Rule 1.13 - Specialization(a) Petition for Certificate of Specialization. Upon successful completion of a program of study accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) for certification as a specialist in a subject of the law, an active Hawai'i lawyer in good standing may petition the court for a Hawai'i Certificate of Specialization in that subject of the law. (b) Contents of Petition. The Petition shall be verified and shall state (i) the date the Petitioner was admitted to practice in Hawai'i, (ii) Petitioner's Hawai'i attorney identification number, (iii) Petitioner's current office address and telephone number, (iv) the nature of the ABA accredited program of study (including the requirements thereof), and (v) the date the Petitioner was certified by the ABA accredited program. Petitioner shall attach to the Petition (1) a copy of Petitioner's Hawai'i license to practice law, (2) and affidavit or declaration from the Executive Director of the Hawai'i State Bar Association stating the Petitioner is in good standing with the Hawai'i Bar, (3) an affidavit or declaration from Disciplinary Counsel stating that Petitioner is not currently suspended or disbarred and that no disciplinary matters against Petitioner are pending, (4) an affidavit or declaration from the administrator of the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection stating there are no pending claims against the Petitioner and the Petitioner owes no reimbursement to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, and (5) a copy of the specialist certificate issued by the ABA accredited specialization program. Petitioner is responsible for preparing all affidavits or declarations for signature.(c) Nature of Proceeding; Filing Fee. The Petition for Certificate of Specialization shall be docketed as an original proceeding and the Clerk shall assess and collect the filing fee for an original proceeding.(d) Form of Certificate. Upon approval by the court and Petitioner's payment of a $25.00 certification fee, the Clerk shall issue a five-year specialization certificate in the following form: No. ________
Supreme Court of Hawai'i
CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION
[Petitioner's Name] having Petitioned for Specialty Certification in [law subject], having successfully completed the American Bar Association accredited program prescribed for such specialization, having been found to be a lawyer in good standing in the State of Hawai'i, and having met the requirements for such certification, is hereby Certified as a Specialist in [law subject] in the State of Hawai'i.
This Certificate expires on ______________.
Given under the seal of the Supreme Court, this _____ day of __________, 20 ____.
FOR THE COURT:
Chief Justice
(e) Limitations. No lawyer admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction shall be required to be certified as a specialist to practice in any field of law. Specialty certification neither increases nor decreases a lawyer's duties to the lawyer's clients, the courts, and the profession.(f) Revocation of Certification. A Certificate of Specialization is automatically revoked upon the suspension or disbarment of the lawyer so certified.(g) Renewal. The Certificate of Specialization may be renewed, without limitation, for periods of five (5) years upon the filing of a Petition for Renewal of Specialty Certification. A Petition for Renewal must be supported by proof Petitioner has completed at least six (6) hours of ABA accredited Continuing Legal Education courses in the subject area for each of the five years preceding the application for renewal, has maintained certification by the ABA accredited program by which certification was initially granted, remains an active member in good standing of the Hawai'i Bar, and has not been disciplined by this court or the Disciplinary Board during the previous five (5) year period. A Petition for Renewal shall be filed as an original petition and the Clerk shall assess and collect the fee for such filing. Upon entry of an order granting the Petition for Renewal, the Clerk shall issue a certificate as provided by subsection (d) of this Rule 1.13.Added effective 7/1/1999.