Homeless in Hawaii
Free Lawyer and Free Consultation
Next is from "Lawyer list of volunteer pro bono" this PDF document you can download PDF here.
Call Access to Justice to set up an appointment with a Lawer (free volunteer services) at (808) 954-8290
Email the Law Library for questions: LawLibrary@courts.hawaii.gov
"ACCESS TO JUSTICE ROOM / SELF-HELP CENTERS
The Court Self-Help Centers are a collaborative effort of the Judiciary, the Hawaii Access
to Justice Commission, the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Kauai County Bar Association, the
Maui County Bar Association, the Hawaii County Bar Association, West Hawaii Bar Association,
AmeriCorps, and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to increase access to justice for self-represented
litigants. Over 27,000 visitors have received legal help and nearly 700 attorneys have volunteered
since the first Court Self-Help Center opened on Kauai in 2011.
Volunteer attorneys are providing legal help to the community remotely through the
statewide Court Self-Help Centers. Attorneys will provide limited legal help by telephone in areas
such as landlord-tenant, family, and other district court matters. Calls will be answered by an AmeriCorps Advocate who will connect you with the attorney. Please call the Court Self-Help
Center in your community during the following days and times.
Honolulu Access to Justice Room: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am – 1:00pm. Callers will be referred by the Honolulu District Court Service Center.
Phone: (808) 538-5629
Kauai Court Self-Help Center: Monday and Thursday from 10:00 am – Noon.
Phone: (808) 698-7552
Maui Court Self-Help Center: Monday and Thursday from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Phone: (808) 707-7153
Hilo Court Self-Help Center: Tuesday and Friday 11:15 am – 12:45 pm.
Phone: (808) 746-5363
Kona Court Self-Help Center: Wednesday from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Phone: (808) 437-7557
Scope: Short term limited legal services to include legal information and/or legal advice.
Contact: Maya Scimeca at maya.scimeca@legalaidhawaii.org
APPELLATE PRO BONO PROGRAM
The Hawaii State Bar Association Appellate Division, working in coordination with the
Hawaii State Judiciary and Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, have formed the Appellate Pro
Bono Program for attorneys seeking valuable appellate experience through the representation
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of pro se litigants with civil appeals before the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaii Supreme Court.
The subject matter for eligible cases includes foreclosures, summary possession,
employment discrimination, worker’s compensation, state tax appeals, wrongful termination,
unemployment benefit denials, probate and family law areas of divorce, child custody, child
support, and paternity. This program is expected to expand to other areas of law in the future.
Individuals seeking assistance through this program are pre-screened for subject matter
and income qualifications. As volunteers, you will be provided case information for conflict
checking and assessment. You will then have the opportunity to accept or decline a pro bono
opportunity. Periodic trainings will be available as well as mentoring by experienced appellate
attorneys on the procedural aspects of the assigned pro bono case. Volunteer Attorneys are not
required nor expected to pay court costs or any other out-of-pocket costs associated with the
pro bono case.
Benefits include providing greater access to justice for those in need, gain valuable
experience in appellate briefing and oral argument before the Appellate or Supreme Court.
Scope: Briefing and oral argument at Appellate or Supreme Court
Contact: Program Coordinator at appellate@vlsh.org
BUSINESS LAW CORPS (BLC)
The BLC provides free pro bono corporate legal services to Hawaii’s small business
owners and entrepreneurs.
Scope: Weekly one-on-one 30-minute client consultations; seminars; direct provision of
legal services
Contact: Cat T, ctaschner@businesslawcorps.org
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION CENTER (DVAC)
The Domestic Violence Action Center and Legal Hotline is committed to ending domestic
violence and other forms of abuse through leadership, prevention, legal service, individual and
systemic advocacy and social change work.
Scope: Varies as DVAC services offer wide range therefore it is recommended to reach
out to Contacts for further inquiry
Contact: Tiara N or Nanci K, (808) 534-0040,
www.domesticviolenceactioncenter.org
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HAWAII ONLINE PRO BONO (HOP)
Hawaii Online Pro Bono (HOP) is an online service for low to moderate income Hawaii
residents. HOP is a web based legal clinic that allows users to get their civil legal questions
answered 24/7 by Hawaii licensed volunteer attorneys. Help answer Hawaii residents
questions in: family law, estate planning, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, small claims, veteran
benefits and immigration.
Scope: Answer legal questions at your leisure, anywhere you have internet access.
Clients do not know you by name, only as Attorney ID#.
Contact: hopadmin@vlsh.org; https://hawaii.freelegalanswers.org/ (they don't answer anymore at the website..)
KAPOLEI ACCESS TO JUSTICE ROOM
Free limited legal assistance on family court civil issues (i.e. divorce, paternity, custody,
visitation, child support, adoptions, guardianships of a minor) is available to unrepresented/pro
se parties at the Kapolei Access to Justice Room (KAJR) at the Ronald T. Y. Moon Courthouse in
Kapolei and the Supreme Court Law Library satellite KAJR location in Honolulu. The service is
provided by a partnership between the Hawaii State Judiciary and volunteer attorneys with the
Hawaii State Bar Association’s Family Law Section. Since KAJR opened in September 2012,
more than 2100 clients have been served. Due to the pandemic, KAJR is now being held
remotely through videoconferencing and is open on the first and third Thursdays of each month
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A person interested in receiving services can sign up by calling
(808) 954-8290.
Scope: Short term limited legal services to include legal information and/or legal advice.
Contact: Dyan Mitsuyama at dyan@mitsuyamaandrebman.com
LAWYERS FOR EQUAL JUSTICE
Lawyers for Equal Justice represents low-income and marginalized Hawaii residents in
impact litigation, focusing on class-action litigation. We have advocated successfully for low-
income housing tenants, foster parents, and others in state and federal court.
Scope: Assistance ranging from short-term research projects on discrete issues to co-
counseling on major cases.
Contact: Tom Helper, Director of Litigation, tom@lejhawaii.org.
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LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF HAWAII (LASH) – IMMIGRATION AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE
Established in 1950 with 10 offices statewide, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii is a non-
profit, public interest law firm dedicated to increasing access to justice for the state’s most
vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
Through LASH’s pro bono program, attorneys can take cases on a pro bono basis and be
covered under the firm’s malpractice insurance. Attorneys can further assist callers they've
spoken to at the Access to Justice Room or neighbor island Self-Help Centers through LASH's
pro bono program; pro bono case assignments can be done through other avenues as well. For
a case to be eligible for LASH's pro bono program, the case must fall under a LASH practice area
and the client must be eligible for LASH assistance.
Additionally, volunteer attorneys can accept or assist with cases related to immigration
through Legal Aid's Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center or providing disaster related legal
assistance as part of the recovery efforts after a natural disaster.
Opportunities for law students: LASH offers summer law clerkships as well as
externships during the course of the school year. Interested students should apply by sending
their resume and a short letter of intent to maya.scimeca@legalaidhawaii.org.
Scope: Full representation or short-term limited services through disaster related legal
clinics.
Contact: Maya Scimeca at maya.scimeca@legalaidhawaii.org
LEGAL LINES
Every Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. attorneys are available via
telephone to provide legal information. The volunteer licensed pro bono attorneys identify the
issue(s) or concern(s) and refer the callers to the appropriate HSBA staff, legal service provider
or government agency, which may be contacted for assistance. The Legal Line phone number in
Honolulu is (808) 537-1868. Neighbor island constituents may call toll-free 1-888-609-5463.
Legal advice is not provided, and an attorney-client relationship is not formed.
Scope: Legal information given by phone
Contact: Christilei Hessler, chessler@cwlfirm.com
MAUI MEDIATION SERVICES (MMS)
Maui Mediation Services (MMS), a community mediation center serving Maui County
since 1982, has volunteer opportunities available for attorneys interested in alternative dispute
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resolution. Mediation services are provided for cases referred from the Wailuku, Lahaina, Hana
and Molokai Courthouses. Subject matter for referred cases include residential landlord/tenant,
small claims, and child custody disputes. Cases are also referred from other sources including
but not limited to social services agencies, friends/friends and attorneys.
Those seeking mediations all volunteer to participate and are screened for
appropriateness. As a volunteer mediator, you will be provided case information for conflict
checking and assessment. You will then have the opportunity to accept or decline a pro bono
opportunity. Periodic trainings are required and mentoring is provided by experienced
mediators on the procedural aspects of the assigned pro bono case.
Benefits include providing greater access to justice for those in need, helping to
decrease already overcrowded court dockets, and empowering the parties to develop their own
best solution in a process that promotes respect, communication, and peace.
Scope: Providing mediation services at Maui County Courthouses or at Maui Mediation
Services offices in Wailuku.
Contact: Executive Director at info@mauimediation.org
THE MEDIATION CENTER OF THE PACIFIC (MCP)
The Mediation Center of the Pacific (MCP) provides mediation and dispute resolution
services that are affordable and accessible for all. MCP is able to offer these services for a
nominal or no fee by using mediators who provide the services pro bono. MCP’s mediation and
dispute resolution services address a broad variety of issues from divorce, paternity, landlord-
tenant, civil rights, condominium, special education, elder, family and more. A preponderance
of the cases mediated at MCP’s office are domestic (divorce, post- divorce and custody) that
are ordered or referred from Family Court.
All cases are scheduled for three-hour sessions Monday through Friday, at 9:00 a.m. and
1:00 p.m. and occasional Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The Client Services Specialists who
schedule the cases, assign the mediators to cases based on the mediator’s experience, subject
matter expertise and availability. The Client Services Specialists provide the case information
for conflict checking and assessment. MCP generally adheres to a co-mediation model pairing
new mediators with experienced mentor mediators and non-lawyer mediators with lawyer
mediators.
Benefits include increasing access to justice by helping people negotiate and resolve
their disputes creatively in a safe, confidential setting. Mediators hone their negotiation and
conflict resolution skills and learn effective advocacy approaches in mediation.
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Requirements: Family law attorneys may complete the Accelerated Divorce Mediation Training.
Volunteers are required to mediate a minimum of 5 cases annually. A three-year
commitment is required. All volunteers must complete a 24-hour Basic
Mediation Training (MCP’s or a comparable training).
Contact: Mediator Manager – nathan@mediatehawaii.org
MEDICIAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN IN HAWAI'I
The Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawai‘i (MLPC) is a collaboration between
the William S. Richardson School of Law (University of Hawai‘i) and the Kokua Kalihi Valley
Comprehensive Family Services (KKV), a community health center. MLPC provides free legal
services, on-site at KKV for low-income families. MPC also engages in community education
and systemic advocacy to promote legal knowledge, equity, and civic engagement.
Scope: The MLPC prioritizes law students and recent graduates for pro bono and
fellowship opportunities. MLPC also partners with licensed attorneys who can
provide particular needs, such as civil rights, disability access, family law,
personal injury, and policy advocacy.
Contact: Dina Shek, Legal Director (dshek@hawaii.edu; (808) 371-2698)
NATIVE HAWAIIAN LEGAL CORPORATION (NHLC)
The mission of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation ("NHLC") is to perpetuate the
rights, customs, and practices which strengthen Native Hawaiian identity and culture. NHLC
carries out its mission by integrating native values into the practice of Western law and
jurisprudence. Most of NHLC's clients are indigent Native Hawaiians who would not otherwise
be able to afford legal representation for their civil and/or administrative matters.
Scope: The practice areas for volunteer attorneys include quiet title/partition defense,
family/land trust creation, simple probate and estate planning, non-profit legal
advise and counsel, eviction/foreclosure/Department of Hawaiian Homes lease
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cancellation, burial protection, natural resource protection, access rights, historic
and cultural protection, administrative law, land use law, and family law.
Contact: Summer Sylva, Esq. (808) 521-2302, inquiry@nhlchi.org,
www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org.
OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS (OHA)
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (“OHA”) grew out of organized efforts in the 1970’s to
right past wrongs suffered by Native Hawaiians for over 100 years. Native Hawaiians’
newfound activism brought their plight to the consciousness of the general public, leading
grassroots leaders to propose, at the time, that income from land taken from the illegal
overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom be used to benefit Native Hawaiians. OHA’s mission is to
mālama Hawai’i’s people and environmental resources, and OHA’s assets, toward ensuring the
perpetuation of the culture, the enhancement of lifestyle, and the protection of entitlements of
Native Hawaiians, while enabling the building of a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and
lāhui, recognized nationally and internationally.
Scope: The practice areas for volunteer law students and attorneys include work
with the public policy team, mainly during the legislative session (usually mid-
January through the beginning of May), to help with tracking proposed measures
(bills and/or resolutions) that may be of interest to OHA beneficiaries including
subject areas such as protecting Native Hawaiian traditional and customary
practices, public land trust and “ceded” lands, sustainability and renewable
energy, Hawaiian plants and animals, water rights, health, agriculture, criminal
justice reform, economic self-sufficiency, education, etc.
Contact: Public Policy Manager, Wayne Tanaka, Esq., waynet@oha.org,
www.oha.org/legislation.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ELDER LAW PROGRAM (UHELP)
UHELP has an attorney/professor, a program administrator/legal assistant and several
student law clerks. UHELP operates throughout the calendar year and provides basic legal
assistance, advice and information. UHELP is not permitted to assist with business or criminal
law matters or with personal injury or other fee-generating cases. You may qualify for services
if you are 60 years or older and are socially or economically needy or if you are a caregiver of an
older person and need legal assistance on behalf of the older person. (Each case is evaluated
according to its own merits and in accordance with staff capabilities)
Contact: (808) 956-654, http://www.hawaii.edu/uhelp/
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VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES HAWAII (VLSH)
Since 1981, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii has helped the community and the Hawaii
State Bar by matching private practice Hawaii attorneys with pro bono opportunities.
Volunteer attorneys are the backbone of the organization, without whom access to justice
could not be achieved. In 2020, over 3,000 hours were donated by pro bono attorneys through
VLSH. The organization’s pool of volunteer attorneys includes those specializing in family law,
guardianship, wills and probate, collections, landlord-tenant, small claims, veteran benefits, and
bankruptcy. Services include legal education classes, legal advice, telephone consultations,
document drafting, self-help workshops and full representation. VLSH staff screens and
conducts a full intake on clients including requesting important documents for his/her case and
provides the same with conflicts checks to volunteer attorneys prior to scheduled clinic
appointments.
Neighborhood Advice and Counsel clinics occur on Thursdays 5p-8p and Saturdays 9a-
12p (a volunteer attorney will have 2-4 scheduled clients per clinic); other events vary
throughout the year. Due to the pandemic, currently all clinics are being held “virtually” over
the telephone until further notice.
Scope: Advice & Counsel clinics, Brief Services, and Full Representation cases
Contact: volunteer@vlsh.org, www.vlsh.org"
- from this List of Lawyers Pro Bono (that volunteer services) PDF
___
https://www.courts.state.hi.us/services/access_to_justice_initiative_main_page
https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/courts/forms/court_forms
Free lawyer at the Justice Access system, Make an appointment.
Call Access to Justice to set up an appointment with a Lawer (free volunteer services) at (808) 954-8290
Legal Shield Services $30.00 a month for a lawyer
___
Ho'okele Referral Handout
Provides self-help packets and explanation of forms
and procedures relating to certain
District Court matters.
1111 Alakea Street, 3rd Floor
(808) 538-5629
FAMILY COURT SERVICE CENTER
Provides self-help packets and explanation of forms
and procedures relating to certain Family Court
matters.
4675 Kapolei Parkway, 1st Floor
(808) 954-8290
777 Punchbowl Street, 1st Floor
(808) 539-4767
FAMILY COURT TRO/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
UNIT
Provides assistance in obtaining a restraining order
against a family/household member or a person
with whom you had a dating relationship
4675 Kapolei Parkway, 3rd FIoor
(808) 954-8090
777 Punchbowl Street, 2nd Floor
(808) 538-5959
SUPREME COURT LAW LIBRARY
Access to legal research material, legal databases,
manuals and forms
417 South King Street, Room 115
(808) 539-4964
www.histatelawlibrary.com
HAWAII CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA CENTER
Criminal history records check and expungements
465 South King Street, Room 102
(808) 587-3100
www.ag.hawaii.gov/hcjdc
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF HAWAII
Provides legal assistance to low-income individuals
(808) 536-4302
www.legalaidhawaii.org
VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES HAWAII
Provides legal assistance to low-income individuals
(808) 528-7046
www.vlsh.org
LAW HELP
Legal informational brochures, videos and online
court forms for family and other civil legal problems
www.lawhelp.org/hi
HAWAII FREE LEGAL ANSWERS
Online legal advice clinic for qualifying users to post
legal questions answered by volunteer attorneys
https://hawaii.freelegalanswers.org
(they don't answer anymore..)
HSBA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
Provides names of lawyers in 29 areas of law
(808) 537-9140
www.hawailawyerreferral.com
HSBA LEGAL LINE HOTLINE
(Wednesdays ONLY from 6pm -7pm)
Volunteer attorneys provide general legal advice
(808) 537-1868
MEDIATION CENTER OF THE PACIFIC
Provides mediation for conflict resolution
(808) 521-6767
www.mediatehawaii.org
BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES
(808) 587-0147
www.dlnr.hawaii.gov/boc
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (DCCA)
www.cca.hawaii.gov
Landlord/Tenant Issues (8am to 12pm)..
(808) 586-2634
Regulated Industries Complaint Office
(808) 587-4272
Cable Television Division
(808) 586-2620
Consumer Issues..
(808) 586-2530
Professional & Vocational Licensing Division....
(808) 586-3000
Administrative Hearings Office
(808) 586-2828
Consumer Advocacy Division
(808) 586-2800
Financial Institutions Division.
(808) 586-2820
Business Registration Division...
(808) 586-2727
Insurance Division
(808) 586-2790
"What I learned at court also with the help of access to justice by going to the window clerk at the court place that could be Circuit court, Family court or Civil Court. Just call one of the courts and they will direct you to the right place.
For some cases ask the window clerk at the court, there are premade petitions that you can fill out. Or Legal Aid Hawaii is a free service non-profit organization that wrote a petition for me.
- if there is a fee to file your petition ask for the waive fee form you might be able to qualify and they will waive the fee sometimes it is $200.00 but that depends on the case, some cases don't have fees (anymore, it changed so you might want to ask again if the law changed).
- if somehow you didn't serve the order to the defendants (people you ask to come to court) on time, the judge will move the case to continuance, and it will be three months later usually. You should always serve it no less than 14 days before the court date or 3 weeks.
-if the judge moves the case to continuance, then there is a expedite court case form.
-anything else you might want to ask the window clerk where you can also get an access to justice appointment. Just go-to the window clerk and say I would like to make an access to justice appointment. Ask if there are any other resources for free lawyer help. The access to justice appointment was held on zoom but I waited a month for the appointment. Hawaii legal aid was over the phone where I waited two weeks. It might be sooner, but you might want to plan in advance.
-Tell the window clerk what type of case you have and ask for the evidence list form or it could be called an exhibit list.
Make sure you number each paper maybe with a tab or on the paper. I wrote it on the paper 1., 2. 3. but then the window clerk said to use tabs then she said it must be okay and then they said they would take it like that..
Evidence list
1 for Judge
1 for Clerk
1 for everyone that you served the court order to
if person is over 14 years old serve them to or
judge will order a continuance and the next court date will be three months later.
1 for self.
When serve to defendants (those you asked to attend court) give the court order that the window clerk gave you with filed stamp and has court date written by window clerk on the court order. Give this to the defendants with evidence list.
-To serve the defendants ask the window clerk how you should do it. In some cases you can send it through certified mail also ask USPS for the green signature received. Take the white certified mail and put on the form from the window clerk that you served the defendants, then when the defendant signs that they received it the green paper will be sent to you through mail get that and also put on the form there is in the back two places called exhibit 1 and exhibit 2. Each defendant you need to fill this form ith the exhibits and give to judge via the bailiff on court date.
The lawyer said the evidence list for the judge and clerk, I bring it with me and the bailiff will take it to the Judge and Clerk on the court date.
The Lawyer said before the court date:
-Write notes of what I want to tell the judge
-three main arguments, with evidence to support
-good to do in an outline
-Prioritize most important #1, #2, #3
This information I received for free by going online to Legal aid Hawaii, I got an appointment and on zoom I got to speak with a lawyer who helped me out. There is also a website where they answer your questions online called free https://hawaii.freelegalanswers.org . Or in the yellow pages, free consultation in the lawyers add. The amount of help was more when I used Legal aid Hawaii though. "- Anonymous
Ho'okele Provides legal advice and assistance to low income people
Access to Justice
Make an appointment to Access to Justice by going to
Family Court in Kapolei but could be the one at Honolulu also.
They will go over anything that has to do with the law to answer your questions.
LAW HELP
Legal informational brochures, videos and online court forms for family,
housing and other civil legal problems
LEGAL AID HAWAII
They Have an Online Application intake form or you can call during intake hours:
(808) 536-4302
FREE LAWYER with
The Office of the Public Defender.
Sign an application and they will give you service.
For Criminal or traffic only they said not for Civil or regular claims.
https://publicdefender.hawaii.gov/
"I asked a volunteer lawyer a question about a traffic bench warrant on
https://hawaii.freelegalanswers.org they said that if the bench warrant is over
2 years and is a misdemeanor, then Rule 9 applies. I then got a Public Defender to represent me in court,
she did all the paper work and I got my bench warrant case dismissed, also the court day was held on Zoom" -Anonymous
Hours of Public Defender Office:
7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Closed on State Holidays.
Oahu Office
Hilo Office
Kona Office
Kauai Office
Maui Office
VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES HAWAII
people Provides legal advice and assistance to low income
808-528-7046
LAW HELP
informational brochures, videos and online court forms for family,
housing and other civil legal problems
HAWAII ONLINE PRO BONO (HOP)
ABA Free Legal Answers is an online legal advice clinic for qualifying users to post civil legal questions at no cost.
Volunteer Attorneys will respond via online.
https://hawai.freelegalanswers.org
HSBA LEGAL LINE HOTLINE
(Wednesdays ONLY from 6pm -7pm)
Volunteer attorneys provide general legal advice
808-537-1868
ACTION LINE
Volunteers answer questions and give pointers on how to solve problems
808-591-0222 (Monday - Friday 11am - 1pm)
http://www.khon2.com/action-line
HAWAII ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE
Working to protect the rights of consumers and victims
808-262-9191
MEDIATION CENTER OF THE PACIFIC
Provides mediation for conflict resolution
808-521-6767
UH ELDER LAW PROGRAM
Provides limited general legal information and referrals
808-956-6544
FAMILY COURT SERVICE CENTER
4675 Kapolei Parkway Provides self-help packets
and explanation of forms and procedures relating to Family Court matters
808-954-8290
777 Punchbowl Street, 1 Floor 808-539-4767
DISTRICT COURT CIVIL DIVISION SERVICE CENTER
matters Provides self-help packets and explanation of
forms and procedures relating to District Court civil
1111 Alakea Street, 3rd Floor 808-538-5629
Look for Lawyers offering Free Consultations maybe some work
Pro bono means you don't pay unless they win.
from local lawyers or in the Phone book in the white or yellow pages.
HSBA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
Provides names of lawyers in 29 areas of law
808-537-9140
http://www.hawailawyerreferral.com
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (DCCA)