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HSBA Senior Counsel Division
The Senior Counsel Division (SCD) brings together HSBA members age 50 and older to foster engagement, mentorship, and continued service to the profession.
The Hawaii State Bar Association first explored the idea of creating a Senior Counsel Division during its 2008 and 2009 bar strategic planning process. Thus, a planning committee was formed to develop a Senior Counsel Division (SCD). The division was established as a pilot project on April 23, 2009 upon the HSBA Board's approval of the SCD Bylaws, and recognized as a formal entity in October 2022 when it was added to the HSBA Constitution and Bylaws.
Read the latest message about the SCD's happenings and new initiatives. ➜
Meet the leaders of the Senior Counsel Division guiding its initiatives. ➜
Volunteering within the community through food banks, free legal clinic and more. ➜
Hosted on the first Thursday of each month, featuring guest speakers sharing insights. ➜
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As senior counsel, we often address liens in tort cases. Volumes exist on handling Medicare/Medicaid liens. I recently encountered a liability insurer asking a worker’s compensation insurer to provide all the medical records and billings relating to a worker who had received w/c benefits and was pursuing a third-party tort claim, without any HIPAA release or authorization from the injured person. The liability insurer indicated that a failure to do so would cause the insurer to “deny” and “dishonor” the w/c lien. In Hawaii, lien obligations and resolution are governed by Hawaii statutes. The w/c lien is statutorily imposed on any tort recovery paid to the claimant (HRS 386-8). And liens can be decided by the court under HRS 663-10. After placing all parties to a tort action on notice, generally by filing a lien notice in the civil action, the w/c carrier could file a motion with the court to have its lien determined and the payment obligation specified. The w/c carrier is not limited to having a tort insurer voluntarily agree to pay their lien. The Court can decide it...
The Senior Counsel Division volunteers in various events to help strengthen relations between the legal community to other entities and the public.
The Senior Counsel Division held its first annual free legal clinic at the Palolo Learning Center. The twelve volunteer lawyers did a marvelous job of meeting with event participants. Although the community turnout was relatively light, the legal assistance provided was well received and much appreciated. We have been invited back next year with the promise of stronger community turnout.
Members of the Senior Counsel Division participated in the Senior Food Box (CSFP) Packing at the Hawai‘i Foodbank on Kilihau Street. Ten SCD members and their partners, friends, and associates have volunteered to help the Senior Food Box (also known as Commodity Supplemental Food Program or CSFP) Program is a critical service provided to low-income seniors age 60 or older.
Senior Counsel Division members Charlene Iboshi (Chairperson), Michelle Alarcon, Jonathan Chun, and David Raatz, led in the SCD’s successful Agricultural Law Information Clinic during the 2-day Agricultural Conference held at the Hawaii Convention Center.
Our SCD members and their families continue their volunteering efforts into 2023 with the Senior Food Box Packing event at the Hawaii Foodbank on Kilihau Street.
Coffee Hours are hosted every first Thursday of the month
by the Senior Counsel Division.
Guest speakers give presentations and provide senior
attorneys information on relevant topics.
It is FREE to join!
Date: July 2, 2026 | Time: 12pm
We invite and encourage members to take an active role in Senior Counsel Division!