University of Hawaii at Manoa - William S. Richardson School of Law (WSRSL)

The Law School

The William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is exceptional for its commitment to pluralism and diversity as well as to excellence in scholarship and teaching. The Law School offers outstanding teaching and first-rate professional training by a talented and very accessible faculty. As the only law school in the state of Hawai‘i, we also benefit from close ties to the state and federal judiciary, the downtown legal community, and international connections in the Pacific. We offer a broad range of courses in business and commercial law and are especially strong in the areas of environmental law, Pacific-Asian legal studies, and Native Hawaiian rights. Every year our January Term offers specialized courses taught by distinguished visiting scholars from across the U.S. and abroad, and our Jurists in Residence program provides students the opportunity to meet with justices from the U.S. Supreme Court or from international and foreign courts.

The Law School has an extremely favorable student-faculty ratio (14:1), which results in small classes and close interaction between teachers and students. We have about 300 students, who are among the most ethnically and racially diverse in the nation, and draw applicants from over 120 undergraduate schools throughout the United States.

The Program

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) program is a one-year course of study open to foreign individuals who wish to gain a broader understanding of U.S. and international legal issues—something that is increasingly necessary in today’s globalized law practice. The LL.M. program begins in late August and requires completion of a total of 24 credit-hours during two semesters of residence. All students enroll in our special Introduction to American Law course, which will help enhance their legal English and research skills and their understanding of American legal culture. Students are otherwise free to choose their program of study, which may include first-year courses and special seminars. We also permit students to count up to six credits in the University’s graduate schools towards their LL.M. degree. LL.M. students take all their regular courses with our J.D. students and have ample opportunity to interact with them.

Eligibility Applicants to the LL.M. Program must hold a law degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized law school outside the U.S. or (if they do not hold a law degree) be admitted to the practice of law in their jurisdiction.

LL.M. Specializations Our LL.M. students create their own program of study, tailored to meet individual interests. As our student, you may take courses in a broad range of subjects or concentrate your study in one of our areas of excellence and earn a specialization as part of your LL.M. degree. We now offer specializations in five areas: Environmental Law, International & Comparative Law, Ocean Law & Policy, Business Law, and Conflict Resolution.

Transfer to the J.D. Program LL.M. graduates who perform well in our LL.M. program may apply to transfer to our J.D. program. We consider your performance at the Law School and do not require you to take the LSAT to apply. If you are admitted, you may also be able to transfer credits from the LL.M. towards a J.D. degree, which may enable you to complete your J.D. degree within two years of finishing your LL.M. study.

Student Life

Our Law School is known for its ‘ohana (family) atmosphere and we offer a friendly, supportive environment in which to pursue your legal studies. We encourage our LL.M. students to participate in Law School life, and student organizations enthusiastically include LL.M. students in their professional and social activities. The Law School has a very full schedule of special talks and presentations, including the Asia law talks and the Environmental law colloquia, annual lecture series, workshops, works-in-progress, and other legal presentations. We also offer special social and professional events for the LL.M. class, including an island tour, court and law firm visits, lunches and dinners with our faculty and graduates—and a hike up Diamond Head Crater with our Law School Dean to enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the ocean, mountains and Waikīkī Beach.

Location

The Law School is located on the campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, the flagship of the University of Hawai‘i system, in the beautiful Mānoa valley on the island of O‘ahu. The University is a major research institution founded in 1907 and known nationally and internationally for its programs in Asian and Pacific studies, oceanography, marine biology and astronomy, as well as in law, business and medicine. Over 20,000 students are enrolled in the University, representing all fifty states and more than seventy countries.

Hawai‘i is a spectacularly beautiful place in which to work and study. Hawai‘i also offers the opportunity to live in a multicultural environment rich in the traditions of many peoples; its ties to Asia are especially strong. Migration from Japan, China, the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam and the South Pacific has added to our strong multi-ethnic tradition and has helped to create an unusually diverse population. Honolulu has a wide variety of Asian restaurants and markets, and a host of traditional cultural activities and festivals that take place throughout the year. Hawai‘i’s cultural and artistic traditions are also well represented in local art museums and galleries, and in recent years Hawaiian music and dance have enjoyed a broad renaissance throughout the islands.