Robert Hawley is currently Deputy Executive Director of the State Bar of California. His areas of responsibility for the State Bar, among other things, include oversight of the State Bar's Professional Competence Unit which administers the Ethics Hotline, the Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC), the State Bar's professional responsibility publications and other functions related to the development of California's Rules of Professional Conduct. He also is the State Bar's employee relations officer and oversees all labor and employment functions.
He received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law and his Masters in Law (LL.M) from New York University, School of Law.
Mr. Hawley began his legal career as a disciplinary prosecutor for the State Bar. He then entered private practice for over ten years representing management in labor and employment matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. He served as a member of the State Bar's Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC) as well as its Chair and Special Advisor. Prior to rejoining the State Bar's staff, he served as Risk Management Chair and Deputy Managing Partner for a major Bay Area law firm.
Mr. Hawley has taught Professional Responsibility and labor law at various Bay Area law schools for the past twenty years, and is currently on the adjunct faculty of Pacific McGeorge School of Law.