Advanced Juris Doctor (AJD) Program FAQ
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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 Hawai‛ian 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!
The Frank Boas Scholarship
- Advanced JD, LLM, and visiting international students may apply for our Boas Scholarship which provides limiting funding for tuition. Applicants must be international students, students in the Pacific Asia Legal Studies (PALS) Program, or students involved in/planning to take courses in international law. The application for the Boas Scholarship can be found in the funding section of the AJD, LLM, and visiting international 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:
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
For current, recent, and upcoming classes for UHM visit
University of Hawaii at Manoa Class Availability
For the Law School visit
Current Class, Course and Exam Information
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 other JD students and are eligible to take the bar examination in all U.S. jurisdictions when all other requirements for admission are also met. Special note for online programs: based on current guidelines, graduates will qualify for the Bar exam in every state other than New York. We recommend all students check with their respective state’s bar to confirm the 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.