Why University of Hawaii?
The William S. Richardson School of Law offers a world-class legal education deeply rooted in justice, community, and the unique values of Hawaiʻi, with a strong emphasis on environmental, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific-Asian law.
University of Hawaii is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 29.6%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.62 GPA and 156 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.40–3.80 GPA and 154–160 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 89 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Hawaii, Texas, and Washington, DC — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Hawaii admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class. 2 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #91
- Median GPA
- 3.62
- 25th–75th: 3.40–3.80
- Median LSAT
- 156
- 25th–75th: 154–160
- Acceptance rate
- 29.6%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 89
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 2
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Hawaii admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
2 1Ls transferred out of University of Hawaii in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Hawaii's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Hawaii
- 2Texas
- 3Washington, DC
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of Hawaii's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Hawaii" essay where they align with your interests.
- Environmental Law ClinicStudents assist clients on issues related to natural and cultural resource management.
- Native Hawaiian Rights ClinicFocuses on legal issues impacting Native Hawaiians.
- Refugee & Immigration Law ClinicProvides legal services to underserved immigrants in Hawaii and trains law students.
- Hawaiʻi Innocence Project ClinicWorks to exonerate the wrongfully convicted.
- Elder Law ClinicProvides legal assistance to older adults.
- Medical Legal Partnership ClinicAddresses social determinants of health by pairing legal professionals with healthcare providers.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- University of Hawaiʻi Law Review— Publishes scholarly works on legal issues in Hawaii and the Pacific, and national discourse.
- Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal (APLPJ)— A web-based journal covering legal issues in Asia and the Pacific Rim.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Tae-Ung BaikInternational Human Rights Law, Korean Law
- Justin D. LevinsonCulture and Jury Project, Asian-Pacific Business Law
- David L. CalliesReal Property Law, Land Use
- Mari MatsudaActivist Legal Scholarship, Critical Race Theory
- Aviam SoiferConstitutional Law
- Eric YamamotoKorematsu Professor of Law and Social Justice
- John L. BarkaiClinical Law, Dispute Resolution
- Malia K.H. AkutagawaNative Hawaiian Law, Hawaiian Studies
- Troy J.H. AndradeLegal Education, Diversity, Constitutional Law
- Charles D. BoothBusiness Law, Asian-Pacific Business Law
What makes University of Hawaii distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·It is the only law school in the state of Hawaiʻi.
- ·Offers JD Certificates in Native Hawaiian Law, Pacific-Asian Legal Studies, Environmental Law, and International & Comparative Law.
- ·Houses the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law.
- ·Features the Institute of Asian-Pacific Business Law.
- ·Has a mandatory Pro Bono Program, which was one of the first student-initiated programs in the nation.
- ·Offers dual degree programs including JD/MBA and JD/MSW.
- ·Hosts the Bright International Jurist-in-Residence Program and U.S. Supreme Court Jurist-in-Residence Program.
- ·Provides a Hawaiʻi Online JD Program, which is part-time and 100% online.
Using this for your "Why University of Hawaii" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of Hawaii
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Hawaii?▾
University of Hawaii's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.62 and a median LSAT of 156. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.40–3.80 GPA and 154–160 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Hawaii's acceptance rate?▾
University of Hawaii's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 29.6%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Hawaii offer?▾
University of Hawaii's notable clinical programs include: Environmental Law Clinic, Native Hawaiian Rights Clinic, Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic, Hawaiʻi Innocence Project Clinic, Elder Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Hawaii publish?▾
University of Hawaii's notable student-edited journals include: University of Hawaiʻi Law Review, Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal (APLPJ).
Where do University of Hawaii graduates work?▾
University of Hawaii graduates concentrate employment in Hawaii, Texas, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Hawaii admit?▾
University of Hawaii admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Hawaii
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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