Top Law Schools In Hawaii

While Hawaii may feel like it has endless options for places to live and explore, the law school choice is refreshingly straightforward: Hawaii has one ABA-accredited law school.
  • Reviewed by: Matt Riley
  • Thinking about applying to law schools in Hawaii? Good news: there’s just one law school to know—William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. And while Hawaii might be known for beaches and surf, this school is known for something just as compelling: a strong legal education with deep ties to the local community, culture, and environmental law. Below, we’ll cover what you need to apply, what admissions looks like, and whether studying law in Hawaii is the right fit for you.


    Top Law Schools in Hawaii

    University of Hawai’i Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law

    U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #99 (Tie)
    Tuition: $23,620 (Full-Time)
    Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.7
    Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 156
    Acceptance Rate: 32%
    First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 69.1%

    The University of Hawai’i Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law, located in Honolulu, is Hawaii’s only law school. It is named after former Hawaii State Supreme Court Chief Justice William S. Richardson. Given the location, there is a natural focus toward Native Hawaiian Law, Pacific-Asian Legal Studies, Environmental Law, and Maritime Law. 

    The application fee is $75 and the deadline falls on May 1. Tuition is in the midrange at $47,044 for full-time out-of-state students. However, if you are local, it is on the lower end for a law school at $23,620 full-time. While this Hawaii law school is ranked #99 by U.S. News & World Report, the part-time program is ranked #16. The acceptance rate is fairly high at 32%.  


    How Do I Get Accepted to Law Schools in Hawaii?

    Whether you’re applying to law schools in Hawaii or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores, the University of Hawaii School of Law’s median LSAT score of 156 gives you a pretty good indication of how you compare to the previous incoming class. Remember, law schools want to attract the best of the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate shot by getting a high LSAT score.

    Further Reading

    📈 What Is a Good LSAT Score Anyway?

    📍 Download a Free 18-Month Law School Application Timeline


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