Advanced JD (AJD) Curriculum and Requirements
Advanced JD (AJD) students follow the same JD curriculum as 1L students, taking elective courses and additional requirements after completing the 1L requirements. An AJD Faculty Advisor will assist students in course planning, in collaboration with our Director of Bar Success, Directors of Experiential Learning, Externships, and Pro Bono, and Director of Career Services.
Satisfactory completion of a 89 credits with a minimum of 60 credits taken at William S. Richardson School of Law.
First-Year Fall Semester
- LAW 504 Lawyering Fundamentals I (3 credits)
- LAW 506 Contracts (4 credits)
- LAW 516 Civil Procedure I (3 credits)
- LAW 522 Torts (4 credits)
First-year Spring Semester
- LAW 505 Lawyering Fundamentals II (2 credits)
- LAW 513 Criminal Law (4 credits)
- LAW 517 Civil Procedure II (3 credits)
- LAW 518 Real Property I (4 credits)
- LWLR 501 Legal Research (2 credits)
Upper-Division Requirements
- LAW 533 Constitutional Law I (3 credits)
- LAW 511 Professional Responsibility (3 credits)
- 10 hours of Pro Bono service for each semester (Fall and Spring) of attendance
- Experiential Learning (EXL) coursework (6 credits)
- Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 credits)
Students have three options for satisfying the upper-division writing requirement:
1. a Second Year Seminar course;
2. an elective course, designated on the Course Schedule as “UDWR-eligible,” which signifies that the course has been designed to provide students with the opportunity to satisfy the UDWR; or
3. a graded Directed Study
Schedule subject to change
Required foundational course completed during the first two years
- LAW 516 Civil Procedure I (3 credits)
- LAW 522 Torts (4 credits)
- LAW 504 Lawyering Fundamentals I (3 credits)
- LAW 517 Civil Procedure II (3 credits)
- LAW 533 Constitutional Law I (3 credits)
- LAW 505 Lawyering Fundamentals II (2 credits)
- LWLR 501 Legal Research (2 credits)
- LAW 509 Contracts I (2 credits)
- LAW 513 Criminal Law (4 credits)
- LAW 510 Contracts II (2 credits)
- LAW 518 Real Property I (4 credits)
- LAW 511 Professional Responsibility (3 credits)
Additional Requirements
- 10 hours of Pro Bono service for each semester (Fall and Spring) of attendance
- Experiential Learning (EXL) coursework (6 credits)
- Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 credits)
Students have three options for satisfying the upper-division writing requirement:
1. a Second Year Seminar course;
2. an elective course, designated on the Course Schedule as “UDWR-eligible,” which signifies that the course has been designed to provide students with the opportunity to satisfy the UDWR; or
3. a graded Directed Study
Schedule subject to change
Special note for online programs: based on current guidelines, online programs do not meet the bar admission requirements for some states. We recommend all students check with their respective state’s bar to confirm current requirements. We recommend all students check with their respective state’s bar to confirm the requirements.
For more information about the Advanced JD (AJD) Program, please email us at intlaw@hawaii.edu.
The Advanced JD program brings lawyers from all parts of the globe to Richardson. They add richness to the Law School community, not just because of their nationalities, but also because of the variety of their work experiences.
Advanced JD Application: Forms are submitted through LSAC’s website (account registration required).
Credential Assembly Service (CAS): AJD applicants must have an active CAS registration using the Law School Admissions Council website
A Degree in Two Years
The AJD Program is the quickest way for foreign law graduates to earn the JD degree, allowing students to finish in as little as two years. In addition, applicants are not required to take the LSAT exam.