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

The LLM Program
The Master of Laws (LLM) program is a one-year course of study open to foreign law graduates 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 LLM 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 a special Legal Research and Writing course designed for foreign law graduates. We also permit students to count up to six credits in the University's graduate schools towards their LLM degree. LLM students take all their regular courses with our JD students and have ample opportunity to interact with them. If your goal is to take the NY or DC bar examination, you may take the required courses here during your LLM study.

Eligibility Applicants to the LLM 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.

LLM Specializations Our LLM 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 LLM degree. We now offer specializations in seven areas: Business & Commercial Law, Conflict Resolution, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, International & Comparative Law, International Human Rights Law, and Ocean Law & Policy.

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

The Advanced JD Program
The advanced JD allows graduates of foreign law schools to complete their U.S. law studies and earn a JD degree in as little as two years. Under this program, qualified foreign law graduates may be admitted with advanced standing and awarded up to 29 credits for their previous law study. The decision on the number of credits to be granted will be made when your application is considered, and successful applicants will be notified at the time of admission how many credits they will receive for their foreign study. Our two-year JD program provides foreign law graduates with the best preparation for bar admission and for the successful practice of law. Advanced JD students are full members of our Law School community. Students admitted to the accelerated JD program receive the same degree as other JD students and are eligible to take the bar examination in all U.S. jurisdictions, if they meet the other requirements for admission.

For more information about the Advanced JD Program, go to:
https://www.law.hawaii.edu/which-program-right-you

The Law School courtyard

The William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa 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 throughout 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 law, and international human rights law. 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 (10:1), which results in small classes and close interaction between teachers and students. We have about 275 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.

Atop Diamond Head Crater

The Law School is located on the campus of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, the flagship of the University of Hawai'i system, in the beautiful Manoa valley on the island of Oahu. 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.

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 students to participate in Law School life, and student organizations enthusiastically include international 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 international students, 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 Waikiki Beach.