Advanced Juris Doctor (AJD) Program FAQ

The William H. Richardson School of Law is located in the heart of the East-West crossroads as the only law school for more than 2,000 miles. With the welcoming spirit of aloha, Hawaii’s Law School is immersed in a vibrant cultural landscape, balanced on a delicate ecosystem, and essential to the survival of our community and region. It is the perfect place to study environmental law, Asia-Pacific international and comparative law, Native Hawaiian law, and environmental and indigenous law.

AJD applicants are not required to take the LSAT or GRE scores.

Yes! Our AJD Program is available either full-time/in-person or part-time/online.

All AJD applicants will use the same AJD application which has a section for applicants to indicate their preference for either the full-time, in-person or the part-time, online program.

Applications open in September and we accept applications on a rolling basis until June 1. Applications received after June 1 will be considered if space is available and applications received by February 5 will be given priority consideration for scholarships.

AJD students pay the same tuition as JD students. See our Law School Tuition web page for current tuition information.

Yes! We encourage students to explore funding as early as possible and have provided below direct links to funding opportunities as well as links to pages with additional opportunities. We keep this page as updated as we can with any opportunities for which our graduate and international students may be eligible. Each opportunity will have its own requirements and application process as well as direct contact for inquiries.
Note: AJD students are not eligible for merit admission scholarships. 

The Frank Boas Scholarship

• Open to AJD, LLM, and International Visiting Students:
  • International AJD and LLM students, International Visiting Students, AJD and LLM students who completed their legal education outside the U.S., AJD and LLM students in the Pacific Asia Legal Studies (PALS) Program, and AJD and LLM students involved in/planning to take courses in international law are eligible to apply.
• Application and instructions can be found in the funding section of our AJD, LLM, and International Visiting Student applications.

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship

UH Foundation Scholarships

UH Mānoa Scholarships

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• open to U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens
• WSRSL federal school code: 001610
• For questions, contact Law School Financial Aid: lawfnaid@hawaii.edu

Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) 

• Open to applicants from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam
• Applicants may qualify to pay pay 150% of the resident tuition.

Fulbright Scholar Program

International Education Financial Aid

External Scholarships

Additional External Funding Options for International Students

For more information, visit our Law School Financial Aid page

Yes! For information, eligibility, and nonresident tuition exemptions, please visit:

• Office of Veteran Student Services
• VA Education Services
• UHM Residency Requirements and Exemptions

East-West Center Housing

Many of our graduate and international students apply for student housing through the East-West Center (EWC). EWC is a 5-minute walk from the Law School and offers affordable, dormitory-style housing for UHM students. Rates are set by EWC and EWC housing applications go directly through EWC. Priority is given to EWC and Fulbright scholars and participants of the EWC Student Affiliate Program.

University Student Housing Services

• On-Campus housing – On-campus student housing is very limited. Students interested in applying for on-campus housing are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
• UH Affiliated housing
• Off-Campus housing
• UHM Housing Help & Support for students
• Popular Neighborhoods for UHM Students

The full-time, in-person AJD Program can be completed in as little as two years and the part-time, online AJD Program in as little as three to four years depending on the number of credits taken per semester and the completion of other requirements.

Yes! AJD graduates receive the same degree as other JD students.

Yes! AJD graduates receive the same degree as JD graduates and eligibility to take the bar examination when all other requirements for admission are also met.
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.

Our Director of Bar Success is available to guide our AJDs in understanding the bar requirements in the different jurisdictions, and selecting the jurisdiction that is best suited for each individual student. Note that each jurisdiction in the U.S. sets their own rules and requirements for licensure and eligibility to sit for the bar exam and it is each applicant’s responsibility to understand their qualifications for eligibility. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. 

Yes! AJD students interested in a pursing an LLM at Richardson should consult with our LLM Faculty Advisor as soon as possible for advising and course planning.

You can reach out to our Graduate & International Programs directly: intlaw@hawaii.edu.