Richardson ranks among nation’s top programs

The William S. Richardson School of Law University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa earned ranking among the nation’s top programs, according to the U.S. News and World Report’s (USNWR) updated 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings, released on May 10.

Richardson Law School earned its high marks in environmental law (No. 26) and part-time law programs (No. 24).

“We are proud to have continued our investment in student success. Over the last few years, we have increased our financial aid and scholarships and invested considerable resources in our students’ bar pass and licensure success,” Law School Dean Camille Nelson said. “We also continue to build strong relationships with the practicing bar and bench to enhance professional opportunities and outcomes for our students.”

Law rankings:

  • Overall 135 out of 196
  • Environmental law No. 26
  • International law No. 50
  • Part-time law No. 24
  • Legal writing No. 32
  • Contracts-commercial No. 87

The results for the law and medical schools were delayed from the initial release of graduate school programs on April 24 after many universities challenged the rankings, including their significant changes to the methodology and results.

The USNWR ranks graduate schools based on a variety of factors, including bar exam pass rates, employment rates, acceptance rates, standardized test scores, grade-point averages of incoming students, and peer assessment scores.

Richardson Law School has also gained high marks for practical training, environmental law, and its diverse faculty and student body and more. 

The Law School also recently announced the Hawai’i Online JD Flex, an online Juris Doctor program that is accepting its first cohort of students for the Fall.