University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law

Updated Law School COVID-19 Response

Students in Davis-Levin Livingston Atrium
More in Apply:

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

For LLM admissions inquiries, please contact the Program Director Spencer Kimura at kimurasp@hawaii.edu.

Admissions Events

How to Apply

Application deadlines

First Time JD – Fall 2024

  • Application Available via LSAC.org: September 1
  • Full-Time JD Priority Deadline: February 1
  • Online Part-Time JD Priority Deadline: February 1
  • Final Deadline: May 1

Transfer and Visiting Students: 

  • Spring Application Period: October 1 – December 1
  • Fall Application Period: May 1 – July 1

Advanced JD: October 1 – June 1 (AJD application instructions)

Master of Laws: October 1 – June 1 (LLM application instructions)

Hawaii Summer Law Program Deadline: May 1 (Summer Law application instructions)

APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW

To apply, JD, AJD, Transfer, and Visiting 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.

For more detailed application instructions, see Apply with the GRE or LSAT or Transferring & Visiting Students.

  • Application Fee: Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee online at LSAC. 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.
  • 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:
    • LSAT Score and Writing Sample;
    • All Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Transcripts;
    • At least two Academic or Professional Letters of Recommendation

In addition to the items above, Transfer/Visitor or Advanced JD Applicants need to submit these additional items.

  • Transfer or Visitor Applicants must also:
    • 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 directly to the Law School Admissions Office by email (lawadm@hawaii.edu) before our application deadline. Letters of good standing contain the dates of your enrollment and indicate if you are welcome to continue your legal education at the law school. In the same letter, ask that the Registrar indicate your class rank or quartile standing (e.g., top quarter, top half) if available.
      • 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
    • Letters of Recommendation: 
      • We strongly recommend that you submit at least one letter from a law school professor or instructor.
  • Advanced JD Applicants must also: 
    • Include a 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.
    • Review additional details on Eligibility and Application Materials for AJD candidates.