Rules Governing Hawai`i Attorney Conduct:
- HRPC – Hawai`i Rules of Professional Conduct
- RSCH – Rules of the Supreme Court of Hawai`i
- DBR – Rules of the Disciplinary Board of the Hawai`i Supreme Court
- Amended DBR Rules 22 and 8(b) (effective June 26, 2025)
- HRGTA – Hawai`i Rules Governing Trust Accounting
ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Discipline
Links to Other Relevant Rules
- HRAP – Hawai`i Rules of Apellate Procedure
- HCRR – Hawai`i Court Records Rules
- ABA Model Rules for Professional Conduct
Links to Other Websites that may be of Interest
- Hawai`i State Judiciary
- Hawai`i State Bar Association
- ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
- National Organization of Bar Counsel
- National Council on Lawyer Disciplinary Boards
Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
Other Hawai`i Agencies For Lawyer & Judicial Complaints
Complaints Against Hawai`i Judges
Complaints against full-time judges (and part-time judges acting in their judicial capacity) fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of The Commission on Judicial Conduct. Please send complaints to:
Commission on Judicial Conduct
426 Queen Street, Room 106
Honolulu, HI 96813-2912
Tel. (808) 539-4790
www.courts.state.hi.us
[1] RSCH Rule 5; RSCH Rule 8; Hawai`I Revised Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon I
Fee Disputes/Civility Complaints
Information on fee dispute mediation/arbitration services and civility complaints may be obtained from:
Hawai`i State Bar Association
1100 Alakea Street, Suite 1000
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel. (808) 537-1868
hsba.org
Lawyer’s Fund – Claims for Compensation
If you feel that you have lost money due to your own lawyer’s dishonest conduct and have been unable to get reimbursement from your lawyer, you should consult with:
Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection
201 Merchant Street, Suite 1600
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel. (808) 599-2483
www.hawaiilawyersfund.com
(NOTE: Decisions regarding reimbursement of claims submitted to the Lawyers’ Fund are independently made by the Trustees of the Fund[2]; however, the ODC staff assists the Trustees in claims investigations. Reimbursement from the Lawyers’ Fund is not automatic and depends on a number of requirements.)
[2] RSCH Rule 10
Disclaimer as to other websites: these links are provided as a courtesy. No representation is made that the links are current, nor is any assurance made that the material contained in the link is valid. Users are cautioned to read the disclaimer posted by the Hawaii Supreme Court on its Rules web page and to resolve any discrepancies in accord with that notice.