University of Hawai’i at Mānoa | William S. Richardson School of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to LLM, Master’s, and Certificate Programs
Introduction
Located in Honolulu, in the beautiful Mānoa Valley on the island of O’ahu, the William S. Richardson School of Law is a collaborative, multicultural community of students and legal professionals who are passionate about the law. As the only law school in the State of Hawai‘i, Richardson Law School maintains close ties with members of the Hawai‘i bar and judiciary and is known for its excellent programs in Business Law, Environmental Law, International and Comparative Law, and Human Rights. The school is named for William S. Richardson, who served as Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court (1966-1982) and played a key role in the establishment of the Law School.
Richardson LLM Program and Specializations
The LLM Program at the William S. Richardson School of Law is open to both graduates with US JDs and graduates with foreign law degrees. Students have the flexibility to co-design their LLM curriculum and choose courses they are most interested in. Students will complete a minimum of 24 credits and may include up to six (6) credits from other UH departments with LLM Faculty Advisor approval. Graduates with foreign law degrees who have not previously studied US law will take Introduction to American Law. This course provides a foundation for the elective courses each student selects in consultation with the LLM Faculty Advisor. LLM students who choose to concentrate their studies in one of the Law School's areas of excellence may earn a separate certificate in addition to their LLM Diploma. We offer LLM specialization certificates in the following areas:
- Business & Commercial Law
- Conflict Resolution
- Criminal Law & Justice
- Environmental Law/Ocean Law & Policy
- International & Comparative Law
- Human Rights & Social Justice
Qualified LLM students may apply to the Advanced JD (AJD) Program for foreign lawyers without taking the LSAT or GRE. The AJD Program allows graduates of foreign law schools to complete a US JD in as little as two years. Qualified students may be awarded up to 29 credits for their previous law study, enabling them to save time and money in earning their JD degree. The AJD Program is an excellent pathway for those who plan to take a US bar examination as well as for those practicing abroad, but looking to build their expertise in US law.
Richardson Faculty
Our faculty members are recognized nationally and internationally for their scholarship, which they combine with extensive real-world experience, both in the state of Hawai‘i and beyond. Committed to teaching as well as to research, they remain exceptionally accessible to students and provide excellent professional training in a friendly, open environment. Richardson has one of the best student-faculty ratios, which allows us to provide personal attention to all our students.
Richardson Career Services
From the first day of law school and throughout their legal career, we strive to provide resources and opportunities for our students and alumni to assist them to find employment that will result in a satisfying and productive professional career. Our Career Services advises students and alumni in all aspects of their career planning journey from reviewing resumes and mock interviewing to helping students explore career options and identify career objectives. In addition to individual counseling, we offer a wide variety of programs including on-campus interviews, skills workshops, career panels, and a multitude of opportunities to network within Hawai‘i’s legal community.
Location
Hawai‘i is a spectacularly beautiful place in which to work and study. White sandy beaches, lush green mountains, and fragrant tropical flowers, all set in an azure-blue ocean, make it a tropical paradise. Hiking, surfing, scuba diving, and other sports can all be pursued year-round and within minutes of Richardson Law School. Honolulu, the state capital, is a thriving metropolitan area and a center for business, education, and recreation in the Pacific. Hawai‘i also offers the opportunity to live in a multicultural environment rich in the traditions of many peoples whose cultural and artistic traditions are well represented in local art museums, galleries, and throughout our community.
The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is a major research university founded in 1907 and known nationally and internationally for its programs in Asian and Pacific studies, international business, marine biology and astronomy, as well as in law and medicine. Some 20,000 students are enrolled in the University, representing all fifty states and more than seventy countries.
Contact
William S. Richardson School of Law
2515 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
