Haw. Sup. Ct. R. 1.14

(a) Professionalism Course. Each person licensed to practice law after July 1, 2001, shall, no later than December 31 of the year following the year of election of active status, complete the Hawaiʻi Professionalism course conducted under the joint sponsorship of the Hawaiʻi State Bar and the Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi. This rule applies to every license issued after July 1, 2001, pursuant to any part of Rule 1 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi, except Rules 1.9 and 1.13. Completion of the required Hawaiʻi Professionalism course is separate and distinct from other Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs available through the Hawaiʻi State Bar or other legal ethics associations and is traditionally offered only bi-annually, in November and June. The Hawaiʻi State Bar shall notify attorneys facing administrative suspension pursuant to section (c) of this Rule, 1 month prior to the final opportunity to complete the professionalism course, of the attorney’s impending administrative suspension. Failure to notify an attorney shall not, however, constitute grounds upon which the attorney may contest the imposition of administrative suspension.

(b) Proof of Compliance. Proof of compliance shall be in accordance with procedures established by the Hawaiʻi State Bar.

(c) Administrative Suspension. Failure to complete the professionalism course within the time period specified above in (a) shall result in automatic suspension of the license to practice law. The Hawaiʻi State Bar shall give written notice of the suspension, but failure to give notice will not justify or excuse practicing while suspended.

(d) Reinstatement. An attorney suspended under paragraph (c) shall be reinstated upon proof of completion of the course.

(e) Fees. The Hawaiʻi State Bar may assess and collect reasonable fees for attending the course, for providing notice of suspension, and for processing reinstatement requests.

(f) CLE Compliance. Completion of the Professionalism Course awards 3 CLE credits for ethics that may be used to comply with the ethics CLE requirement imposed by Rule 22(b) of these Rules. Newly licensed members who are exempt from CLE requirements in the year of their admission, pursuant to Rule 22(j) of these Rules, may carry forward these 3 CLE credits for ethics, earned by completing the Professionalism Course, into the subsequent year in which they are required to complete CLE credits. See Rule 22(j) and Rule 22(c) of these Rules.

(Added July 17, 2001, effective nunc pro tunc July 1, 2001; amended September 19, 2008, effective nunc pro tunc January 1, 2008; further amended May 8, 2012, effective July 1, 2012; further amended September 25, 2018, effective January 1, 2019.)