Established 1973 Faculty 52 Total enrollment 365 (2010) USNWR ranking 82 | School type Public Founded 1973 | |
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Parent school University of Hawaii at Manoa Notable alumni Similar University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Houston Law Center, Kapiolani Community College, University of Hawaii, Yale Law School Profiles | ||
Uh m noa graduate program william s richardson school of law
The University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law is a public law school located in the U.S. state of Hawaii in Honolulu. Named after its patriarch, former Hawaii State Supreme Court Chief Justice William S. Richardson, a zealous advocate of Hawaiian culture, it is the state's only law school.
Contents
- Uh m noa graduate program william s richardson school of law
- William s richardson school of law and the llm program
- William S Richardson
- Ethos
- Historical timeline
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- 2000s
- 2010s
- 2016
- Employment
- Costs
- Juris Doctor
- Advanced Juris Doctor LLM
- Dual Juris Doctor programs
- Joint Juris Doctor programs
- Institutes
- Programs
- Centers
- University of Hawaii Law Review
- Asian Pacific Law Policy Journal
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Hawaii Supreme Court
- Bright International Jurist in Residence Program
- US Supreme Court Jurist in Residence Program
- Faculty
- Endowed professorship faculty chairs
- Notable faculty
- Student body
- Law student pledge
- Student organizations
- Moot Court teams
- Moot court teams
- Law school traditions
- Notable alumni
- References
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.
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). 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 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Richardson amongst the nation's top law schools at 82. Richardson's part-time program was ranked 30th. Notably, Richardson is the smallest law school ranked in the top tier.
William s richardson school of law and the llm program
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, 2010s1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2016
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:
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
Programs
Centers
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 FacultyEndowed professorship & faculty chairs
Through the University of Hawaii at Manoa Foundation, Richardson has been endowed with several professorships and faculty chairs.
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.
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:
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
Law school traditions
A list of some of Richardson's traditions:
Notable alumni
Politics
Judiciary
Academia