- if applicable, LSAT Score and Writing Sample;
- and all Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Transcripts;
- and at least two Academic or Professional Letters of Recommendation
- if needed, Proof of English Proficiency (applicants whose native language is not English)
Exempt: applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution in the United States, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore.
TOEFL minimum score: 60 (school code 8395)
IELTS minimum score: 7
To be eligible for the AJD program, applicants must hold a law degree from an accredited or approved law school outside the U.S. and have excellent English language skills.
Advanced JD 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.
Applicants are encouraged to review our detailed application instructions Apply with the GRE or LSAT and review the Advanced JD Page.
- Application Fee: Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee online at LSAC. See if you may qualify for a fee waiver from our law school. 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.
- GRE Applicants: If applicable, please see additional instructions to send scores in Step 2 of How to Apply.
- 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.
- 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:
- if applicable, LSAT Score and Writing Sample;
- and all Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Transcripts;
- and at least two Academic or Professional Letters of Recommendation
- if needed, Proof of English Proficiency (applicants whose native language is not English)
Exempt: applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution in the United States, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore.
TOEFL minimum score: 60 (school code 8395)
IELTS minimum score: 7
We recommend (but do not require) that applicants take the LSAT or the GRE examination. Applicants do not have to be members of the bar in their home countries. However, their educational and professional experiences, including law school grades and practice background, are carefully considered by the Admissions Committee.
LLM Applicants are encouraged to review the Master of Laws (LLM) Program page for detailed application instructions.
To be eligible for the LLM program, applicants must hold a law degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized law school. Both graduates with a foreign law degree and graduates with a U.S. JD are encouraged to apply.
Applicants are encouraged to apply online through LSAC and those that do may be eligible for application waivers and school report coupons. For those who are unable to apply through LSAC, please contact lawallm@hawaii.edu.
- LLM Application Form:
- Personal Statement: Tell us about your experience and qualifications, your reasons for seeking an LLM degree and the course of study you wish to pursue (about 800 words).
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- $75 Application Fee, non-refundable/non-transferable
- Applicants using the LSAC website should order a CAS which is an assembly service that will receive, evaluate, and compile application documents including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and TOEFL or IELTS.
- Two Letters of Recommendation: We prefer that one of the letters be from your former or current law professor, if possible. If a recommendation letter is not written in English, an English translation must accompany the original recommendation letter.
- Transcripts: Official transcripts from all institutions (graduate and undergraduate) where you have studied. These must be sent directly from the school. If the transcripts are not in English, a certified English translation must be submitted with each transcript.
- English Proficiency Test taken within the last 3 years (if applicable)
- TOEFL suggested score: 90+ (UH school code: 8395)
- IELTS suggested score 6+
- Exempt: applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution in the United States, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore.
- We are flexible with English proficiency scores in certain cases. Exemptions may be granted at the discretion of the LLM Admissions Committee.
- Once all application materials are received, the Admissions Committee may request an interview, usually over Zoom, before making their decision.
Transfer and Visiting JD 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.
Applicants are encouraged to review our detailed application instructions: see Transferring & Visiting Students.
- Application Fee: Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee online at LSAC. See if you may qualify for a fee waiver from our law school. 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.
- GRE Applicants: Please see additional instructions to send scores in Step 2 of How to Apply. We will manually waive the LSAT requirement after receipt of your GRE scores.
- 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:
- if applicable, LSAT Score and Writing Sample;
- and all Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Transcripts;
- and at least two Academic or Professional Letters of Recommendation
- if needed, Proof of English Proficiency (applicants whose native language is not English)
Exempt: applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution in the United States, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore.
TOEFL minimum score: 60 (school code 8395)
IELTS minimum score: 7
- The letter of standing must be sent to us by email (lawadm@hawaii.edu) from your law school before our application deadline. Letters of standing should contain the:
- Dates of your enrollment;
- Indicate if you are welcome to continue your legal education at the law school;
- If available, in the same letter, ask that the Registrar indicate your class rank or quartile standing (e.g., top quarter, top half)
- We strongly recommend that you submit at least one letter from a law school professor or instructor.
