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Dean Camille Nelson and Kari Carolan, Director of Online Legal Education and Part-Time Programming, represented the William S. Richardson School of Law at the 2024 Joint Annual District Court of Guam Conference and Pacific Judicial Council Biennial Conference from August 26-27. Dean Nelson highlighted Richardson’s innovative Hawaiʻi Online JD Flex Program, designed to make high-quality legal education accessible to students beyond the Oʻahu area, including the larger Pacific region, allowing them to earn an ABA-accredited JD while remaining in their home communities.
During the event, Nelson and Carolan shared how the Online JD Flex Program directly addresses the region’s shortage of legal professionals, with a focus on expanding opportunities for Pacific Island nations. “For Pacific Island nations, the ability to educate and retain legal professionals locally is a game-changer,” Carolan said. “The Hawaiʻi Online JD Flex Program empowers students to remain rooted in their cultural identity, families, and communities while gaining the legal expertise needed to drive local change.”
“We understand that while talent is equally dispersed, opportunity is not,” Nelson said. The Hawaiʻi Online JD Flex Program is another step in the fulfillment of our mission to “be a collaborative, multicultural community that prepares students for excellence in careers that advance justice and the rule of law.” This mission takes seriously the need to engage locally, regionally, and internationally in the provision of our unique and inspiring legal education.
Carolan also hosted information sessions at the University of Guam, where she provided detailed insights into how the Online JD Flex Program works and its relevance to Pacific communities. Over 50 attendees participated in three sessions, where many expressed enthusiasm for the program’s potential to develop local legal talent. Attendees appreciated how the program enables students to stay home while gaining the legal training needed to contribute to their nation’s justice systems, governance, and policy development.
The trip also included a special gathering with Richardson Law alumni in Guam, where Nelson and Carolan reinforced connections and explored future collaboration opportunities. This is another step in fulfilling the school’s commitment to growing legal expertise throughout the Pacific.
“There is incredible talent across Oceania, and the Hawaiʻi Online JD Flex Program taps into that potential by providing accessible legal education,” Carolan said. “It allows Pacific Islanders to develop their skills and expertise locally, ensuring that the region’s brightest minds can contribute to the future of their own communities.”
As Richardson Law continues to expand its reach and impact, the Hawaiʻi Online JD Flex Program stands as a testament to the school’s commitment to innovation, accessibility and community. The program equips students in the Pacific with the legal skills needed to support local legal systems, fostering future generations of leaders who can best serve their island nations.
The school looks forward to furthering its collaborations in the region, guided by the legacy of Chief Justice William S. Richardson and his vision for equitable access to legal education.