The establishment of the Law School in 1973, was considered the achievement of formerHawaii State Supreme CourtChief Justice,William S. Richardson.[2] For many years he had pressed theHawaii State Legislature for its creation, arguing that the state would benefit by providing a legal education for its residents that enveloped its cultural customs—because they had the greatest stake in constructing the state's legal traditions going forward as such. At his retirement, the Law School was named in his honor.
The spirit of Richardson's culture as a community devoted to the study of law is manifested inKānāwai Māmalahoe, the fundamental precept of Hawaiian law.
According to Hawaiian legend,Kānāwai Māmalahoe was declared by King Kamehameha after an incident where he chased two fishermen who were fishing illegally, when he caught his leg in the reef, and one of the fisherman, Kaleleiki, hit him mightily on the head with a paddle in defense, which broke into pieces. Luckily, Kamehameha was able to escape. Years later, when the same fisherman was brought before him to account for the incident, Kamehameha held that in the interest of justice he should be released, as he had only been searching for food for his family.[7]
ReflectingKānāwai Māmalahoe, the school maintains a "commitment... to a collaborative community that is deeply committed to the... pursuit of social and economic justice" for all.[8] Reflecting this commitment, its unofficial logo is Kaleleiki, the fisherman.
According to Richardson's official 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 50.9% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation.[17] Richardson'sLaw School Transparency under-employment score is 10.2%, indicating the percentage of the class of 2017 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a short-term, part-time, or non-professional job nine months after graduation.[18] It is unclear whether the Law School's above-average clerkship placement rate for new graduates is reflected in these numbers.[19]
The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at the Richardson School of Law for the 2014–2015 academic year is $37,934 for Hawaii residents and $57,662 for non-residents.[20] Law School Transparency has estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $166,060 for residents and $261,639 for non-residents in 2017.[21] In July 2016, Richardson was ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report among American law schools whose alumni have the least debt, at an average of $54,988 for the Class of 2015.[22]
Institute of Asian-Pacific Business Law. The Institute of Asian-Pacific Business Law was established in June 2006. Its goal is to become an academic center for research and training in the field of business law in Asia and the Pacific.[23] The Institute focuses on commercial law, insolvency and secured transactions, corporate law and business transactions, securities, intellectual property, real estate financing, and labor law issues. The Institute's activities facilitate direct exchanges between the academic, legal, and business communities in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Hammurabi Legal Forum: The Hammurabi Legal Forum for the Rule of Law (HLF) was established in 2008 at the school to aid law schools in Iraq re-invigorate the country's tradition of scholarship.[24] By providing an online database of free legal resources, HLF originally sought to provide information on issues that are important to Iraq and the Iraqi legal community. In 2009, the HLF expanded its efforts to assist Rule of Law activities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In 2010, it further expanded its research to incorporate additional regions of the globe, including Afghanistan and the Pacific Region, with a special focus on Timor-Leste.[25]
Hawaii Innocence Project: The Hawaii Innocence Project's mission is to providepro bono representation to incarcerated persons who have a credible claim of actual innocence.[26][27]
University of Hawaii Elder Law Program (UHELP): Operating throughout the year, UHELP provides Hawaii's elder community basic legal assistance, advice and information.[28][29]
Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law. Established in 2005 through a Native Hawaiian Education Act grant, the Center is an academic center that promotes education, scholarship, community outreach and collaboration on issues of law, culture and justice for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific and Indigenous peoples.[30] The center focuses on education, research and scholarship, community outreach, and the preservation of historical, legal, and traditional and customary materials. It also offers new courses and supports Native Hawaiian and other law students as they pursue legal careers and leadership roles.[31][32]
Hawaii Health Law Policy Center aims to 1) to conduct and disseminate research on health law policy aimed at improving health care access in Hawaii; 2) to serve as a focus for multidisciplinary research, teaching, on health law and policy in the context of Hawaii; and 3) to bring community leaders, health care policymakers, faculty members, and students together to find solutions to health care shortages and other barriers to access in Hawaii's rural, impoverished, or otherwise underserved communities.[33]
TheUniversity of Hawaii Law Review is a scholarly legal journal run by students that publishes works by jurists, scholars and practitioners. It publishes two issues annually, and hosts a biennial symposium.
TheAsian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal (APLPJ) is a biannualpeer-reviewedopen-accesslaw journal published by the school. It covers issues facingAsia and thePacific Rim. The journal was established in 1999 and first published in February 2000, with Jim Hitchingham aseditor-in-chief and with assistance and support from Lawrence Foster, Dean of the law school, and professors Ronald Brown and Mark Levin. In addition to its web format, the journal is available through the legal databasesLexisNexis andWestlaw.[34]
Started in 2007 under the tutelage of Senior Circuit Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit,Myron H Bright, the Bright International Jurist-in-Residence program hosts international jurists to facilitate dialogue with the wider community and the school's faculty and staff.
In 2013,The Princeton Review ranked the Richardson faculty as the third "Most Diverse Faculty."[47] And, in 2012,U.S. News & World Report ranked the school 3rd of 190 Law Schools for "Smallest Faculty-Student Ratio".[48] The faculty is specialized in an array of legal areas.
Current notable faculty:
David L. Callies, Scholar of the Law of Real Property
Tae-Ung Baik, Former Korean Prisoner of Conscience,[49] Specialist in International Human Rights Law and Korean Law
Mari Matsuda, Activist legal scholar, lawyer, first tenured Female Asian-American law professor
In 2013,U.S. News & World Report ranked the school 25th of 190 Law Schools for "Most Selective". In addition, Richardson is recognized for its highly diverse student body. In 2013,U.S. News & World Report ranked it 1st of 190 Law Schools for "Diversity Index,"[52] whilePrinceton Review ranked it "Best Environment for Minority Students."[53]
Adopted in 2002 as an aspirational reflection ofKānāwai Māmalahoe, all Richardson students recite the William S. Richardson School of Law Law Student Pledge, written by late ProfessorChris Iijima, before a Hawaii Supreme Court Justice during a special ceremony before they begin their legal education.
Richardson Students Competing At The 2012 Native American Law Student Association Competition Finals AtHawaii Supreme Court inHonolulu
Richardson fieldsMoot Court teams, composed of students, in competitions across many legal areas.[56] In addition, Richardson fields a competitive Client Counseling Team.
Starting in 1978, Richardson—in a tradition that promotes school spirit and camaraderie amongst students—holds a yearly alumnae v. female law students flag football game.[57][58] The Alumnae ("Bruzers") and UH Law Student ("Etes") teams are composed entirely of female students, while cheerleaders are composed of male students dressed in drag.[59]
Stew Day
Begun by Professor Calvin Pang, every year on Stew Day, the Richardson Faculty dress up in goofy hats and aprons and serve a stew lunch to the students.[60] Recently added to Stew Day, Professor Pang orchestrated the "Red Socks Award" – in honor of DeanAviam Soifer, a BostonRed Sox Fan.
