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Hawai’i Online JD Program
Overview
Access to a top-tier legal education at the William S. Richardson School of Law doesn’t have to be restricted to being on campus. We recognize that talented law students can come from anywhere and shouldn’t be bound by location, family, or professional obligations. The Hawai’i Online JD Program is part-time, where the curriculum format is 100% online.
You can complete the Hawai’i Online JD program in 4 years when and where it is most convenient for you – meaning you won’t have to put your career on pause to earn your degree. In this flexible learning format, students interact with their peers and instructors in a blended synchronous (on a set schedule) and asynchronous (on your schedule) educational environment.
Ideal for working professionals, the Hawai’i Online JD program offers a curriculum that includes vigorous discussion in traditional Socratic classroom settings. Through lectures, seminars, and informal small group discussions, you will be encouraged to study law and legal institutions as integral parts of larger social, political-economic, and ecological systems.
Hawaiʻi online jD Program Curriculum
The curriculum below represents a sample schedule to give you an idea of the program’s course schedule. For more information on the upcoming term, please schedule an appointment with an enrollment specialist to discuss.
Fall Semester:
- Civil Procedure I
- Torts
- Lawyering Fundamentals I
J-Term*
Spring Semester
- Civil Procedure II
- Constitutional Law I
- Lawyering Fundamentals II
- Legal Research
Summer Semester
- Elective
- Professional Responsibility
*In addition to the above, a one-week term will run the first full week after the winter break before the Spring semester starts. Distinguished scholars will teach specialized courses for one week, which can be attended either on-campus or 100% online.
Fall Semester:
- Contracts I
- Criminal Law
- Elective
J-Term*
Spring Semester
- Contracts II
- Real Property I
- Elective
*In addition to the above, a one-week term will run the first full week after the winter break before the Spring semester starts. Distinguished scholars will teach specialized courses for one week, which can be attended either on-campus or 100% online.
The upper division experience will allow students to choose from various elective and experiential learning courses.
Writing skills are sharpened in a required Second Year Seminar in which students engage in an in-depth exploration of a legal topic to produce a scholarly paper. Seminar topics include, for example, Family Law, Native Hawaiian Rights, Property, Labor Law, Electronic Commerce, Race, Culture and Law, Intellectual Property, International Law, and Environmental Law.
Why Choose the Hawaiʻi online jD program?
- You will be receiving a top-tier education and joining a network of successful alumni:
William S. Richardson School of Law is recognized for its excellence in legal education, ranking among the best law schools in the United States by both The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. The school has an established reputation for its particular strengths in Environmental Law, Native Hawaiian Law, Pacific-Asian Legal Studies, and International Law.
The Hawai’i Online JD program’s rigorous curriculum prepares graduates for challenging and rewarding professional careers equipped with skills in legal counseling, advocacy, and decision-making. You will become part of an alumni network of leaders in business, government, and the community committed to making a better society for Hawai’i and beyond. - You won’t have to relocate or quit your full-time job:
At Richardson, you only need the right motivation, a strong academic background, and an internet connection to earn your JD. Individuals can earn their JDs part-time in 4 years through a combination of synchronous (on a set schedule) and asynchronous (on your schedule) virtual classes and coursework. The Hawai’i Online JD program is one of the few 100% online, part-time, ABA-accredited JD programs at a nationally ranked law school. - You may qualify for financial aid and scholarships:
In addition to one flat tuition rate, regardless of where you live, there are also a variety of scholarships and financial aid opportunities to help offset the cost of attendance including Renewable Merit Scholarships (up to $7,000/year), Annual Need-Based Grants (up to $5,000), UH Foundation Scholarships for Current Students (up to $5,000), Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans. Learn more about tuition and financial aid opportunities.
Connect with Admissions
Program Format
The Hawaiʻi Online JD program includes 89 credits of coursework and lectures that are delivered through dynamic, remote instruction and assignments. The program includes live, virtual classes with vigorous discussion in traditional Socratic classroom settings and self-paced, recorded coursework that can be completed when and where it’s most convenient for you.
For the Fall 2025 semester, synchronous, online courses are tentatively scheduled to be 3 evenings per week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
In order to qualify for graduation, students in the Hawaiʻi Online JD program are required to complete 6 credits of experiential learning and 60 hours of law-related pro bono legal services under the supervision of an attorney, law school faculty or dean, or other supervisor, as approved by the Pro Bono Program Administrator. Pro bono services include law-related public service activities for nonprofits, government agencies, and the courts. Law students are encouraged to provide a portion of their pro bono service to persons of limited means or to organizations that serve such persons. The pro bono work is meant to be law-related in nature, not clerical or administrative. Learn more about the Pro Bono Program.
Questions? Schedule an appointment to speak with a Richardson admissions representative.
Application Requirements
To apply for Fall 2026, ensure the following have been submitted:
- Application by May 1, 2026 (Priority date of January 28, 2026, for automatic merit scholarship consideration)*
- Résumé
- Personal Statement
- Current CAS report that includes LSAT score(s) or GRE score(s) (no more than 5 years old), two letters of recommendation, writing sample, all required transcripts, and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores (if necessary).
- LSAT: The April LSAT will be the last accepted to meet our May 1 deadline; however, please ensure all materials have been sent to and processed by LSAC to minimize any delays.
- GRE: ETS School Code is 2381.
- You must have received your bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before you enroll in law classes.
There is a $75 application fee.*
*The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) waives its fees for applicants who are absolutely unable to pay for the LSAT and other essential applicant services. See LSAC Fee Waiver.
*Richardson also offers a Service Recognition Fee Waiver, the request form can be found on the Application Fee Waivers page.
FAQs
- Is this program approved by the ABA?
Yes, the Hawaiʻi Online JD program is approved by the ABA, and the University of Hawaii’s Richardson School of Law is fully ABA-accredited. It is one of the only 100% Online JD programs in the country at a nationally ranked law school to receive this approval.
- Will the degree certificate say it’s an online degree?
The degree itself will say “juris doctor” and your transcripts will indicate if a class was online.
- Which state’s Bar exams will graduates qualify for?
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.
- How long will it take to complete the Hawaiʻi Online JD program?
The Hawaiʻi Online JD program is designed to be completed in 4 years.
- Is there an accelerated version of the online JD program?
No, the Hawaiʻi Online JD program is only offered part-time and designed to be completed in 4 years.
- Would you be able to convert from online to in-person after starting the program?
You may request to transfer to the full-time in-person program after your second year and based on completion of the 1L curriculum.
- Is it easier to get into the Hawaiʻi Online JD program than the full-time program?
No. Applicants to both programs must meet the same admissions criteria.
- How many credits will I take each semester in the Hawaiʻi Online JD program?
The number of credits varies by year and semester. Please see the curriculum section above to find out how many credits you’ll be taking each semester.
- May I work while studying in the Hawaiʻi Online JD program?
Yes. There are no restrictions on how much you work if you remain in the Hawaiʻi Online JD program, so long as you complete the required courses each semester; however, work demands are not permissible excuses for failing to meet the program requirements.
- What are the requirements for graduation?
Students must earn a minimum of 89 law credits. Please note the course requirements below:
- 1L Curriculum
- Constitutional Law I
- Professional Responsibility
- Second Year Seminar (SYS) or Law Thesis
- 6 Credits of Experiential Learning (EXL) Courses
- 60 hours of Pro Bono work
Refer to the graduation requirements page and the Student Handbook for complete details regarding the fulfillment of your graduation requirements.
- Will I be eligible for career and student services?
Yes. All law school services will be available to you. We have evening hours and staff available to assist you virtually.
- May I apply to both the full-time and Hawaiʻi Online JD programs at the same time?
No. Your program is a preference, and you may choose to switch programs prior to matriculation if your situation changes, granted seats are available. Download our Application Checklist to learn more about applying to the Hawai’i Online JD program.
- Are the LSAT or GRE required to apply?
Yes, you must submit valid LSAT or GRE scores as part of your application. The test score and your academic record constitute a significant portion of the admissions evaluation.
- What’s the minimum and median LSAT/GRE score required?
There is no minimum requirement for the LSAT or GRE, but we do require a strong academic background for admission. You can view the median statistics from previous incoming classes to learn more about the scores that our admissions team looks for in successful applicants.
- I already hold an advanced degree. Could the LSAT or GRE requirement be waived?
The GRE or LSAT are required as part of our application. There is no waiver for this requirement.
- Can I apply for the part-time online program as a transfer student?
We will begin accepting transfer students into the part-time online program for the Fall 2026 term.
- Are scholarships available?
We offer a variety of scholarships worth up to $7,000/year.
- Is there a separate tuition rate for active duty military or veterans?
Veterans using VA education benefits, Active Duty Military (stationed in Hawai’i), and Members of Hawai’i Based National Guard or Reserve may receive an exemption for the resident tuition rate of $990 per credit (2026-2027).
8:1
Student-to-faculty
The ratio of student to faculty members is 8:1. Faculty members engage with students as partners as well as serve as sources of knowledge. A foremost concern of the Law School is to provide assistance in “learning how to learn.”