June 2008 E-Newsletter

Jeffrey H.K. Sia

HSBA President

Aloha Members!

Mandatory pro bono is a controversial topic that recently received some national attention. In the June edition of the ABA’s “Washington Letter” publication, it was reported that the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on “Closing the Justice Gap” on 5/22/08. Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) chaired the hearing and reportedly asked whether pro bono legal services might be federally mandated or required by individual states as a way to provide access to justice for those in need of legal services, but without the resources to fulfill those needs.

ABA Governmental Affairs Director Thomas Susman later responded to Senator Cardin’s question in a 5/29/08 letter, indicating that the ABA strongly encouraged and supported pro bono and public service benefiting low-income individuals and organizations that serve the poor. That response corresponds to the HSBA’s encouragement and support of pro bono services in Hawaii. The HSBA not only promotes pro bono service, but provides such service through its Legal Line service and various YLD pro bono activities. It is a member of the Access to Justice Hui and has representatives on the newly formed Access to Justice Commission.

Susman also wrote that in 2002, the ABA rejected the inclusion of mandatory pro bono requirements. The ABA’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service “maintains that mandatory pro bono would not constructively help solve the justice gap and could actually be counterproductive because it would:

•   detrimentally and disproportionately impact small firms and solo practitioners and newer lawyers, who do not have the resources to absorb the impact of the requirement;
•   hurt lawyers’ morale and reduce other altruistic inclinations; and
•   detrimentally impact the quality of service provided to low-income clients because lawyers would be required to provide representation outside their areas of expertise.”

What do you think? What can we do – what can the HSBA do to provide “access to justice” beyond what is being done? Let the HSBA know your thoughts and comments.

Mahalo for your comments.
--Jeff H.K. Sia

What does it mean to you?

Support the Access to Justice effort: Buy a ticket or a table for the 2008 Annual Fundraising Dinner.

July 19, 2008

Net proceeds from the Dinner will benefit the Hawaii Justice Foundation, the Friends of Family Specialty Court and HSBA’s Public Service Account.

Aloha State Stories: The Promise of Justice for All premieres on July 19 at the Hawaii State Art Museum, catered by Ed Kenney.

Join Us For:

· The winning video from our state-wide video contest, Aloha State Stories: The Promise of Justice for All.

· A wealth of exiting items by silent auction

· Entertainment by the Honolulu Jazz Quartet

Reserve a Table Now

Donate to the exciting Silent Auction

It’s not too late to buy a table! Video contest entry deadline is July 9.

CLE Events

June 19, 2008

Professionalism Course

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sheraton Waikiki, Molokai Room

Note: Pursuant to RHSC14.1, all new HSBA members are required to complete this course within one year of election of active status.

July 8, 2008

Real Estate Legislative Update 2008

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

HEI Training Center, American Savings Bank Building, 8^th Floor

July 24, 2008

New Laws & Cutting Edge Legal Trends in Custody & Divorce

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

HEI Training Center, American Savings Bank Building 8^th Floor

Notices:

JUDICIAL VACANCY:
Third Circuit District Family Court: Deadline, July 3, 2008.

Disciplinary Board Announces Search for Chief Disciplinary Counsel: Deadline July 6, 2008

KCC Paralegal Training Survey

KCC Paralegal training program is seeking input from HSBA members to assist with their program planning. You are invited to participate in their survey which will be open until June 28, 2008. Please assist them. KCC Paralegal Training Survey.

HSBA CLE Survey

Thanks to those who responded to our CLE SURVEY, we had a 16% return, considered quite good for surveys. By use of an electronic random selection, Mona Watson Clark of the Kauai County Attorney’s Office is the proud winner of a new iPod Nano!

Looking for some Benefit Updates?

Look no further.

Read the newest issue of The Complete Lawyer , “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body.” Enjoy reading an interview with local contributor Jeff Portnoy, former HSBA President.

NEW! Feeling pressure at the pump? Save 4 cents per gallon with an Aloha Petroleum Club Card!

$5.00 membership fee waived. Click here for an application.

Visit www.hsba.org and browse your member benefits today!

CASEMAKER Training through July

If you have not been taking full advantage of your free legal research provider, now is the time to find out what you've been missing!

Webinars are also available:

To register, click on the links above.

System Requirements:

PC-based attendees

Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees

Required: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer

RPost Webinar for the Family Law Practitioner

Proof, Protection & Peace of Mind

For Your E-Communications for the Family Law Practitioner

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

9:00 a.m. HST (60 minutes)

Sign-Up Includes:

FREE E-Mail Management Toolkit for keeping your in-box under control:

1. FREE handbook, "Top Tips for E-Mail Management" ($12.95 value).

2. FREE 30-day starter-pack of 100 Registered E-mail units ($59 value).

Read More about the program.

Visit www.rpost.com/partners/hawaiibar for more information about RPost services.

YLD News

Jill M. Hasegawa, YLD President

The HSBA Needs Your Help!

The YLD serves as the contact point for disaster legal assistance in Hawaii. When a disaster occurs, the Hawaii Civil Defense Authority contacts the HSBA to provide basic legal services and consultation to victims, including manning neighborhood Disaster Assistance Relief Centers, staffing a hotline to provide basic legal services, or providing pro bono legal services. When disasters strike, immediate assistance is necessary, and advance preparedness is the key to a rapid response. The HSBA relies totally upon its members’ support in its disaster assistance relief efforts.

As we head into a new hurricane season, the HSBA asks for your help! Please add your name to our list of HSBA disaster assistance volunteers. No specific experience is necessary. The HSBA will provide you with the basic information needed to respond to the victims’ concerns and issues

To volunteer, please contact Tammy Takara at ttakara@hsba.org or (808) 538-1868. (Toll free from the neighbor islands: Maui – (808) 270-0873; Lanai – (808) 568-0873; Hawaii - (808) 930-0873; Molokai - (808) 660-0873 and Kauai – (808) 240-0873).

Be ready to step up when your support and assistance are needed. Mahalo!

Pictures:

POSTER CONTEST Based on the ABA Law Day theme:

"The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity."

Top: Law Week Posters by Konawaena Elementary School students (May 27, 2008)

Bottom: Three students from Kealakehe Elementary School hold up their Law Week posters (June 2, 2008)

Maui Roadshow Pictures from June 6, 2008

Top: Travelling instructors Peter Lenhart and Jane Sugimura enjoy Maui plate lunches between Roadshow sessions.

Bottom: Maui members listen to David Farmer during a session.

www.HSBA.org

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