services
  We are pleased to announce a new and important addition to our Member Benefits Program. As part of our law practice development effort, the Rhode Island Bar Association (RIBA) has teamed up with LBC Conferencing to offer RIBA members a 10% discount on telephone and Internet conferencing services. This is a significant member benefit because it works directly with your desktop computer and doesn’t require special, expensive technology.
  LBC offers reservationless phone conferencing and Web conferencing services designed specifically for the legal community. This service offers many improvements over your current telephone conferences, including billing codes for simplified accounting and expense recovery, no minimum usage and no contracts are required. Click on this link to see an overview of the service provided.



• Rhode Island Bar Association By-Laws
  The By-laws detail the objectives of the Rhode Island Bar Association with regard to its members.
  
  
• Lawyer Referral Service Program Policies
  This Public Service program, sponsored by the Rhode Island Bar Association refers clients to an attorney located in the client's geographic area on a rotational basis.   Members may join this worthwhile program for a nominal fee.
  
  
• Listing of Association Committees
  Check out the list of committees available for our members to join.   If you are interested you can join by downloading the form and faxing it to us at 401.421.2703.
  
  
• Legal Research
  In January 2003, the RI Bar Association introduced an exciting new member benefit - the Casemaker online law library. This free, exclusive RIBA service is an easily searchable, continually updated database of case law, statutes and regulations. Unlike the commercial research services, there are no monthly or hourly fees for Rhode Island Bar attorney members to use Casemaker, and access is unlimited, 24 hours a day. Sign in to the members only area of the website for more information.
  
  
• Benefits Unlimited: USI New England
  USI New England is the Rhode Island Bar Association's relationship administrator with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Delta Dental. As a convenience for Bar Association, members, USI New England will act as a liaison between Blue Cross/Delta Dental and Bar members as an alternative to direct Bar member contact with Blue Cross/Delta Dental. Bar members' insurance rates are determined by Blue Cross/Delta Dental and not by USI New England. USI is only the acting agent on behalf of Blue Cross/Delta Dental. There are no savings in Blue Cross/Delta Dental payment rates by going through USI New England. These rates are based on the demographics of the law office and/or the individual attorney applying for coverage. A member may contact Blue Cross/Delta Dental directly without going through USI New England, and the premium will be exactly the same. USI New England is contracted to provide Rhode Island Bar members enrollment, billing service, insurance advice and to assist Rhode Island Bar members with other health/dental and benefits insurance alternatives.
  

  Christine Brunnschweiler Account Manager RIBA New Business/Renewal Assistance & Plan Options 475 Kilvert Street, Suite 300 Warwick, RI 02886 telephone: 401-372-1175 fax: 1-610-537-2211 email: christine.brunnschweiler@usi.biz

  Lorrie Myrtle 3rd Party Billing Maintenance 475 Kilvert Street, Suite 300 Warwick, RI 02886 telephone: 401-372-1122 fax: 1-610-537-4723 email: lorrie.myrtle@usi.biz

  
  Visit the USI New England website www.benefitsunlimited.net.
  
  
• Professional Liability Insurance
  The AON Attorneys' Advantage program offers professional liability insurance coverage sponsored by the RI Bar Association.  Through a combination of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. offices and a network of Independent Territorial Administrators, the AON Attorneys' Advantage program is able to provide broad coverage, competitive rates outstanding local service and risk management service.  To learn more about the benefits and features of the program  visit the AON website at www.attorneys-advantage.com/law.
  
  
• Personal Lines Insurance
  We have some great news for you! As a RIBA member, you are invited to apply for insurance coverage as part of the RIBA Personal Lines Insurance Program.  This valuable program gives you access to a full line of superior, competitively priced products from Amica Mutual Insurance Company including automobile, homeowners, life, marine and personal liability coverage. Visit Amica's website at www.amica.com/ads/riba.htm.
  
  
• Car Rentals
  Using your AVIS discount card, RIBA members are entitled to special rates and benefits.  For more information contact your travel consultant or AVIS at 1.800.831.000 in the U.S.  In Canada, call 1.800.879.2846 or visit Avis online at www.avis.com.
  Using your Hertz discount card you can take advantage of the year-round discount program offered to RIBA members.  For more information contact your travel consultant or Hertz at 1.800.654.2210 in the U.S.  In Canada call 1.800.263.0600.
  
  
• RI Bar Journal Cumulative Index
  An index of Bar Journal articles from Volumes 1-54 (1952-2006)
  
  
• ISI New England
  ISI New England has provided bar associations nationally with insurance plans for over four decades. As a member benefit, RIBA members have access to disability products at discounted rates and with simplified underwriting through ISI New England. For more information call 1-888-474-1959 or visit our website at www.isi1959.com.
  
  
• Mass Mutual
  Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is an endorsed provider of Disability Income Insurance and Long Term Care Insurance for members of the RIBA. MassMutual has been serving clients for over 150 years, providing them with financial and insurance services. Association members will receive discounts on these products from MassMutual, the discounts on Long Term Care Insurance also extend to member’s parents, grandparents, children and in-laws.
  To personally contact an agent about these products and discounts please contact Judy Davis, JD – JudyDavis@finsvcs.com or Tom Cern – Tcern@finsvcs.com at MassMutual Financial Group 2 Hemingway Dr. East Providence, RI 02915 (401)435-3800.
  For general product information on Disability Income Insurance http://producers.halfapaycheck.com/?13315; for Long Term Care Insurance www.massmutual.com/ribar.


• Businessowners Insurance
  This Rhode Island Bar Association Sponsored program offers property, liability, workers' compensation and other miscellaneous coverages to the members of the Bar. Because Aon has relationships with the major property casualty companies that specialize in this market, your business can be placed with an insurance carrier that provides the best and most comprehensive coverages at the most competitive prices. Visit www.attorneys-advantage.com/law.