William S. Richardson School of Law
The William S. Richardson School of Law is the professional graduate law school of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, the school is named after its patriarch, former Hawaii State Supreme Court Chief Justice William S. Richardson, a zealous advocate of Hawaiian culture,[1] and is Hawaii's only law school.[2]
William S. Richardson
School of Law
Ma luna aʻe o na lahui a pau ke ola ke kanaka (Hawaiian)
Above all nations is humanity
1973
Public
Honolulu, HI, United States
21°17′47″N 157°49′05″W / 21.29639°N 157.81806°W
257
52
135th (2024)
Richardson's regime of legal studies places special emphasis on fields of law of particular importance to Hawaii and the surrounding Pacific and Asian region, including Native Hawaiian Law, Pacific-Asian Legal Studies, Environmental Law, and maritime law.[3]
A member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), the school is accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA).[4] It offers a Juris Doctor, with certificates available in Native Hawaiian Law, Pacific-Asian Legal Studies, and Environmental Law, with students able to matriculate either full-time or part-time. It also offers an Advanced Juris Doctor, for foreign students who have earned a law degree abroad, and a LLM.
For 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked Richardson 96th among American law schools.[5] Richardson's part-time program was ranked 30th.[6]
Employment[edit]
According to Richardson's official 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 50.9% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation.[17] Richardson's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 10.2%, indicating the percentage of the class of 2017 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a short-term, part-time, or non-professional job nine months after graduation.[18] It is unclear whether the Law School's above-average clerkship placement rate for new graduates is reflected in these numbers.[19]
Scholarly publications[edit]
University of Hawaii Law Review[edit]
The University of Hawaii Law Review is a scholarly legal journal run by students that publishes works by jurists, scholars and practitioners. It publishes two issues annually, and hosts a biennial symposium.
Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal[edit]
The Asian-Pacific Law and Policy Journalis a biannual peer-reviewed open-access law journal published by the school. It covers issues facing Asia and the Pacific Rim. The journal was established in February 2000, with Jim Hitchingham as editor-in-chief and with assistance and support from Lawrence Foster, Dean of the law school, and professors Ronald Brown and Mark Levin. In addition to its web format, the journal is available through the legal databases LexisNexis and Westlaw.[34]
Faculty[edit]
Endowed professorship & faculty chairs[edit]
Through the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Foundation, Richardson has been endowed with several professorships and faculty chairs.
Students[edit]
Student body[edit]
In 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked the school 25th of 190 Law Schools for "Most Selective". In addition, Richardson is recognized for its highly diverse student body. In 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked it 1st of 190 Law Schools for "Diversity Index,"[52] while Princeton Review ranked it "Best Environment for Minority Students."[53]
Law student pledge[edit]
Adopted in 2002 as an aspirational reflection of Kānāwai Māmalahoe, all Richardson students recite the William S. Richardson School of Law Law Student Pledge, written by late Professor Chris Iijima, before a Hawaii Supreme Court Justice during a special ceremony before they begin their legal education.
The Pledge is:
In the study of law, I will conscientiously prepare myself;
To advance the interests of those I serve before my own,
To approach my responsibilities and colleagues with integrity, professionalism, and civility,
To guard zealously legal, civil and human rights which are the birthright of all people,
And, above all,
To endeavor always to seek justice.
This I do pledge.
Richardson sponsors numerous student organizations, including:[54]
A list of some of Richardson's traditions:
Politics
Judiciary
Academia
Crime