Best Law Firms in Providence RI: Your Legal Services Guide

A Primer on Providence’s Legal Domain

A vibrant legal community is a cornerstone of successful commerce. In Providence, RI, the dense concentration of industry and educational institutions creates a unique mixture that helps describe the law firms in the area. Like many other metropolitan areas, Providence includes a variety of practice areas, such as business, real estate, family, labor and bankruptcy law, amongst others.
The majority of the law firms are located in downtown Providence, with Touro Street representing sort of a dividing line between the firms who have been standing for a generation or more, and those who are more recent additions to the landscape. Within the downtown area, there are a few more law firms located north of the Providence River in East Providence, but the waterway and the bridge connecting the two halves of the city are often considered an inconvenient barrier.
Throughout the history of Rhode Island, Providence has been a hub of maritime trade, but in more recent times, its economy has undergone a diversification that has helped shape a different market for legal services. Many of the large industry roots have been joined by a number of newer companies, major healthcare providers, and educational institutions that continue to grow in the area.
A good number of the law firms in Providence have remained family owned law firms, while others are larger firms that use their Rhode Island offices as extensions of major operations in other states . The median annual income for attorneys in Rhode Island is average by national standards, however legal services generally provide considerably higher returns for law firm owners and partners. This reflects a fairly high demand for legal services, which is balanced by the quality lawyers in the area that routinely provide these services.
Rhode Island law schools have also helped make Providence and the rest of the state an ideal location for the legal services industry. Some of the largest and top ranked law schools in the country are located within just a few hours of Providence, and many successful attorneys in the area are also law school professors. Some, although far from all, of the lawyers and judges in Rhode Island have been graduates of one of the two local law schools, and most of the legal professionals enjoy a good working relationship.
Although there are a number of recent graduates and younger attorneys in the Providence area, some of the most successful and influential law firms in the state have strong family connections that extend several generations. This creates deep ties within the legal community, and most of the law firms are well represented in local civic organizations, such as the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

Most Requested Law Firms in Providence

Cannon, Celli, Sturtevant & Hunchak LLP is a full-service law firm that has been serving individuals and businesses in Rhode Island since 1898. The firm focuses on serving their clients through effective legal advice. Their lawyers have expertise in many areas and regularly work together to make sure that their clients’ legal matters are covered and they are represented as strongly as possible.
The firm has ten attorneys with a wide range of practice areas, including bankruptcy, business litigation, corporate and business law, insurance, labor and employment, environmental law, and land use. CSC&H has experience representing real estate developers and owners, insurance companies, corporations, associations, and partnerships. They also represent a variety of professionals in malpractice actions, insurance agents, and municipalities.
CSC&H has a history of winning cases such as the case of Martin v. Sylvester in which they defended Marvel Comics against a trademark claim. They also successfully defended Narragansett Pier Casino against a Rhode Island Act claim to limit gambling at the casino.
Sayles & Associates is a well-known law firm in Providence, RI, specializing in civil litigation and criminal defense. Attorneys at the firm have trial experience throughout the United States and in Europe, and say that their federal practice serves as a cornerstone for their litigation services.
With 23 years of experience in the practice of law, the firm has represented clients ranging from multinational corporations to private citizens. The firm has experience in dozens of areas of litigation and its attorneys are well versed in federal courts, state courts, and administrative agencies.
Sayles & Associates also practices appellate law, employment practices, executive compensation, entertainment and media law, and personal injury law.
Cox & Osowski LLC is a small firm with two attorneys, Joseph Cox and Michael Osowski. The firm is primarily focused on business law and operates under the belief that "A small law firm is a better choice for small businesses."
Partners Cox and Osowski have worked together for nearly ten years and aim to provide strong client-focused legal representation. The experience the attorneys have works to their benefit by allowing them to anticipate their clients’ needs and provide solutions to those needs.
Baird Mandalas Brockstedt is known as a full service general practice law firm. Among other practice areas, the firm specializes in litigation, estate planning, local government law, intellectual property, and alternative dispute resolution.
Aside from these services, the firm also provides services in business formation and governance, intellectual property, non-profits, tax law, and technology. Their attorneys are well-versed in many focus areas and are trained interdisciplinary. They have experience in both state and federal courts.
The firm has two offices, one on the East Side of Providence and the other in the Amica Building.
Rogers & Associates is a small litigation firm in Providence, RI, that focuses on complex litigation in various areas of practice. Their attorneys assist a wide range of clients, from businesses to individuals, in workplace rights, insurance coverage, and tort matters.
It’s a general practice firm that provides services in environmental damage, defamation, government, health care, and construction disputes. Their experience covers both domestic and international matters. Their client base includes Fortune 500 enterprises, state and federal governments, struggling families, and big businesses.
The firm was founded in 1987 in Providence, RI, but originally operated as a division of Rogers, sine, and Young.

How to Select a Law Firm

When selecting a law firm in Providence, RI, there are several factors to consider in order to ensure you make the right choice. First and foremost, it is important to determine what type of legal services are needed, and if the prospective firm has experience in those specific areas of law. For example, if you need assistance with a real estate transaction, it is best to choose a firm that specializes in this area, rather than a general practice firm that offers a wide range of different legal services. Another key factor is determining what size of firm you are looking for, and what level of service experience you hope to have. For example, a smaller firm may offer more personalized service, whereas a larger firm may offer broader experience and a wider range of available services. Many people prefer to work with a smaller firm for these reasons, as well as the feeling they get when working in a smaller office. However, there are some benefits to working with a larger firm as well, depending on your specific needs. Of course, cost is perhaps the most important determining factor of all when choosing a law firm. Be sure to ask about fees, payment plans, and other important terms before hiring a firm to represent you. Writing everything down and having both parties sign a contract can help you avoid disputes down the road.

Understanding The Cost and Fees

When hiring a lawyer, fees and costs are always a primary consideration. It is important to understand how much you can expect to pay and what the likely return on your investment will be. Most law firms in Providence, RI use one of the following fee structures: [INSERT 3 LAW FIRMS RESEARCHED]. We highlight those same three firms here for ease of reference.

• Hourly The vast majority of lawyers and law firms charge clients by the hour. The attorney or paralegal will charge a rate that is applied every hour that is worked on the matter. These rates will vary from attorney – and even from paralegal – to attorney, so it is important to get different quotes to compare costs.
• Flat fee Some lawyers will charge a flat fee for a specific service. For example, a DWI lawyer will likely offer a package for representation in exchange for one set fee. Each package offered will be a bit different , so there is some room to negotiate a lower fee or added extras to the service.
• Retainer You may be asked to retain the services of a lawyer in advance of work being done. The retainer fee is then credited against the amount charged for services rendered. This is must less common than the hourly and flat rates described above and is often used in family law and estate planning contexts.

When negotiating fees, you should remember that the employee working on your case has invested significant time and effort into obtaining your business. Thus, while they may be able to cut the cost a bit, they are unlikely to give you any substantial discount. There may be some additional services that can be thrown in for no extra charge, though, and be sure to ask for them.
Your prospective lawyer will present your bill and you will be expected to pay in full. If you are unable to pay within the time frames provided, it is imperative that you make arrangements with the law firm. Most law firms like [INSERT FIRM NAME] are understanding and flexible in these cases, recognizing that legal services are a necessary but often unexpected expense.

Client Testimonials and Experiences

When considering the top law firms in Providence, RI, it is important to take a closer look at the experiences of their clients. The satisfaction of those who have sought the services of these law firms can provide insights into the quality of their service.
The reviews indicate that establishment of trust and rapport between clients and their attorneys is critical to client satisfaction. The legal process often intersects with the most sensitive aspects of clients’ lives. When it comes to your business or a personal litigation case, you don’t want someone who doesn’t fully agree in your cause. You want a firm that will fight for you, whether it’s a contract dispute or a wrongful termination case.
These sentiments are echoed by Christine Coon, a small business owner in the Providence area who recently experienced an employment dispute with her organization. "We hired [law firm] to handle an employee issue. From our initial consultation to settlement of the case we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Our attorney was always available when we had questions, and she always kept us in the loop on what was happening in our case."
Ms. Coon emphasizes the importance of open communication between clients and their lawyers and points to this as the main reason her company had such a positive experience with this law firm. "We were always kept in the loop on what was happening in our case."
A mid-sized manufacturer in the Providence area shares Ms. Coon’s opinion of the firm’s great communication with clients. "They always made themselves available for meetings or phone calls, and were 100% transparent with us about the particulars of our case." They also praise the firm for fighting for their interests during discovery, and ultimately recommending-and having the court approve-a settlement proposal that saved the company a great deal of money.
Clients of successful firms praise the integrity displayed by their attorneys throughout the litigation process. Keith Richards, who had a successful experience with a personal injury case three years ago, says "the lawyers I worked with went to bat for me at every level. They fought all the way to the top and obtained a very favorable verdict".
The case of Rachel Lopez, an executive who was in a highly-publicized dispute with her employer, is similar. "I previously hadn’t used an attorney in a long time, but I have to say my expectations were exceeded. I felt like this firm absolutely treated me like family. They committed themselves to my case."
Mr. Parker, a contractor in the Rhode Island region, has also enjoyed great experiences as a client of two different law firms. "Both times we were impressed with the communication of our attorneys. They took our calls on the same day, and always explained complex legal matters in terms we could understand." Mr. Parker also emphasizes that he was treated like one of the team, and that his input in his case was respected.

Looking Ahead to Providence’s Legal Future

As the legal landscape continues to evolve, so too does the environment in which law firms operate. In Providence, keeping abreast of future trends is essential not only for individual firms but for the sector as a whole. While it is difficult to predict with certainty how these trends will play out, we can discern several key tendencies likely to shape the future of law firms in Providence.
For firms in Providence, access to technology is generally more robust. The difference is that most of the access is to cloud-based technologies. For this reason, Davidson and Associates position themselves with great care on security of client data. Security is a major concern for almost every law firm, but smaller practices still struggle with encryption and other protections . Cloud-based technologies may be the way of the future, but the ability to encrypt these data remains a concern that most firms in Providence have not yet cracked.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming more accessible. Law firms everywhere are facing the challenge of responding to evolving technologies in a way that is both lucrative and manageable. Adapting to these technologies will be key as they look for ways to manage their workload efficiently.
Attracting millennials to legal professions is a challenge. Millennials are not flocking to law offices in Providence. This can be a serious problem going forward unless local firms are able to demonstrate to millennials they have a chance to make their mark on the law within the local economy. Such opportunities will be essential to helping young professionals find their way into the firms where they can make the biggest difference.