Please attach a personal statement of no more than 500 words (approximately two pages, double spaced) on a subject of your choice. Many applicants write about their goals, achievements, or formative influences. Your statement should help the Admissions Committee better understand your background, motivations, personal development, and preparation for the study of law.

This section is optional.

If you would like to include an addendum to your application, please attach it here. An addendum is a short, separate statement you may submit with your application to provide context that does not fit neatly in your personal statement or resume, such as low or inconsistent grades, significant LSAT score variation, resume gaps, or a unique grading system. For clarity, we recommend adding a heading to each addendum that clearly indicates the question or topic you are addressing.

Please upload a current résumé or curriculum vitae outlining your education, employment history, extracurricular involvement, leadership experience, and community service.

Because lawyers and law students are held to high ethical standards, you must be truthful and candid during the entire admissions process. The Law School expects you to furnish requested information in a complete and accurate manner. Failure to disclose an act or event may be more significant and may lead to more serious consequences than the event itself. Failure to provide complete and truthful information, or failure to inform the Admissions Office of any changes to your answers over time, may result in dismissal from or disciplinary action by the Law School, revocation of a degree, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek bar admission. Your obligation to disclose does not end upon admission and continues throughout your law school career.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. For the State of Hawai'i, see https://www.courts.state.hi.us/legal_references/bar_application. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting that jurisdiction. Addresses and requirements for all relevant agencies and additional states are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

1. Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on scholastic or disciplinary probation, expelled, requested to resign, allowed to resign in lieu of discipline, otherwise subjected to discipline, or requested or advised to discontinue your studies from any college or university?

2. Have you ever been disciplined for misconduct (e.g., suspended, dismissed, placed on social probation) by any college or university?

3. Have you ever been cited for, arrested for, or charged with a violation of any law (other than a case that was resolved in juvenile court, but including matters that have been dismissed, expunged, or subject to diversion or deferred prosecution)?

4. Have you ever been convicted of a crime (other than a minor traffic violation, but including DUI, DWI, etc.)?

5. Have you ever been discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces, other than by honorable discharge, or sentenced in a court-martial proceeding?

6. As a member of any profession or professional organization, have you ever been disciplined for misconduct?

7. Have you ever failed to satisfy any financial obligation (including credit card or charge accounts, student loans, federal or state taxes, etc.) or filed a petition for bankruptcy?

8. Have you ever been a named party to any lawsuit, including family law matters (such as divorce actions and subpoenas related to child support proceedings, or warrants related to child support or involving paternity proceedings), contract disputes, personal injury, medical malpractice, landlord/tenant disputes, and class action suits?

9. Have you ever attended another law school?

**You are applying for our Full-Time In-Person JD program. If you wish to attend our part time (Hawai'i Online) JD program, you must delete this application and begin the correct application on the LSAC.org website.**

The William S. Richardson School of Law welcomes applications from all highly qualified prospective law students, regardless of their ability to document their status. Undocumented applicants who meet Hawai'i residency requirements may be considered Hawai'i residents for tuition purposes.

Our Mission

The William S. Richardson School of Law is a collaborative, multicultural community preparing students for excellence in the practice of law and related careers that advance justice and the rule of law. We develop highly qualified, ethical professionals through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and public service. We embrace Hawai'i's diversity and values and recognize a special responsibility to our state and the Pacific region. We lead in environmental law, Native Hawaiian law, and Pacific-Asian legal studies.

Diacritical Markers

Due to limitations with this application software, some diacritical markers, including the okina and kahako, do not display correctly. We sincerely apologize for this and have requested that future software updates include support for these important elements of olelo Hawaii and other languages.

Native Hawaiian Place of Learning

The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH Manoa) is committed to fostering a rooted, resilient, and responsive community that advances UH Manoa as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, grounded in aloha aina, so that the sustainable practices deeply rooted in Hawaii can live on for the many generations yet to come.

UH Manoa describes a Native Hawaiian place of learning in part as a place that is reflective of Hawaiian language, history, and culture for ALL people to learn, grow, connect, and heal from.

Certification

By transmitting this application electronically, you certify that the information in this application is complete to the best of your knowledge. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or failure to supply required information in connection with this application may result in the rejection of the application; suspension, dismissal from, or disciplinary action by the Law School; revocation of a degree; notification to the LSAC Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process Subcommittee; or denial, suspension or dismissal from, or denial of permission to practice law by, suspension of dismissal from, or disciplinary action by the state bar or other licensing authority in the jurisdiction in which you seek bar admission.

You must notify the Law School in writing if additional information or changes arise at any time after submitting this application. Your obligation to disclose does not end upon admission and continues throughout your career at the Law School.