Transitioning Lawyers Committee

The Transition Lawyers Committee (TLC) was established to provide information, guidance, and resources to Bar members, who are transitioning into or out of the practice of law, or who are contemplating the closure or sale of a law practice.


Who is a transitioning lawyer?

At the outset, the TLC tried to assess the needs of attorneys in the private practice of law, primarily solo and small firm practitioners, who were contemplating a professional change to government practice, nonprofit employment, corporate practice, non-legal employment, or retirement. In the assessment, the TLC recognized the longevity of employment has continued to increase as Hawaii's population retains its enviable life expectancy projections due to an increased awareness of "quality of life" factors such as diet and exercise. The TLC reviewed other Bar Association webpages to identify trends of Mainland counterparts. In addition, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the Attorneys Assistance Office were consulted and asked to be a part of the local endeavors. It was then decided that a dedicated webpage consisting of articles by Hawaii and out-of-state authors would meet its mission.

The articles posted provide general background information for HSBA members. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for legal counsel. For specific legal advice on individual situation, legal counsel should be consulted. When reviewing articles authored by out-of-state contributors, keep in mind that the Rules of the Supreme Court of Hawaii, the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct, formal opinions or advisories issued by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and other Hawaii statutes, rules, regulations and case law precedents should also be reviewed as appropriate. The posting of these articles does not constitute an approval or endorsement by the HSBA, and the HSBA will not be responsible for any damages, claims, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses that may arise from the use of the articles.

Websites

AARP
City and County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division
Hawaii County Center on Aging
Kauai County Center on Aging
Kokua Mau

Lawyers in Transition - Resources related to end-of-career issues Center for Professional Responsibility, American Bar Association
Maui Center of Aging
National Institute on Aging
US Dept of Health & Human Services
Retirement Planning & Security US Dept of Health & Human Services
Senior Lawyer Resources Lawyer Assistance Programs, American Bar Association
Executive Office of Aging (EOA) State of Hawaii, Department of Health

Succession Planning: It's Never Too Early!

5 Retirement Planning Mistakes to Avoid Michael W. Yee, Generations Magazine
5 Musts for an Effective Succession Plan Edgar W. Pugh, Senior Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association
A Recipe for A Family Disaster Scott A. Makuakane, Esq., Est8Planning Counsel, LLLC. Generations Magazine
Careers—Turning Your Hobby into Your Job B Cheryl Rich Heisler, Senior Lawyers Division of American Bar Association
Common Misconceptions about Medicaid Daniel Bonilla, MedData, Generations Magazine
Don’t Wait to Save for Retirement Michael W. K. Yee, Financial & Certified Financial Planner, Generations Magazine
New Article! End of Life Decisions: Powers of Attorney & Living Wills  Laura E. Fine, ABA Law Practice Division
New Article! Five Reasons Lawyers Avoid Retirement Camielle Stell, AttorneyatWork, Illinois
New Article! Not Fade Away: Can Old Lawyers Age Successfully?  Edward C. Winslow III, ABA Law Practice Division
Succession Planning Preparing your Law Firm's Future
David French, Esq., D. French Advisors, LLC, Tim Eigo, M.A., J.D, Arizona State Bar Association
The Art of Client Succession Planning Stephanie Hood, Esq. Hemenway & Barnes, LLP
New Article! Use Succession Planning as a Risk Management Tool Camille Stell, ABA Law Practice Today
When to Start Receiving Social Security Jane Yamamoto-Burigsay, Social Security Affairs Specialist, Generations Magazine

Closing a Law Practice: Crossing the T's & Dotting the I's

Guidance on Closing Your Office Jay Reeves, Esq., Lawyers Mutual Inc. North Carolina Bar Association
How Does Your Capital Look? Stephanie Hood, Esq. Hemenway, & Barnes, LLP
Insurance and Retirement Planning for Solos Michael Broad, ABA Solo and Small Firm and General Practice Division
Plan Ahead For Closing A Law Practice Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, North Carolina Bar Association
Why Everyone Needs A Firm Emergency Plan Warren Savage, Esq. Bailey and Dixon, North Carolina Bar Association

Ethical Considerations: Doing It Right!

ABA Formal Opinion 03-429 - Obligation with Respect to Mentally Impaired Lawyer in the Firm ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, June 11, 2003
ABA Formal Opinion 03-431 - Lawyer's Duty to Report Rule Violations by Another Lawyer Who may Suffer from Disability or Impairment ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, August 8, 2003
ABA Formal Opinion 92-369 - Disposition of Deceased Sole Practitioner’s Client Files and Property ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, December 7, 1992
ABA Model Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, Rule 28 (Appointment of Counsel to Protect Clients’ Interests When Respondent Is Transferred to Disability Inactive Status, Suspended, Disbarred, Disappears, or Dies) ABA Center of Professional Responsibility
ABA Policy on Advance Designation of Caretaker or Surrogate Lawyer ABA House of Delegates, August 14, 2007
Chart – State by State Caretaker Rules When Lawyer Disappears, Dies, or Is Declared Incompetent ABA Center of Professional Responsibility Standing Committee on Client Protection, 2015
Ethics of Law Form Dissolutions  James W. Ozog, Esq.; Michael P. Luongo, Esq.; Seth L. Laver, Esq.; Goldberg Segalla
How to Handle Files upon Retirement Carol Richelieu, Esq.
Solos and Small Firms need to Prepare for Death and Disaster  Amanda Robert, ABA Journal

Health and Well-Being: Keeping Mentally & Physically Fit!

A Gentle Landing: LAPs, Bar Associations Help Lawyers with Age-Related Cognitive Impairment Robert J. Derocher, Esq. Journalist, ABA Bar Leader Contributor, American Bar Association Division of Bar Services
A Wellness Guide for Senior Lawyers and Their Families, Friends and Colleagues State Bar of California, Solo & Small Firm Section
Aging, Adversity & Resilience Margaret A. Perkinson, Ph.D, Center on Aging Director, UH Manoa, Generations Magazine
Becoming a "Dementia-Capable" Attorney James H. Pietsch, Esq., William S. Richardson School of Law. This article was first published in the 2015 13th edition of the Hawaii Bar Journal. Copyright retained by author.
Gray But not Retired: Ways to Stay Engaged in Law  Charlie T. Hvass, Donna Law Firm, American Bar Association News
Home Healthcare: Buyer Beware Eileen Phillips, RN, Generations Magazine
How Lawyers Can Avoid Burnout and Debilitating Anxiety Leslie A. Gordon, Esq. Law Offices of Leslie A. Gordon, ABA Journal, American Bar Association
Lawyer Impairment and Related Ethical Consideration Lennes N. Omuro, Esq., Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel, LLP. This article was first published in the February 2017 issue of the Hawaii Bar Journal. The copyright is retained by the author.
Long-Term Care in Hawaii Scott C. Suzuki, Esq., Law Offices of Scott Suzuki. This article was first published in the 2015 23rd edition of the Hawaii Bar Journal. Copyright retained by author.
10 Tips for Guardians of Older Adults  David Godfrey, ABA Senior Lawyers Division
Out of Focus: Lawyer and Firms Can No Longer Ignore Dementia Christine Simmons, American Lawyer
Running Past Landmines - The Estate Attorney’s Dilemma: Ethically Counseling the Client with Alzheimer’s Disease Joseph Karl Grant, Florida A & M University College of Law
Senior Discounts Generations Magazine
New Article! The Role of Laws and Lawyers in Helping Avoid Disappointment at the End of Life Part 1 James Pietsch, HBJ
New Article! The Role of Laws and Lawyers in Helping Avoid Disappointment at the End of Life Part 2 James Pietsch, HBJ

Covering all Bases: Disaster Preparation

Disaster Resources ABA Law Practice Division
Technology: How to Prepare for the Inevitable Jeffrey Allen & Ashley Hallene, ABA Senior Lawyers Division

Videos

Lawyer Resilience and Grit: How to thrive as a Lawyer Dr. Larry Richard., LawyerBrain, LLC. American Bar Association Legal Career Central Career Advice Series
The Stress Performance Link: Strategies to Increase Resilience and Avoid Burnout Paula Davis Laack & David N. Shearon
Turning Out The Lights Video Series Transitioning Lawyers Committee, North Carolina Bar Association

If you have any suggested articles or videos for web page inclusion, email your suggestion with attribution information to Evelyn Gomez at [email protected].

 

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