Protecting Something Bigger Than Herself
Anna Meeks
Class of 2026
Anna is a first-generation college student, law student, and professional. She is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor from The William S. Richardson School of Law, where she is also earning certificates in both, Environmental Law and International and Comparative Law. While much of her work focuses on climate, conservation, and international legal frameworks, Anna has developed a broad legal foundation across areas like torts, personal injury, criminal law, and international dispute resolution.
This year, she is proud to serve as President of Phi Delta Phi, an international legal honor society, and Co-President of the Environmental Law Society. She has also served as Vice President of Lambda Law Student Association during the 2024–2025 academic year, where she supported and empowered LGBTQ+ law students and community members. Anna is a member of Law Review Volume 48 and a past competitor in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, which helped deepen her passion for public international law and cross-border cooperation. Anna is an active member of Hawai‘i Women Lawyers, where she continues to connect with and support a strong network of women legal professionals across the state.
Beyond leadership, she is entering her second year as a Teaching Assistant for Torts for Professor Kauanoe, and representing LexisNexis as a student representative on campus. Anna has worked as a Research Assistant for Professor Turcan and currently assists Professor Wallsgrove on environmental and energy law projects, including issues related to Hawaiʻi’s public trust doctrine.
Originally from New England, Anna earned a B.S. in Natural Resources Ecology with a minor in Spanish. She brings a science-based and global perspective to legal studies, and Hawaiʻi has profoundly shaped that lens for her.
“My time at Richardson has been more than just law school, it’s been a journey of growth, clarity, and community. The friendships, mentorship, and opportunities I’ve had here have truly changed my life. I feel incredibly lucky to study environmental law in Hawaiʻi, where Native Hawaiian law and tradition are not just respected but lived. Learning in this place, from the land, the people, and the stories has grounded me in a deeper understanding of what it means to protect something bigger than yourself.”