New Member Reception Highlight

On October 8th, the Rhode Island Bar Association hosted its annual New Member Reception at the Rhode Island Law Center. Designed for attorneys practicing ten years or less, the event combined education, networking, and celebration in a well-attended evening filled to capacity.

President Patrick A. Guida started the evening by welcoming the new members and introducing the CLE panelists. He encouraged attendees to take advantage of the many opportunities the Association offers, with special emphasis on Law Related Education programs, which are a central focus of his presidency this year. He also highlighted the value of engaging in committees, public service programs, continuing legal education, and the Leadership Academy. The program continued with the CLE, From the Bench: Navigating Practice & Perception, moderated by New Lawyers Committee Co-Chairs Hannah V. Colone, Esq. and Paige E. Macnie, Esq. Panelists included Hon. Melissa A. Long, Hon. Christopher Smith, Hon. Lia Stuhlsatz, and Georgi Vogel-Rosen, Esq., who shared candid advice on professionalism, building confidence, navigating bias, and advocating for oneself in any setting. The program drew strong attendance and offered participants 0.5 DEI credit and 0.5 general credit.

Following the CLE, the reception brought together new members, Bar leaders, committee chairs, local affinity groups, and members of the Judiciary. Attendees enjoyed complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres, networking opportunities, and professional headshots. The Association is delighted to welcome its newest colleagues and looks forward to their active participation in the years ahead.

This year marked the first time the reception was supported by sponsors, whose contributions helped make the evening a success. We are grateful to the following sponsors for their support:

Benchmark Sponsor:
Secure Future Tech Solutions

Raising the Bar Sponsor:
Adler Pollock & Sheehan PC
Aon Attorneys Advantage
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc.

Friend of the Bar Sponsors:
American Arbitration Association
Cameron & Mittleman LLP
CATIC
CBIZ
Jen Cosgrove O'Leary, Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert
Rhode Island Foundation