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Pacific-Asian Legal Studies

OVERVIEW

In keeping with Hawai‘i’s location, culture and history, the William S. Richardson School of Law has one of the most dynamic and comprehensive programs in Pacific-Asian Legal Studies (PALS) offered by an American ABA-accredited law school. Established in 1983, the PALS program has been a staple at the Law School.

Education, Research, and Scholarship

Pacific-Asian courses are increasingly important as American law practice has become ever more globalized. These courses continue to provide a comparative perspective on the U.S. legal system, which is valuable for all of our students.  As part of the Law School’s commitment to PALS, PALS faculty are heavily involved in international issues across the Pacific and Asia–offering our law students unique opportunities to work within those arenas as well.

Real-World Experience

PALS actively supports students” participation in study abroad and externship opportunities in Asia and the Pacific as part of their course of study. PALS students have studied in Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Cambodia, Belau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, to name a few, where they have worked for a wide range of organizations, including judges’ offices, law firms, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Within the last few years, PALS students have completed externships with the following organizations: Cambodia Legal Aid, the United States Embassy in Japan, the Guam Judiciary, the American Samoa Judiciary, the Micronesian Judiciary, a United Nations office in Thailand, and various law firms in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Taipei, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Accessing Pacific and Asian Studies at Manoa

The University of Hawai‘i is deeply committed to its international programs, and the PALS program is supported by the following University’s excellent area centers websites:

• Center for Chinese Studies
• Center for Japanese Studies
• Center for Korean Studies
• Center for Pacific Islands Studies
• Center for Southeast Asian Studies
• Center for Hawaiian Studies

The Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Organization (PALSO)

The Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Organization (PALSO) is a law student organization that regularly welcomes attorneys and academics for talks and lectures on a range of topics and hosts a number of social events that gathers the law school community to promote our common interests in Pacific and Asian cultures. Please reach out to PALSO by email if you are interested in joining.