Hawaii Labor and Employment Law Education and Training

Get the right training to work for Hawaii employment law firms

By Emmet McMahan
Hawaii employment laws deal primarily with the relationship between employers and unions. Hawaii labor and employment law education and training includes a broad range of issues, such as hiring and firing practices, medical leave, overtime, worker safety standards and wages.

Hawaii labor laws are prohibited from interfering with federal labor laws or guidelines produced by federal agencies in accordance with the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA). Employers and employees may have their relationships governed by state laws if they are not subject to the NRLA. There are three steps to learning about labor and employment laws in Hawaii:
  1. Formal education. Labor lawyers in Hawaii will typically need at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
  2. Specialization. Attorneys can choose to specialize by taking legal training that is specific to labor and employment law in Hawaii.
  3. Membership in professional organizations. There are many organizations of attorneys based on an area of specialty, such as labor and employment law, that provide educational opportunities.

 

Attend a law school that specializes in labor laws in Hawaii

There are a variety of universities in Hawaii that provide training in labor and employment law, such as specific coursework, a formal concentration or legal clinics.
Try: The University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law includes labor and employment law in its standard curriculum. Concord Law School is an accredited college that offers a J.D. degree entirely online, which is ideal for busy employment law students in Hawaii.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for Hawaii labor law attorneys

Hawaii requires attorneys to stay current on changes in employment law with CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in Hawaii that provide CLE credit in labor and employment law.
Try: The Hawai'i State Law Library System provides a specific list of CLE study aids for labor and employment law in Hawaii. DigiLearn has a complete catalog of CLE courses in Hawaii, many of which deal with Hawaii labor and employment law.

Learn through professional training associations on Hawaii labor and employment law

Professional associations frequently offer formal training such as conferences, seminars and workshops in employment and labor law. These organizations also provide more casual meetings that allow attorneys to exchange tips on building and maintaining a practice.
Try: The Native Hawaiian Bar Association provides legal representation for persons of Hawaiian ancestry, including the practice of labor and employment law. The Hawaii State Bar Association provides many training opportunities for labor and employment law in Hawaii.

 

  • A Hawaii labor law attorney should also be alert for educational opportunities that do not provide CLE credit, but nevertheless provide important information on labor and employment law. An event of this type might consist of watching a specific legal issue being reenacted by actors followed by a legal analysis in a relaxed atmosphere.