amendments to the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct

from employing the services of paraprofessionals and delegating
functions to them, so long as the lawyer supervises the delegated
work and retains responsibility for their work. See Rule 5.3 of
these Rules. Likewise, it does not prohibit lawyers from
providing professional advice and instruction to nonlawyers
whose employment requires knowledge of law; for example,
claims adjusters, employees of financial or commercial
institutions, social workers, accountants and persons employed
in government agencies. In addition, a lawyer may counsel
nonlawyers who wish to proceed pro se.
Paragraph (c) prohibits an attorney who employs or
otherwise utilizes a lawyer who is suspended or disbarred, or
who resigned in lieu of discipline, from allowing that lawyer to
have any contact with the attorney's clients or others who have
legal dealing with the attorney's office. In order to protect the
public, strict prohibitions are essential to prevent permissible
paralegal activities from crossing the line to giving legal advice,
taking fees, or misleading clients and others who deal with the
attorney's office.
Rule 5.6. RESTRICTIONS ON RIGHT TO PRACTICE.
A lawyer shall not participate in offering or making:
(a) a partnership, shareholders, operating, employment, or other
similar type of agreement that restricts the right of a lawyer to practice after
termination of the relationship, except an agreement concerning benefits upon
retirement or as permitted by Rule 1.17 of these Rules; or
(b) an agreement in which a restriction on the lawyer's right to
practice is part of the settlement of a client controversy.
COMMENTS:
[1] An agreement restricting the right of lawyers to
practice after leaving a firm not only limits their professional
autonomy but also limits the freedom of clients to choose a
lawyer. Paragraph (a) prohibits such agreements except for
restrictions incident to provisions concerning retirement
benefits for service with the firm or as allowed by Rule 1.17 of
these Rules concerning sale of a law firm.
[2] Paragraph (b) prohibits a lawyer from agreeing not
to represent other persons in connection with settling a claim on
behalf of a client.
Rule 6.1. PRO BONO SERVICE.
A lawyer should aspire to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono services
per year. In fulfilling this responsibility, the lawyer should:
(a) provide at least 25 hours of legal services without fee or
expectation of fee to:
(1) persons of limited means; or
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