Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 10 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Asian studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Adminstration), J.D./M.P.H. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health), J.D./M.S.W. (Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work), J.D./M.U.R.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Urban and Regional Planning), and J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in psychology).
The William S. Richardson School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, labor law, litigation, maritime law, tax law, torts and insurance, and Pacific Asian legal studies. In addition, clinics for 3 or 4 credits each are assigned by lottery to upper-level students who meet the prerequisites. Clinics include Prosecution, Elder Law, and Native Hawaiian Rights. Upper-level students are offered a variety of seminars in advanced legal studies and Pacific-Asian Legal Studies for 1 to 3 credits per seminar. The required Second Year Seminar is offered for 4 credits. One externship per semester may be taken by upper-level students; a maximum of 2 externships may be taken for 2 credits each. Alternatively, a 14-credit externship in an approved Pacific Island jurisdiction may be taken. Under the directed studies program, any upper-level student may elect to conduct special research for 1 to 3 credits. Research can be repeated. Field work is linked to those clinics that include live client representation as well as actual court appearances under a special state Supreme Court rule. Special lecture series are offered for no credit; any student may attend. Annually, there is a Distinguished Fujiyama Visiting Professor, a George Johnson Visiting Scholar, and Jurist-in-Residence Program. There is also a Pacific-Asian Legal Studies lecture series for visiting Asian legal scholars. Study abroad can be accomplished by special arrangement for varying credits or by a full-semester externship in certain Pacific Island jurisdictions for 14 credits. Tutorial programs are available and administered through the Student Bar Association for no credit. The Pre-Admission Program is a 1-year program prior to matriculation for 12 students from among those groups underrepresented in the Hawaii Bar; Special interst group programs, offered for no credit, include the Filipino Law Students Association, ‘Ahahui ’O Hawai’i (a Native Hawaiian organization), Advocates for Public Interest Law, and the Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Organization. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Wills and Trusts, and Corporations.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 89 total credits, of which 42 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Appellate Advocacy, Civil Procedure I and II, Contracts I and II, Criminal Justice, Legal Bibliography, Legal Method Seminar, Real Property Law I, and Torts Process I and II. Required upper-level courses consist of Constitutional Law I, one clinical course, Pro Bono legal service (60 hours), Professional Responsibility, and Second Year Seminar. All students must take clinical courses. The required orientation program for first-year students is 1 week consisting of introductions to faculty, students, career issues, registration, and academic regulations; discussion of stress and personal issues; and a group introduction to the Legal Method Seminar.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.