LLM

2515 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Phone: 808.956.9038
E-mail: lawllm@hawaii.edu | Website: law.hawaii.edu/llm

Introduction

The William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa is exceptional for its commitment to pluralism and diversity as well as to excellence in scholarship and teaching. The Law School offers outstanding teaching and first-rate professional training by a talented and very accessible faculty. We have about 300 students, who are among the most ethnically and racially diverse in the nation, and draw applicants from over 120 undergraduate schools throughout the United States. As the only law school in the state of Hawai'i, we also benefit from close ties to the state and federal judiciary, the downtown legal community, and international connections in the Pacific. We offer a broad range of courses in business and commercial law and are especially strong in the areas of environmental law, Pacific-Asian legal studies, and Native Hawaiian rights. Every year our January term offers specialized courses taught by distinguished visiting scholars from across the US and abroad, and our Jurists in Residence program provides students with the opportunity to meet with justices from the US Supreme Court or from international and foreign courts.

Location

The Law School is located on the campus of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, the flagship of the University of Hawai'i system, in the beautiful Mānoa valley on the island of O'ahu. The University is a major research institution founded in 1907 and known nationally and internationally for its programs in Asian and Pacific studies, oceanography, marine biology, and astronomy, as well as in law, business, and medicine. Over 20,000 students are enrolled in the University, representing all 50 states and more than 70 countries.

Hawai'i is a spectacularly beautiful place in which to work and study. Hawai'i also offers the opportunity to live in a multicultural environment rich in the traditions of many peoples; its ties to Asia are especially strong. Migration from Japan, China, the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, and the South Pacific has added to our strong multiethnic tradition and has helped to create an unusually diverse population. Everyone who visits here feels right at home. Honolulu has a wide variety of Asian restaurants and markets, and a host of traditional cultural activities and festivals that take place throughout the year. Hawai'i's cultural and artistic traditions are also well represented in local art museums and galleries, and in recent years Hawaiian music and dance have enjoyed a broad renaissance throughout the islands.

Law School Enrollment

• JD enrollment: 300 (approximately)
• LLM enrollment: 15–20 (approximately)

The Faculty

Our faculty members are recognized nationally and internationally for their scholarship, which they combine with extensive real-world experience, and for their public service, both in the state of Hawai'i and beyond. Committed to teaching as well as to research, they remain exceptionally accessible and supportive of students. The Law School has an extremely favorable student-faculty ratio (8:1), which results in small classes and close interaction between teachers and students.

LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization

The Master of Laws (LLM) program is a one-year course of study open to foreign individuals who wish to gain a broader understanding of US and international legal issues—something that is increasingly necessary in today's globalized law practice. The LLM program begins in late August and requires completion of a total of 24 credit-hours during two semesters of residence. All students enroll in our special Introduction to American Law course, which will help enhance their legal English and research skills and their understanding of American legal culture. Students are otherwise free to choose their program of study, which may include first-year courses and special seminars. We also permit students to count up to six credits in the University's graduate schools towards their LLM degree. LLM students take all their regular courses with our JD students and have ample opportunity to interact with them.

Eligibility

Applicants to the LLM Program must hold a law degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized law school outside the US or (if they do not hold a law degree) be admitted to the practice of law in their jurisdiction.

New York State Bar Examination Courses

Starting in the 2012–2013 academic year, LLM students planning on taking the New York State Bar Examination must be sure to take certain courses to be eligible. These include Introduction to American Law, US Legal Practice, and Professional Responsibility. We offer these courses to our LLM students, who can study for the New York State Bar Examination while in Hawaii.

LLM Specializations

As our student, you may take courses in a broad range of subjects or concentrate your study in one of our areas of excellence and earn a specialization as part of your LLM degree. We now offer LLM concentrations in five major areas of interest:

• Business and Commercial Law: As demonstrated by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit 2012, Hawaii is strategically located to serve as a bridge between the major economies of the Pacific Rim. We are strong in international business transactions, and many of our core courses include an international perspective. Our outstanding faculty in the business and commercial law fields are complemented by close ties to the Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaii, which is known globally for international business. In fact, LLM students can supplement their law courses with business courses taken at Shidler.
• Conflict Resolution: As globalization increases, disputes between parties from different cultures and backgrounds become more frequent. Our Law School is one of the most culturally and demographically diverse in the US, so we are uniquely positioned to enable students to explore the area of conflict resolution in a multiethnic setting. In addition to an excellent lineup of law courses, students interested in this area will be able to take courses at the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, University of Hawaii.
• Environmental Law: The University of Hawaii's Law School has a proud history of offering courses in environmental law through its world-famous Environmental Law Program (ELP). The ELP was established in 1988 in recognition of the special challenges the State of Hawai'i faces in developing an environmentally sustainable economy in a tropical island environment. LLM students who pursue this specialization gain a greater appreciation for the beauty and fragility of our island environment. One of the highlights of the ELP is its annual trip to the island of Hawai'i to learn about endangered species that live atop a volcano.
• International and Comparative Law: The Law School offers a wide variety of international and comparative courses each year. Several of our faculty are experts in Pacific-Asian Legal Studies. In addition, we offer courses that are taught by visiting experts from around the Asia-Pacific region, from human rights issues to comparative corporate governance. Our students can also take advantage of the vast resources of the University's School of Pacific and Asian Studies and the world-famous East-West Center, which serve as a magnet for top scholars and researchers in the region.
• Ocean Law and Policy: As we are located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it is only natural that we offer a specialization in Ocean Law and Policy. Students study the importance of laws governing our scarce ocean resources and how such policies are implemented in a global context.

Transfer to the JD Program

LLM graduates who perform well in our LLM program may apply to transfer to our JD program. We consider your performance at the Law School and do not require you to take the LSAT to apply. If you are admitted, you may also be able to transfer credits from the LLM towards a JD degree, which may enable you to complete your JD degree within two years of finishing your LLM degree.

Contact Information

For additional information about the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa | William S. Richardson School of Law's LLM program, please visit the International Programs website, or contact:

Spencer Kimura
Director
LLM Program
2515 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
USA

Phone: 808.956.9038
Fax: 808.956.6402
E-mail: lawllm@hawaii.edu

Student Life

Our Law School is known for its 'ohana (family) atmosphere and we offer a friendly, supportive environment in which to pursue your legal studies. We encourage our LLM students to participate in Law School life, and student organizations enthusiastically include LLM students in their professional and social activities. The Law School has a very full schedule of special talks and presentations, including the Asia law talks and the environmental law colloquia, annual lecture series, workshops, works-in-progress, and other legal presentations. We also offer special social and professional events for the LLM class, including an island tour, court and law firm visits, lunches, and dinners with our faculty and graduates—and a hike up Diamond Head Crater with our law school dean to enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the ocean, mountains, and Waikīkī Beach.

Career Development

The LLM Program Office is dedicated to assisting our students in career development. We strive to provide resources and opportunities for our LLM Program students to explore their postgraduation options. While most LLM students return to their home countries, some elect to take the bar examination in New York or California. Still others choose to work via the Optional Practical Training visa. We assist our students in pursuing these and other career goals. In addition to individual counseling, we offer career services programs including résumé and cover letter writing, skills workshops, and opportunities to network within Hawai'i's legal community.

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