University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law

More in Apply:

For JD admissions inquiries, please contact the Enrollment Management team:
lawadm@hawaii.edu 
or attend an info session:
admissions event

For AJD admissions inquiries:
intlaw@hawaii.edu

For LLM admissions inquiries: lawllm@hawaii.edu

Upcoming Admissions Events

How to Apply

Application deadlines

ProgramAvailability & Deadline
First Time JD – Fall 2027 (Full-Time & Online Part-Time)Application Available via LSAC.org: September 1
Priority Date: February 3
Final Deadline: May 1
Transfer and Visiting Students

International Visiting Students, contact intlaw@hawaii.edu		Spring Application Period: October 1 – December 1
Fall Application Period: May 1 – July 1
Advanced JD (AJD) – Full-Time, In-Person and Part-Time, OnlineApplication Available via LSAC.org: September 1
Priority Date: February 5
Application Deadline: May 1
after May 1, contact intlaw@hawaii.edu
Master of Laws (LLM)Application Available via LSAC.org: September 1
Priority Date: February 5
Application Deadline: June 1
after June 1, contact lawllm@hawaii.edu
Hawai’i Summer Law ProgramPriority Date: May 1
Contact sumlaw@hawaii.edu with questions

International applicants: priority deadline is April 1;
after April 1, contact intlaw@hawaii.edu

* Applicants should plan to have materials sent to and processed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) before these deadlines to minimize any delays with their CAS report. Please do not send any physical mail to the Law School.

Complete I-20 requests for in-person international students must be received at least three months before the start of the program (the first day of orientation). As this deadline is earlier than the latest program application deadlines, applicants who would need an I-20/student visa should plan accordingly when preparing their application.

APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW

JD applicants must complete the online application with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). We must receive all application materials (below) from LSAC before the posted deadline.

Applicants are encouraged to review our detailed application instructions: see Apply with the GRE or LSAT

  • Application Fee: Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee online at LSAC. See if you may qualify for a fee waiver from our law school. Students already enrolled in law school are not eligible for an LSAC fee waiver.
  • Personal Statement: compose a 500-word personal statement on a subject of your choice.
  • Résumé: Write a résumé detailing your education, extracurricular activity, professional experience, and community service.
  • GRE Applicants: Please see additional instructions to send scores in Step 2 of How to Apply. We will manually waive the LSAT requirement after receipt of your GRE scores.
  • Credential Assembly Service (CAS): We must receive your complete Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report from LSAC by our deadline. Your complete CAS report will include the following items:
    • if applicable, LSAT Score and Writing Sample;
    • and all Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Transcripts;
    • and at least two Academic or Professional Letters of Recommendation
    • and English Proficiency document(s), if applicable 
  • English Proficiency: 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 the following test scores to show English proficiency:
    • TOEFL Score (UH school code: 8395)
      100+ on traditional scale
      5.0+ on banded scale (starting January 2026)
    • IELTS: 
      7+
    • Cambridge English Exam:
      185+

      Applicants wishing to request a TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge waiver for other reasons not listed above should include an explanation of how they satisfy the English proficiency requirement as an addendum in their application.

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.

AJD applicants must complete the online application with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). We must receive all application materials (below) from LSAC before the posted deadline.

  • Personal Statement
    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)
  • Writing Sample
    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.
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • $75 Application Fee
    Not refundable or transferable.
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
    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
    Official transcripts from all graduate and undergraduate institutions sent directly from the school to LSAC. If the transcripts are not in English, a certified English translation must be submitted with each transcript.
  • LSAT and/or GRE test scores (optional)
    Applicants may submit LSAT and/or GRE scores, but they are not required.
  • English Proficiency document(s), (if applicable)
    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 the following test scores to show English proficiency:
    • TOEFL Score (UH school code: 8395)
      100+ on traditional scale
      5.0+ on banded scale (starting January 2026)
    • IELTS 
      7+
    • Cambridge English Exam
      185+

      Waiver: 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.

Eligibility: to be eligible for the LLM program, applicants must hold a law degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized law school. Both graduates with a foreign law degree and graduates with a U.S. JD are encouraged to apply.

LLM applicants will complete the online application with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) and provide the following:

  • Personal Statement: Tell us about your experience and qualifications, your reasons for seeking an LLM degree and the course of study you wish to pursue (about 800 words).
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • $75 Application Fee, non-refundable/non-transferable
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
    We prefer that one of the letters be from your former or current law professor, if possible. If a recommendation letter is not written in English, an English translation must accompany the original recommendation letter.
  • Transcripts
    Official transcripts from all institutions (graduate and undergraduate) where you have studied. These must be sent directly from the school. If the transcripts are not in English, a certified English translation must be submitted with each transcript.
  • LSAT and/or GRE test scores (optional)
    Applicants may submit LSAT and/or GRE scores, but they are not required.
  • English Proficiency document(s), if applicable
    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 the following test scores to show English proficiency:
    • TOEFL Score (UH school code: 8395)
      90+ on traditional scale
      4.5+ on banded scale (starting January 2026)
    • IELTS
      6+
    • Cambridge English Exam
      180+

      Waiver: 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.

Transfer and Visiting JD student applicants must complete the online application with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). We must receive all application materials (below) from LSAC before the deadline. International Visiting Students, contact intlaw@hawaii.edu

Applicants are encouraged to review our detailed application instructions: see Transferring & Visiting Students.

  • Application Fee: Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee online at LSAC. See if you may qualify for a fee waiver from our law school. Students already enrolled in law school are not eligible for an LSAC fee waiver.
  • Personal Statement: compose a 500-word personal statement on a subject of your choice.
  • Résumé: Write a résumé detailing your education, extracurricular activity, professional experience, and community service.
  • GRE Applicants: Please see additional instructions to send scores in Step 2 of How to Apply. We will manually waive the LSAT requirement after receipt of your GRE scores.
  • Credential Assembly Service (CAS): We must receive your complete Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report from LSAC by our deadline. Your complete CAS report will include the following items:
    • if applicable, LSAT Score and Writing Sample;
    • and all Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Transcripts;
    • and at least two Academic or Professional Letters of Recommendation
    • and English Proficiency document(s), if applicable 

      English Proficiency: 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 (UH school code: 8395)
        100+ on traditional scale
        5.0+ on banded scale (starting January 2026)
      • IELTS 
        7+
      • Cambridge English Exam
        185+

        Applicants wishing to request a TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge waiver for other reasons not listed above should include an explanation of how they satisfy the English proficiency requirement as an addendum in their application
  • Submit an addendum discussing your reasons for wanting to transfer or visit our law school. 
  • Provide a letter of standing from your law school(s):
    • The letter of standing must be sent to us by email (lawadm@hawaii.edu) from your law school before our application deadline. Letters of standing should contain the:
      • Dates of your enrollment;
      • Indicate if you are welcome to continue your legal education at the law school;
      • If available, in the same letter, ask that the Registrar indicate your class rank or quartile standing (e.g., top quarter, top half)
    • Visiting Students: If you intend to transfer credits back to your home institution, we will also need a statement that informs us that the credits you earn at our law school will be accepted toward your degree at your home institution.
  • Submit law school transcripts to LSAC
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
    • We strongly recommend that you submit at least one letter from a law school professor or instructor.

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