Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 605 — Attorneys

Division 4. Courts and Judicial Proceedings — Title 32. Courts and Court Officers

Hawaii Revised Statutes as published by the Hawaii State Legislature (files updated 1/5/2026 7:15 PM).

Division 4 Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Title 32 Courts and Court Officers

Chapter 605 Attorneys

§605-1 Attorneys, qualifications

(a) The supreme court may examine, admit, and reinstate as practitioners in the courts of the State, such persons as it may find qualified for that purpose, who have taken the prescribed oath of office. The supreme court shall have the sole power to revoke or suspend the license of any such practitioner.

(b) In order to be licensed by the supreme court, a person shall be of good moral character, and shall satisfy such residence and other requirements as the supreme court may prescribe.

(c) In addition to other qualifications for licensure and conditions for continuing eligibility to hold a license, applicants for licensure, licensees renewing their licenses, and existing licensees shall be in compliance with an order of support as defined in section 576D-1 and has not failed to comply with a subpoena or warrant relating to a paternity or child support hearing.

[CC 1859, §1065; am L 1921, c 81, §1; RL 1925, §2304; RL 1935, §3603; am L 1937, c 173, §1; RL 1945, §9701; am L 1945, c 226, §1; am L Sp 1949, c 67, §1; RL 1955, §217-1; HRS §605-1; am L 1972, c 184, §1(a); am L 1976, c 76, §1; am L 1997, c 293, §46; am L 2002, c 226, §9; am L 2003, c 133, §13; am L 2019, c 279, §8]

§605-2 Attorneys; license required

Except as provided by the rules of court, no person shall be allowed to practice in any court of the State unless that person has been duly licensed so to do by the supreme court; provided that nothing in this chapter shall prevent any person, plaintiff, defendant, or accused, from appearing in person before any court, and there prosecuting or defending that person's, plaintiff's, defendant's, or accused's own cause, without the aid of legal counsel; provided further that in the district courts sections 605-13 and 633-28 shall apply.

[CC 1859, §1068; RL 1925, §2305; RL 1935, §3604; RL 1945, §9702; RL 1955, §217-2; HRS §605-2; am L 1972, c 184, §1(b); am L 1989, c 140, §4; gen ch 1992]

§605-3 and 605-4 REPEALED

L 1972, c 184, §1(j).

§605-5 License fee

The clerk of the supreme court shall exact from every practitioner, upon the practitioner's receiving a license, an admission fee of $10, for the benefit of the State.

[CC 1859, §1073; RL 1925, §2308; RL 1935, §3607; RL 1945, §9705; RL 1955, §217-5; HRS §605-5; gen ch 1985]

§605-6 Rules

The supreme court may prescribe qualifications for admission to practice and rules for the government of practitioners.

[CC 1859, §1072; RL 1925, §2309; RL 1935, §3608; RL 1945, §9706; RL 1955, §217-6; HRS §605-6; am L 1972, c 184, §1(c)]

§605-7 Control of action; power to settle

The practitioners licensed by the supreme court shall have control to judgment and execution, of all suits and defenses confided to them; provided that no practitioner shall have power to compromise, arbitrate, or settle such matters confided to the practitioner, unless upon special authority in writing from the practitioner's client.

[CC 1859, §1069; RL 1925, §2310; RL 1935, §3609; RL 1945, §9707; RL 1955, §217-7; HRS §605-7; am L 1972, c 184, §1(d); gen ch 1985]

§605-8 Practice in all courts; fees

[(a)]The practitioners shall have the right to practice in all the courts of the State, and to appear therein as attorneys in behalf of persons who may choose to retain them, for the prosecution or defense of actions.

[(b)] Attorney's fees or commissions taxed or allowed by the court shall be collected for the benefit of the attorney as provided by section 507-81.

[CC 1859, §1067; RL 1925, §2311; RL 1935, §3610; RL 1945, §9708; RL 1955, §217-8; HRS §605-8; am L 1972, c 184, §1(e); am L 2004, c 48, §3]

§605-9 and 605-10 REPEALED

L 1972, c 184, §1(j).

§605-11 Repealed

[Repealed]

[L 1989, c 140, §3]

§605-12 Repealed

[Repealed]

[L 1972, c 184, §1(j)]

§605-13 District courts, cases involving military vehicles

Any legal officer of the United States military forces, to the extent that the officer is authorized or required by the officer's respective branch of service, may without license represent military personnel in the district courts in any case which arises out of the driving of a military vehicle.

[L 1878, pt of c 31; am L 1886, c 63; RL 1925, §2317; RL 1935, §3615; RL 1945, §9713; am L Sp 1949, c 38, §1; RL 1955, §217-13; HRS §605-13; am L 1972, c 190, §1; am L 1972, c 184, §1(g) as superseded by L 1973, c 33, §1; gen ch 1985]

§605-14 Unauthorized practice of law prohibited

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to engage in or attempt to engage in or to offer to engage in the practice of law, or to do or attempt to do or offer to do any act constituting the practice of law, except and to the extent that the person, firm, or association is licensed or authorized so to do by an appropriate court, agency, or office or by a statute of the State or of the United States. Nothing in sections 605-14 to 605-17 contained shall be construed to prohibit the preparation or use by any party to a transaction of any legal or business form or document used in the transaction.

[L 1955, c 150, §1; RL 1955, §217-14; HRS §605-14; am L 1969, c 226, §3; am L 1983, c 167, §18; am L 1985, c 270, §4; am L 2001, c 47, §1]

§605-15 [OLD] REPEALED

L 1975, c 45, pt of §2.

§605-15.1 Standing

The attorney general or any bar association in this State may maintain an action for violations of section 605-14.

[L 1975, c 45, pt of §2]

§605-15.2 Remedies

Remedies for the violation of section 605-14 shall include injunctive and declaratory relief, and other existing remedies. In addition, the attorney general may maintain a criminal action against any person who violates section 605-14, the penalties for which are set forth in section 605-17.

[L 1975, c 45, pt of §2]

§605-16 Judicial powers not affected

Nothing in sections 605-14 to 605-17 shall diminish, alter, or affect the inherent or statutory power of the supreme court or of any court to institute and hear proceedings against any person for contempt or for violation of rules or orders of court, or affect any rules of any court already in force.

[L 1955, c 150, §4; RL 1955, §217-17; HRS §605-16; am L 1979, c 105, §59]

§605-17 Penalties

Any person violating sections 605-14 to 605-16 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

[L 1955, c 150, §2; RL 1955, §217-15; HRS §605-17; am L 1972, c 184, §1(i); am L 1975, c 45, pt of §2; am L 2001, c 47, §2]