To help address serious staffing shortages at the state public defenders’ and county prosecutors’ offices, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court is allowing licensed attorneys from other states to work at these agencies without taking the state bar exam.
The court issued an order in June establishing a two-year pilot program to allow lawyers who are licensed and in good standing in other states to work in Hawaiʻi without getting their state license. The program will only apply to those working in criminal litigation at government agencies, including the state Attorney General’s Office, the county prosecutor offices or the Office of the Public Defender. Read more