Join us for an evening of networking with the Rhode Island legal community in partnership with the Rhode Island Lawyer’s Weekly honoring our 2025 Newsmaker, Tara Allen, federal public defender.

Tara I. Allen has focused on criminal defense litigation and education for the majority of her career. She earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1991 and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 1998. She began her career working as a trial attorney for federal defender offices in Pennsylvania and California, as well as serving as staff counsel for two federal appeals courts. She then moved to Rhode Island and became an Assistant Federal Defender for the District of Rhode Island, where she continued to focus on federal criminal defense trial work. Ms. Allen became Professor Allen in 2018 when she joined the faculty at the Roger Williams University School of Law, where she taught Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence. She also held the honorary title of Bruce I. Kogan Distinguished Service Professor of Law and was named Professor of the Year in 2020. On June 4th, 2025, Ms.  Allen was appointed to serve as the Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Light appetizers will be provided, and a cash bar will be available.

Use code "RIWBAFREE25" below to register for your free ticket as a RIWBA member.