Opinion ID: 1172133
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Practice While Suspended

Text: As we have previously noted: We view any practice of law while suspended with considerable concern. The purpose of suspension or disbarment is to protect the public and to maintain the integrity of the profession and the dignity of the courts.... The rules of this court provide that an attorney who is disbarred or suspended as a result of a disciplinary proceeding may not resume the practice of law until allowed to do so by an order of this court. RSCH 2.17(a). The integrity of the licensing and disciplinary processes relating to attorneys is directly challenged when a suspended attorney continues to practice law in violation of a suspension order. Such a challenge undermines the integrity of both the legal profession and the dignity of the courts, and we will not permit such a challenge to go unnoticed. As we have indicated, ABA Standard 8.1(a) provides that disbarment is generally appropriate when a lawyer intentionally or knowingly violates the terms of a prior disciplinary order. When an order of suspension is entered on the record and the rules clearly provide that the practice of law may not be resumed except pursuant to an order of this court, it strains credulity to characterize the practice of law while suspended as anything but knowing. For purposes of ABA Standard 8.2, practicing law while suspended is a further act[] of misconduct. At a bare minimum, such violations and acts of misconduct harm the legal system, the profession, and the public by encouraging disrespect for the law and the courts and reinforce a perception of privilege and arrogance. Thus, we hold that practicing law while suspended or disbarred warrants the severe sanctions of suspension or disbarment. Lau, 79 Hawai`i at 206-207, 900 P.2d at 782-783 (citations and footnotes omitted). Lau's additional acts of practicing law while suspended, revealed by the further hearing, present no reason to depart from our prior holding. Indeed, the stipulated facts indicate that, when he stipulated to the facts about representing Alamedia that resulted in his second suspension on April 19, 1995, Lau had already met with and agreed to represent Tsugawa and that he did not disclose that representation to the ODC or this court. Lau's July 27, 1995 RSCH 2.16(d) affidavit, stating that he had complied with our July 25, 1995 suspension order and had not practiced law since March 7, 1995, was false. Lau continued while suspended to accept retainer fees from Tsugawa and to make court appearances on his behalf. In short, Lau disregarded our suspension order and our rule that a suspended attorney may not resume legal practice without an order from this court. Such blatant contempt for our rules and orders merits the severest sanction, inasmuch as that is the only sanction that will be sufficient to protect the public.