Much like in the rest of the country, Rhode Island also has a problem with abuse within the clergy. That problem used to be buried in old court files and church records, but not anymore. In 2026, the state Attorney General released a huge report on abuse that was connected to the Diocese of Providence, and with the new law that came into force on July 1st, survivors have a new chance to file claims that used to be too old to file.
From a legal standpoint, this is a new type of situation. Now, lawyers have to deal with allegations that may be 30 or 50 years old, which is… Shall we say, complicated? Tracking down old records is a big task, and it takes a while to do.
This is why you want to be careful when choosing a lawyer to represent you.
There are numerous law firms out there that handle cases of sexual abuse, but that doesn’t guarantee that they have experience with clergy abuse litigation. You can either fall for the advertising, or you can educate yourself.
| Rhode Island’s statute covers, among others, claims involving concealment of childhood sexual abuse, which are very relevant to clergy abuse cases because potential liability isn’t necessarily limited to the alleged perpetrator. – Rhode Island General Laws § 9-1-51 |
If you like the latter option more, keep reading to see the list of the best lawyers for clergy abuse in Rhode Island.
Clergy Abuse Lawyers in Rhode Island With Relevant Experience/Expertise
Injury Lawyer Team
The reason why the Injury Lawyer Team stands out immediately is the amount of information on Rhode Island you get before you even talk to a lawyer. They have a clergy abuse page that goes into detail on the Diocese of Providence, the state’s revival window, the types of records that are important, and what part institutional liability plays in all this.
Their page is worth researching, and what will probably impress you is the part about clergy abuse recoveries. If you want an example of that, they’ve recovered $14.2 million (USD) for 6 men who were abused by a priest. To be fair, this didn’t happen in Rhode Island, but it’s the same type of case, so it should be mentioned.
The InjuryLawyerTeam.com Rhode Island attorneys will also give you plenty of information on accused clergy and historical claims.
DarrowEverett LLP
Every law firm has to have a reason for being on this list, and as far as DarrowEverett LLP goes, Timothy J. Conlon is reason enough. The experience he has with clergy abuse in Rhode Island isn’t theoretical. He was directly involved in some major allegations of clergy abuse a few years ago; he was the chair of the Plaintiff’s Counsel Committee, and he served as the lead attorney for more than 30 survivors.
Conlon is admitted in Rhode Island, and he has also handled other cases that involved child abuse in institutions and organizations. If you look at the official website, you’ll find out everything you need to know about DarrowEverett.
They show admissions, media appearances, recent commentary on the Diocese of Providence investigation, and representative cases. Basically, if you want a clear paper trail – it’s all there.
Grant & Eisenhofer
| New Rhode Island 2026 law allows for a two-year revival window for childhood sexual-abuse claims that were otherwise barred because of the statute of limitations, allowing survivors to pursue claims until June 30, 2028. – Rhode Island General Assembly, Office of Governor Dan McKee |
G & E is already involved in litigation filed under the new revival law that came into effect on July 1st, 2026, which is when they announced the very first federal complaint brought by a survivor of clergy abuse in Rhode Island under that new framework.
And there were more cases added that very same month, so they’re very current on the specificity of the new law.
One of their main attorneys when it comes to abuse practices is Steven J. Kelly. If you take a look at his biography, you’ll see that he has filed hundreds of lawsuits against the Catholic Church and other institutions that were accused of either enabling or trying to conceal child abuse.
Grant & Eisenhofer’s Rhode Island clergy abuse site will also give you an offender lookup tool and information on the filing process itself.
Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C.
When you get down to the basics, you’ll see that many of the law firms mentioned above have a lot in common.
Well, this one’s a little different. This is a trial firm based in Providence. They’ve been around since 1975, and they’ve handled a lot of child sexual abuse claims that involved pastors, teachers, coaches, Scout leaders, and generally authority figures who were supposed to protect kids.
If you want some names, then Mike Quinn deserves to be mentioned.
He’s one of the more well-known attorneys, and if you want numbers, you’ll want to know that the firm has reported more than $1 billion in awards and settlements.
Conclusion
A lot of people get sold on big names and impressive numbers.
And, to be fair, there’s some sense in that kind of thinking because big names get big for a reason. However, when it comes to such specific cases that involve abuse within the clergy, you want to look beyond all that impressive stuff.
Look for a lawyer with experience in this particular area, and if they’ve already filed a few claims under Rhode Island’s new revival window – all the better.
2 Interlinking Opportunities:
From https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2022/03/ab-218-significantly-extends-the-statute-of-limitations-period-for-claims-of-childhood-sexual-assault/ with anchor additional rights that extend beyond the three-year lookback window
From https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2025/02/nfl-emails-expose-saints-role-in-managing-clergy-abuse-crisis/ with anchor Catholic Church’s clergy sexual abuse crisis