William S. Richardson School of Law

William S. Richardson

A former Hawaii State Supreme Court Chief Justice, William S. Richardson, the school's patriarch, was known for his fierce advocacy of Hawaiian culture, departing from western legal tradition to shape the state's emerging canon of law to reflect its own unique customs via numerous landmark decisions.

The establishment of the Law School in 1973, was widely considered Richardson's crowning career achievement. For many years, he had pressed the Hawaii State Legislature for its creation, arguing that the state would benefit by providing a legal education for its residents that enveloped its cultural customs—because they had the greatest stake in constructing the state's legal traditions going forward as such. At his retirement, the Law School was named in his honor.

Ethos

The spirit of Richardson's culture as a community devoted to the study of law is manifested in Kānāwai Māmalahoe, the fundamental precept of Hawaiian law.

Originating in a royal edict by King Kamehameha I in 1797, galvanizing the Kingdom of Hawai'i’s legal system, Kānāwai Māmalahoe, or Law of the Splintered Paddle, was enshrined later in the Hawaii State Constitution, Article 9, Section 10.

According to Hawaiian legend, Kānāwai Māmalahoe was declared by King Kamehameha after an incident where he chased two fishermen who were fishing illegally, when he caught his leg in the reef, and one of the fisherman, Kaleleiki, hit him mightily on the head with a paddle in defense, which broke into pieces. Luckily, Kamehameha was able to escape. Years later, Kamehameha held, when the same fisherman was brought before him to account for the incident, that in the interest of justice he should be released, as he had only been searching for food for his family.

Reflecting Kānāwai Māmalahoe, Richardson’s maintains a “commitment . . . to a collaborative community that is deeply committed to the . . . pursuit of social and economic justice” for all. Reflecting this commitment, Richardson's unofficial logo is Kaleleiki, the fisherman.

Historical timeline

Jump To: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s

1970s

1968- The Hawaii State Legislature established the William S. Richardson School of Law.

1973- Richardson welcomed its first class, including 53 students.

1972- David Hood appointed Dean.

1974- The American Bar Association granted William S. Richardson School of Law provisional accreditation.

1976- Jerome Dupont appointed Acting Dean.

1977- Cliff Thompson appointed Dean.

1978- Richardson holds first Ete Bowl.

1979- University of Hawaii Law Review Created.

1980s

1981- Richard Miller appointed Dean.

1982- The American Bar Association granted William S. Richardson School of Law full accreditation.

1982- Richardson sends first Moot Court Team to competition.

1983- William S. Richardson School of Law moved into new facilities on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.

1983- Richardson Law Library opens.

1983- Pacific-Asian Legal Studies program begins.

1985- Jeremy Harrison appointed Dean.

1985- Student Bar Association Formed.

1987- Richardson joins United States Supreme Court Jurists-In-Residence Program

1990s

1991- Elder Law Program formed.

1992- Environmental Law Certificate established.

1995- Lawrence Foster appointed Dean.

1995- Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Certificate established.

2000s

2002- Law Student Pledge adopted.

2003- Aviam Soifer appointed dean.

2003- LLM program started.

2005- Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law established through a Native Hawaiian Education Act grant.

2005- Hawaii Innocence Project established.

2008- Richardson established a part-time evening law program.

2009- Richardson received a grant from SBS Media Holdings in Seoul, South Korea in the amount of $200,000 to establish a Korean Law Faculty Fund.

2010s

2010- Chief Justice William S. Richardson died on June 21.

2011- Professor Jon Van Dyke died.

2016

U.S. News & World Report ranked Richardson 82nd amongst the nation's top law schools. Richardson's part-time program was ranked 30th. Notably, Richardson is the nation's smallest law school ranked in the top tier.

Employment

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. Richardson's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 25%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2013 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a short-term, part-time, or non-professional job nine months after graduation. It is unclear whether the Law School's above-average clerkship placement rate for new graduates is reflected in these numbers.

Costs

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at the Richardson School of Law for the 2014-2015 academic year is $37,934 for Hawaii residents and $57,662 for non-residents. Law School Transparency has estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $135,422 for residents and $211,473 for non-residents. In July 2016, Richardson was ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report among American law schools whose alumni have the least debt, at an average of $54,988 for the Class of 2015.

Juris Doctor

Richardson offers a Juris Doctor (JD), 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.

Advanced Juris Doctor & LLM

Richardson also offers an Advanced Juris Doctor, offering advanced standing to foreign-trained students, allowing them to earn the Juris Doctor degree in less time, by applying their foreign legal training. It also offers a LLM.

Dual Juris Doctor programs

Working through the University of Hawaii at Manoa Graduate Division, JD students can earn a dual degree or certificate; that is, a JD and a graduate degree and/or certificate.

According to Richardson, its Juris Doctor students most commonly pursue the following dual degrees:

JD/MBA

JD/MSW

JD/MPH

JD/MA

Joint Juris Doctor programs

The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and Richardson have a joint legal education program. By participating in the program, students from either school can earn a Juris Doctor from both.

Institutes

Institute of Asian-Pacific Business Law

The Institute of Asian-Pacific Business Law was established in June 2006 by the Law School. The Institute's goal is to become the premier academic center for research and training in the rapidly growing field of business law in Asia and the Pacific. The Institute focuses on areas of great importance to Asia and Hawaii, including commercial law, insolvency and secured transactions, corporate law and business transactions, securities, intellectual property, real estate financing, and labor law issues. The Institute's activities facilitate direct exchanges between the academic, legal, and business communities in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. To date, the Institute has organized three international symposia. The Inaugural Symposium was held in Hawaii in April 2007, and two symposia were held in Hong Kong, in October 2007 and March 2008.

Hammurabi Legal Forum

The Hammurabi Legal Forum for the Rule of Law (HLF) was established in 2008 at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law to aid law schools in Iraq re-invigorate the country's rich tradition of scholarship. By providing an easily accessible online database of free legal resources, HLF originally sought to provide information on issues that are important to Iraq and the Iraqi legal community. In 2009, the HLF expanded its efforts to assist Rule of Law activities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In 2010, HLF further expanded its research to incorporate additional regions of the globe, including Afghanistan and the Pacific Region, with a special focus on Timor-Leste.

Programs

Hawaii Innocence Project

The Hawaii Innocence Project’s mission is to provide pro bono representation to incarcerated persons who have a credible claim of actual innocence and desire to appeal their conviction.

University of Hawaii Elder Law Program (UHELP)

Operating throughout the year, UHELP provides Hawaii's elder community basic legal assistance, advice and information. UHELP has a professor/attorney, a program administrator/legal assistant and several student law clerks.

Centers

Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law

Established in 2005 through a Native Hawaiian Education Act grant, the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law is an academic center that promotes education, scholarship, community outreach and collaboration on issues of law, culture and justice for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific and Indigenous peoples. Ka Huli Ao focuses on education, research and scholarship, community outreach, and the preservation of invaluable historical, legal, and traditional and customary materials. It also offers new courses and supports Native Hawaiian and other law students as they pursue legal careers and leadership roles.

Hawaii Health Law Policy Center

The Health Law Policy Center aims to 1) to conduct and disseminate research on health law policy aimed at improving health care access in Hawaii; 2) to serve as a focus for multidisciplinary research, teaching, and discourse on health law and policy in the context of Hawaii; and 3) to bring community leaders, health care policymakers, and multidisciplinary faculty members and students together to study, examine, and devise solutions to health care shortages and other barriers to access in Hawaii’s rural, impoverished, or otherwise underserved communities.

University of Hawaii Law Review

The University of Hawaii Law Review is a scholarly legal journal run by students that publishes works authored by distinguished jurists, scholars and practitioners, covering diverse areas of the law. In addition to publishing two issues annually, the University of Hawaii Law Review hosts a biennial symposium that brings together the legal community to discuss relevant legal issues.

Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal

The Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal (APLPJ) is a biannual scholarly legal journal covering issues in Pacific-Asian law. The journal aspires to disseminate legal research by law professors, legal practitioners, social scientists and economists, and students to increase awareness of issues of regional concern. In addition to its web format, the journal is available through the legal databases LexisNexis and Westlaw.

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit & Hawaii Supreme Court

Each year, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sits specially at the school to hear some appeals from the United States District Court for the Districts of Hawaii and Guam. The Hawaii Supreme Court also sits regularly.

Bright International Jurist-in-Residence Program

Started in 2007, under the tutelage of Senior Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit, Myron H Bright, the Bright International Jurist-in-Residence program hosts international jurists to facilitate dialogue with the wider community and the school's faculty and staff.

U.S. Supreme Court Jurist-in-Residence Program

Instituted in 1987, with the support of Myron H. Bright, a Senior Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit, Richardson has a U.S. Supreme Court Jurist-In-Residence Program. Biannually, a visiting U.S. Supreme Court Justice presents seminars on current judicial issues as well as teaches classes. Since 2000, a Honolulu law firm, Case Lombardi & Pettit, has provided sponsorship for the program.

Faculty

Jump To: Endowed Professorship Chairs, Notable Faculty

Endowed professorship & faculty chairs

Through the University of Hawaii at Manoa Foundation, Richardson has been endowed with several professorships and faculty chairs.

Benjamin A. Kudo Professor of Law

Dan & Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair In Democratic Ideas

Fred T. Korematsu Professorship In Law and Social Justice

George J Johnson Visiting Professor Endowment

Michael J. Marks Distinguished Professor of Business Law

Wallace S. Fujiyama Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law

Carlsmith Ball Faculty Scholar Fund

SBS Holdings Co. Korean Faculty Fund

Notable faculty

In 2013,The Princeton Review ranked the Richardson Faculty as the third "Most Diverse Faculty." And, in 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked the school 3rdth of 190 Law Schools for "Smallest Faculty-Student Ratio". The faculty is specialized in an array of legal areas.

Current notable faculty

David L. Callies, Preeminent Scholar of the Law of Real Property

Tae-Ung Baik, Former Korean Prisoner of Conscience, Specialist in International Human Rights Law and Korean Law

Charles R. Lawrence

Mari Matsuda, Activist Legal Scholar, Lawyer, First Tenured Female Asian-American Law Professor

Randall Roth

Richard W. Pollack

Aviam Soifer, Constitutional Law Scholar, Former Dean of Boston College Law School

Eric Yamamoto, Korematsu Professor of Law and Social Justice, Namesake of the Nationwide Consortium of Asian Pacific American Lawyer's "Professor Eric Y. Yamamoto Emerging Scholar Award," best known for his work on racial justice, including redress and reconciliation

Former faculty

Chris Iijima, Legal Scholar, Asian-American Civil Rights Activist, Folk Singer (Deceased)

Jon Van Dyke, Constitutional Law Scholar, Lawyer, Activist (Deceased)

Student body

Admission to Richardson is highly selective, and the caliber of the student body reflects this. 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," while Princeton Review ranked it "Best Environment for Minority Students."

Law student pledge

Adopted in 2002 as an aspirational reflection of Kānāwai Māmalahoe, all Richardson students recite the 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.

Student organizations

Richardson sponsors numerous student organizations, including:

'Ahahui O Hawai'i

Advocates For Public Interest Law (APIL)

American Inns of Court (The Hon. James S. Burns Aloha Chapter of the Inns of Court)

American Bar Association-Student Chapter

Black Law Student Association (BLSA)

Christian Legal Society (CLS)

Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity (DTP)

Environmental Law Society (ELS)

Federalist Society

Filipino Law School Association (FLSA)

Hammurabi Legal Forum

Hawaii Women's Lawyers

La Alianza

Lambda Law Student Association

Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Organization (PALSO)

Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity

Richardson Golf Association

Running Group

Self Defense Club

Soccer Club

Street Law

Student Animal League Defense Fund (SALDF)

Student Bar Association (SBA)

Students With Keiki

Sustainable Richardson

TED Richardson

Moot Court teams

Richardson fields Moot Court teams, composed of students, in competitions across many legal areas.

In addition, Richardson fields a competitive Client Counseling Team.

Moot court teams

Environmental Moot Court Team

Hispanic Moot Court Team

Saul Lefkowtiz Intellectual Property Moot Court Team

International Environmental Moot Court Team

International Negotiations Team

Mock Trial Team

Native American Moot Court Team

Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Team

Robert F. Wagner Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Team

Space Law Moot Court Team

Law school traditions

A list of some of Richardson's traditions:

Student Pledge

Adopted in 2002 as an aspirational reflection of Kānāwai Māmalahoe, all Richardson students recite the 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.

Ete Bowl

Starting in 1978, Richardson--in a tradition that promotes school spirit and camaraderie amongst students--holds a yearly alumnae v. female law students flag football game. The Alumnae ("Bruzers") and UH Law Student ("Etes") teams are composed entirely of female students, while cheerleaders are composed of male students dressed in drag.

Stew Day

Begun by Professor Calvin Pang, every year on Stew Day, the Richardson Faculty dress up in goofy hats and aprons and serve a stew lunch to the students. Recently added to Stew Day, Professor Pang orchestrated the “Red Socks Award” – in honor of Dean Aviam Soifer, a Boston Red Sox Fan. However, the Award is not intended to celebrate the Red Sox rather stories of heroism and inspiration. Students submit stories about classmates who have extended themselves in ways that inspire others.

Notable alumni

Politics

Colleen Hanabusa, US Congressional Representative

Florence T. Nakakuni, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii

John D. Waihee III, Former Hawaii Governor

Duke Aiona, Former Hawaii Lieutenant Governor

Earl I. Anzai, Former Hawaii State Attorney General

Brian Taniguchi, Hawaii State Senator

Dwight Takamine, Hawaii State Senator

Blake Oshiro, Majority Leader, Hawaii House of Representatives

Quentin Kawānanakoa, Minority Leader Hawaii, House of Representatives

Della Au Belatti, Hawaii House of Representatives

Sharon Har, Hawaii House of Representatives

Scott Nishimoto, Hawaii House of Representatives

Maile Shimabukuro, Hawaii House of Representatives

Kirk Caldwell, Mayor of Honolulu, Hawaii

Billy Kenoi, Mayor of Hawaii Island

Judiciary

Sabrina McKenna, Hawaii Supreme Court Justice, Lawyer

Academia

Mari Matsuda