HR117.DOC

WHEREAS, paralegals do substantial, important, and challenging legal work assisting lawyers and the public, often performing similar functions as attorneys; and

WHEREAS, there are no laws in Hawaii that regulate education, work experience, licensing, or certification requirements for paralegals employed in the State; and

WHEREAS, paralegals can, and should, play an integral role in the delivery of cost-effective legal and law-related services; and

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor has recognized that it is no longer common for an individual to become a paralegal without first receiving formal education and training in the paralegal field; and

WHEREAS, Kapiolani Community College of the University of Hawaii System currently offers a paralegal program that is approved by and under consideration for accreditation by the American Bar Association; and

WHEREAS, additional means are available for practicing paralegals to obtain certification such as the National Federation of Paralegal Association's Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam; and

WHEREAS, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected employment growth of 17 percent for paralegals nationwide over the ten-year period between 2012 and 2022; and

WHEREAS, the legal profession is expected to undergo a shift toward increased use of paralegal labor in conjunction with a broadened scope of work and range of tasks performed by paralegal professionals; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to convene a working group to determine the feasibility of establishing licensing or certification requirements for paralegals in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be comprised of the following members:

(1) The Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, or the Director's designee, who shall serve as the chair of the working group;

(2) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;

(3) An individual representing the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court;

(4) A representative from Kapiolani Community College, appointed by the Chancellor of Kapiolani Community College;

(5) An individual representing the Hawaii State Bar Association;

(6) An individual representing the Hawaii Paralegal Association;

(7) The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, or the Executive Director's designee;

(8) The Chief Executive Officer of the Domestic Violence Action Center of Hawaii, or the Chief Executive Officer's designee; and

(9) An individual who is a practicing attorney who employs paralegals, to be appointed by the chair of the working group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, President of the University of Hawaii, Chancellor of Kapiolani Community College, Executive Director of the Hawaii State Bar Association, President of the Hawaii Paralegal Association, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and Chief Executive Officer of the Domestic Violence Action Center of Hawaii.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Requesting the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to convene a working group to determine the feasibility of establishing licensing and certification requirements for paralegals.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	117
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII