Hawaii CLE Requirements

In Hawaii, active status attorneys must complete 3.00 CLE credits (including 1.00 credit in ethics/professional responsibility) every year to maintain good standing with the Hawaii Bar.

Hawaii attorneys must complete all 3.00 required credits by December 31. Compliance with the CLE requirements must be reported on your annual attorney registration the following year.

The reporting period is 1 year and ends on December 31 for all Hawaii attorneys.

NBI reports your attendance to the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Each active Bar member must certify on the annual registration form whether the member is in compliance with the Hawaii State Bar Association by reporting the number of approved credit hours of Continuing Legal Education completed in the previous year. You must maintain certification records for the (3) most recent reporting periods.

Experienced attorneys can fulfill their Hawaii CLE requirement by completing courses approved and accredited by the Hawaii State Board of Continuing Legal Education. Examples of accepted course formats include:

Live CLE

• Live Seminars

Alternative Format

• Online Computer Presentations
• Computer Self-Study
• Video Tape
• Audio Videotape
• DVD
• Teleconference

Hawaii attorneys may carry over 3.00 CLE credits for one compliance year. This may include ethics/professional responsibility credits.

There is no limit. Attorneys in Hawaii can earn all required 3.00 CLE credits with alternative format courses.

Yes. In-program attendance verification is required for downloadable courses.

• State Contact Information:
  • Address: Alakea Corporate Tower,1100 Alakea Street, Suite 1000, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
  • Phone Number: 808-537-1868
  • Email Address: webinfo@hsba.org
  • Website: http://hsba.org/

• Hawaii CLE FAQ, New Admittee Information, Referral Service, and Accredited Providers
  • Hawaii CLE FAQ Page
  • Hawaii New Admittee Information
  • Lawyer Referral Service
  • List of Accredited Providers

Newly admitted attorneys in Hawaii are exempt from reporting CLE requirements for the year in which they are admitted to the Hawaii State Bar.

As per Rule 1.14(a) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii, new attorneys licensed to practice law after July 1st, 2001 must complete the Hawaii Professionalism Course no later than December 31st of the following year of election of active status. This course is presented online as 3 separate webinars by the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Yes. If you complete CLE credits after you are admitted to practice law in Hawaii but before December 31 of that year, you may carry over up to 3.00 CLE credits to your first reporting period. You do earn 4.5 CLE credits for your mandatory Professionalism course.

Your first reporting period ends on December 31 of the first full calendar year following your admission to the Hawaii State Bar.

Yes. All new attorneys must complete a Professionalism course, which is jointly sponsored by the Hawaii State Bar and the Supreme Court of Hawaii. This course must be completed by December 31 of the first full calendar year following your admission to the Hawaii State Bar.

You will earn 4.5 CLE credits for your Professionalism course.

Attorneys are usually classified as a Newly Admitted Attorney until the end of the year following the year they are licensed and have elected active status.

Each person licensed to practice law after July 1, 2001, shall complete the Hawaii Professionalism course no later than December 31 of the year following the year they have elected active status. There are recordings of the Professionalism Course online.