Leadership Academy

The Rhode Island Bar Association (RIBA) Leadership Academy is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Academy class. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, July 26th, at 5:00 pm.

The RIBA Leadership Academy is a nine-month leadership-training program designed to foster professional growth and enhance the leadership skills of a diverse group of attorneys. The program will provide intensive learning, career coaching, relationship-building exercises, and networking opportunities essential to fostering leadership in the bar, the workplace, and the community. Participants will meet in-person for one 2–3-hour session each month between September 2024 – June 2025. Participants will receive CLE credits for select programs.

Up to 15 attorney members of the RIBA will be carefully selected for this Academy. In an effort to achieve diversity among the participants, qualified individuals will be sought from different backgrounds, large and small law firms, the private and public sectors, different practice areas, and different geographical parts of the state.

Academy Requirements

• Qualified applicants are admitted to the practice of law in Rhode Island and are current members in good standing of the RIBA.
• Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, application, essay responses, references and participant and employer commitment by Friday, July 26th, at 5:00 pm.
• Participants must attend and actively and meaningfully engage in all program sessions, which will run from September 2024-June 2025. (Specific dates for the programs will be provided at the September Orientation.)
• Additional time commitments include:
• Special Project with assigned mentor. Candidates and mentors will select from one of the following projects:
  • Co-Author a Bar Journal article
  • Co-Present a CLE or Annual Meeting program
  • Join and accept a Pro Bono Program Case (Volunteer Lawyer Program, Elderly Pro Bono Program, or US Armed Forces Legal Services Project) assisted by your mentor
  • Commitment to participate in Law Related Education programs including Law Day and/or Constitution Day once within a two-year period.
• Post-graduation Academy participants are required to engage in a two-year service commitment on an approved RIBA committee.