Advanced JD (AJD) Program
Overview
The Advanced Juris Doctor (AJD) Program is designed for graduates of foreign law schools and allows students to complete a U.S. Juris Doctor (JD) degree in as little as two years for students in the full-time, in-person AJD Program and in as little as 3 years students in the part-time, online AJD Program. This program enables graduates of foreign law programs to save time and money in earning their JD degree. Earning an AJD is an excellent pathway for those who plan to take a bar examination and work in the United States. Foreign lawyers practicing abroad will also benefit from the AJD Program which will allow them to build their expertise in U.S. law.
Under the AJD, qualified students may be admitted with advanced standing and awarded up to 29 credits for their previous law study. Credits from an LLM earned at another U.S. institution can not be transferred. The decision on the number of credits to be granted will be made when your application is considered. Successful applicants will be notified at the time of admission about how many credits they will receive for their foreign study.
Advanced JD students are full members of our Law School community. AJD graduates 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. In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Curriculum and Requirements
AJD students follow the same JD curriculum as 1L students, taking elective courses and additional requirements after completing the 1L requirements. An academic advisor will assist students to design an individual program suited to their background and interests, including participation in our programs in environmental, international and business 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)
Additional 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-Level Writing Requirement (3 credits)
- Satisfactory completion of a 89 credits and a minimum of 60 credits taken at William S. Richardson School of Law
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-Level Writing Requirement (3 credits)
- Satisfactory completion of a 89 credits and a minimum of 60 credits taken at William S. Richardson School of Law
Schedule subject to change
How to apply
Fall 2026 – applications now open through LSAC!
All AJD applicants will use the Advanced JD Program application. This application includes a section for applicants to indicate their preference for either the full-time, in-person or the part-time, online program.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the AJD program, applicants must hold a law degree from an accredited or
approved law school outside the U.S. Applicants may submit LSAT and/or GRE scores, but they are
not required. Applicants do not have to be members of the bar in their home countries; however,
their educational and professional experiences, including law school grades and practice
background, are carefully considered by the Admissions Committee.
Application Deadline and Submission
Applications are considered on a rolling basis from September 1 to June 1. Applications submitted after June 1 will be considered if space is available. Applications received by February 5 will be given priority consideration for any available scholarships.
AJD applications must be submitted through LSAC. applicants must order a CAS Report when applying through LSAC. The CAS report is an assembly service that will receive, evaluate, and compile application documents.
Application Materials
Tell us about your experience and qualifications, your reasons for seeking an AJD degree, and the course of study you wish to pursue. (about 800 words)
Submit a document written by you at work or school in English on any topic, up to three pages, as a sample of your English writing ability. The writing sample does not need to be a complete document. You may black out any confidential information.
Paid online; Non-refundable/Non-transferable
We prefer that one of the letters be from a former or current law professor, if possible. Letters must be written in English or have an English translation attached. Applicants to the AJD who have earned an LLM degree in the U.S. will ideally include one letter of recommendation from an LLM instructor.
Official transcripts from all graduate and undergraduate institutions sent directly from the school to LSAC.
Applicants may submit LSAT and/or GRE scores, but they are not required.
Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution in the United States, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore are exempt from providing English proficiency test scores.
If an applicant’s legal education at the university level was conducted entirely in English in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, or Hong Kong, they may attach an official statement from the university verifying English was the medium of instruction in lieu of providing English proficiency test scores.
Other applicants may provide test scores to show English proficiency:
TOEFL score: 90+
(UH school code: 8395)
IELTS score 6+
Cambridge English Exam C1 or C2
Applicants wishing to request a TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge waiver for other reasons not listed above may do so directly in the application. The English Proficiency section of the application includes an optional section for applicants to provide an explanation of how they satisfy the English proficiency requirement.
Interview
Once all application materials are received, the Admissions Committee may request a Zoom interview before making their decision.
Visa Information
We work with the UHM International Student Services to assist Richardson students with I-20 and Visa paperwork.
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.