Rhode Island Bar Association

What Rhode Island Bar Association does

The Rhode Island Bar Association (RIBA), founded in 1898 and headquartered at 41 Sharpe Drive in Cranston, Rhode Island, is a private non-profit professional membership organization serving attorneys licensed in Rhode Island. Its operating scope is exclusively state-level (Rhode Island, USA), and it staffs between 11 and 50 employees. Core offerings include membership services, continuing legal education (CLE) programming delivered through live events and on-demand seminars, the RI Bar Journal publication, the Lawyer Referral Service (LRS), Pro Bono programs (including a Pro Bono Case of the Week initiative), the Leadership Academy, and the Anchor Network for attorneys. The Rhode Island Bar Foundation, a wholly-owned charitable subsidiary, administers the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program under Amended Article V, Rule 1.15 of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules, manages foundation grants, and runs scholarship programs including partnerships with the Papitto Opportunity Connection Foundation.

RIBA's business model is built on member dues, CLE seminar and publication fees, event registration revenue, and the $100 annual Lawyer Referral Service membership fee that connects the public with participating attorneys. A parallel ecosystem of more than 37 participating financial institutions channels IOLTA interest to the Foundation, which redistributes the majority of grants toward civil legal services for indigent Rhode Islanders. The organization is governed by member-elected leadership and bar officers, holds no parent entity, and has no disclosed equity funding, M&A history, or third-party ownership. Marketing and distribution operate through the ribar.com website, the My RIBA member portal, email listservs, and in-person services at its Cranston headquarters.

Name

Rhode Island Bar Association

Legal name

Rhode Island Bar Association

Website

https://ribar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Bar Association is a 1898-founded, Cranston-headquartered non-profit professional membership organization serving Rhode Island attorneys with continuing legal education, a Lawyer Referral Service, pro bono programs, publications, and a charitable Foundation administering IOLTA grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affinity, Membership & Association Referral Programs (FSAEAMAL)

Keywords

• Bar association services
• Continuing legal education
• Lawyer referral services
• Professional membership organization
• Pro bono legal programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Rhode Island Bar Association is a professional membership organization founded in 1898 that serves attorneys in Rhode Island by providing annual membership, Continuing Legal Education (CLE), a Lawyer Referral Service connecting the public to member attorneys, pro bono programs, and a Leadership Academy. The organization also administers the IOLTA program and operates the affiliated Rhode Island Bar Foundation for charitable giving and scholarships.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Bar Association is a professional membership organization offering a unified suite of services for attorneys. Core offerings include membership benefits, continuing legal education (CLE), and the Lawyer Referral Service. The organization also operates complementary programs including Pro Bono initiatives, the Leadership Academy, and the IOLTA program. The affiliated Rhode Island Bar Foundation supports the ecosystem through grants, scholarships, and public service programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rhode Island Bar Foundation: The charitable arm of the Rhode Island Bar Association, dedicated to upholding the integrity of the legal profession, improving the administration of justice, and expanding access to justice for all Rhode Islanders through grants, programs, and public service initiatives.

Products and services

• Rhode Island Bar Association Membership Annual professional membership for Rhode Island-licensed practicing attorneys, providing member benefits, access to CLE programs, eligibility for the Lawyer Referral Service, pro bono coordination, Leadership Academy participation, and receipt of bar publications and member communications.
• Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Continuing Legal Education programs delivered to member attorneys to satisfy mandatory MCLE requirements and to support ongoing professional development, offered through in-person seminars and online formats.
• Lawyer Referral Service A referral service that connects Rhode Island residents and small businesses seeking legal help with participating member attorneys; member attorneys pay $100 per year to participate and receive referred matters.
• Leadership Academy A leadership development program for Rhode Island attorneys providing structured training, mentorship, and cohort-based learning to prepare members for bar leadership and community leadership roles.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Bank of AmericaminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts) program, paying a percentage of the federal funds target rate on IOLTA deposits to support civil legal services for indigent persons
• TD BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• CitizensminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Rockland TrustminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Santander Bank NAminorOthers · 1 January 1985Honor Roll IOLTA member bank that pays at least 65 percent of the federal funds target rate
• JP Morgan Chase Bank NAminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Webster BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Honor Roll IOLTA member bank that pays at least 65 percent of the federal funds target rate
• Washington TrustminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Bank Rhode IslandminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• BayCoast BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Honor Roll IOLTA member bank that pays at least 65 percent of the federal funds target rate
• Berkshire BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Centreville BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• CitibankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Customers BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Dime BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Encore BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Esquire BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Ethic A Wealth BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• First American TrustminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Freedom National BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Eastern BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program (f/k/a HarborOne Bank)
• Hingham Institution for SavingsminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Independence BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• LendingClub BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Mechanics Cooperative BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Milford Federal Savings & LoanminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Navigant Credit UnionminorOthers · 1 January 1985Honor Roll IOLTA member bank that pays at least 65 percent of the federal funds target rate
• Bank NewportminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Coastal1 Credit UnionminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• People's Credit UnionminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Salem Five Cents Savings BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Pinnacle BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Bank UnitedminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Westerly Community Credit UnionminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Bristol County Savings BankminorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Leader Bank, N.A.minorOthers · 1 January 1985Participating financial institution in the IOLTA program
• Bank FiveminorOthers · 1 January 1985Honor Roll IOLTA member bank that pays at least 65 percent of the federal funds target rate
• Papitto Opportunity Connection FoundationminorOthers · 1 January 1985Partner foundation that co-sponsors two $25,000 scholarships for students dedicated to serving and uplifting underserved communities in Rhode Island. Founded in December 2020 by Barbara Papitto.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association: The American Bar Association is the largest national voluntary legal professional association in the U.S. Comparable to RIBA as a membership body serving attorneys with CLE, publications, advocacy, and pro bono programs, but operating nationally with significantly broader scope and resources.
• New York State Bar Association: NYSBA is one of the largest voluntary state bar associations in the U.S., providing CLE, member sections, publications, and pro bono services. Comparable to RIBA in core program mix, but operates at significantly greater scale and across a much larger attorney population.

Direct peers

• Connecticut Bar Association: The Connecticut Bar Association is a state-level voluntary bar association serving Connecticut attorneys with CLE programming, member publications, public service initiatives, and section-based engagement. Directly comparable to RIBA in mission and member services structure.
• Massachusetts Bar Association: The Massachusetts Bar Association is a neighboring New England voluntary state bar association serving Massachusetts attorneys with member benefits, CLE, public service programs, and a lawyer referral service. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and service offerings to the Rhode Island Bar Association.
• Maine State Bar Association: The Maine State Bar Association serves Maine attorneys with member benefits, CLE, lawyer referral services, and pro bono programs. Directly comparable to RIBA in scale, mission, and program structure as a small-state New England voluntary bar.
• Vermont Bar Association: The Vermont Bar Association is a small New England state bar offering member services, CLE, and access-to-justice programs. Comparable to RIBA as a small-state voluntary bar association with a similar mix of education, member support, and public service offerings.
• New Hampshire Bar Association: The New Hampshire Bar Association is another New England state bar that serves as a unified bar for NH attorneys with CLE, ethics guidance, and public service programs. Comparable to RIBA in operating as both a professional association and integrated regulatory-style body for its state's legal community.

Others

• Justia: Justia is a legal information and lawyer directory platform that powers lawyer referral directories for many state bar associations. Comparable as an enabling technology provider whose directory infrastructure supports bar association referral programs similar to RIBA's Lawyer Referral Service.
• LawPay: LawPay is a legal-specific payment processing and trust account management platform used by attorneys and bar associations. Comparable as an ecosystem participant serving attorneys' trust account and IOLTA-adjacent operational needs that intersect with bar association member services.
• vLex Fastcase: vLex Fastcase is a legal research platform explicitly integrated into RIBA's member portal as a member benefit. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that delivers core attorney-facing digital services that bar associations package and distribute to their members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ribarassoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/RIBarAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ri-bar-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Bar Association