Law Related Education (LRE) Programs

Lawyers In The Classroom

This volunteer attorney classroom resource program is provided to Rhode Island public, independent and private, upper and middle schools. Offered throughout the year, this program connects attorneys as resources to teachers for law related education lessons. The Bar is currently collecting existing, and appropriate, LRE curriculum material and lesson plans. Participation consists of one to two initial contacts via telephone and or email and, generally, a one-hour speaking presentation followed by a question and answer period.

Speakers Bureau

Volunteer attorneys provide short speaking engagements to adult, non-profit organizations and groups interested in learning about a particular area of the law. Participation consists of one to two initial contacts via telephone and or email and, generally, a one-hour speaking presentation followed by a question and answer period.

• Business law 
• Civil law
• Civil rights 
• Constitutional law 
• Creditors’ & Debtors’ Rights
• Criminal law
• Elder law
• Environmental & Energy law
• Equal opportunity and affirmative action
• Family law
• Federal law
• Harassment in the workplace
• Health Care Issues
• Juvenile 
• Labor & Employment 
• Medical law
• Municipal law
• Real Estate law
• Title VII and Employment Law 

Annual Rhode Island Law Day Program

The Rhode Island Bar Association, in partnership with the Rhode Island Judiciary, Rhode Island Department of Education, Roger Williams University School of Law, and Rhode Island Police Chief's Association comprise the Rhode Island Law Day Committee (RILDC). The Rhode Island Law Day program includes partnering lawyers and judges with teachers in middle and upper school classrooms around the state on the day in the first week of May designated as Rhode Island Law Day. 

Lawyer/judge assignments, contact with the teachers, resource materials and follow up and public and news media relations associated with Rhode Island Law Day programming are primarily handled through the Rhode Island Bar Association. Each Law Day has a legal educational focus with related curriculum material and recommended lesson plans. Participation consists of material review, team consultation with a teacher before the school visit, and an approximately one-hour classroom presentation.

In conjunction with Rhode Island Law Day, the RILDC administers a Statewide Essay Contest for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. The winning essay author receives a $1,000 Scholastic Award and an engraved trophy cup, provided through the generosity of the Rhode Island Bar Association and the Rhode Island Police Chief’s Association. The winner’s school receives a permanent plaque and the annual Law Day Essay Award Trophy to display until the next Contest. This year, a second place essay author will also be recognized with a $250 scholastic award donated by the Edward P. Gallogly Family Law Inns of Court.

LRE Curriculum Development

The Rhode Island Bar Association is conducting an ongoing effort to gather and file information and Bar members' professional law-related experiences with actual cases for use in educational programs and lesson plans.