William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law is a public, co-educational institution of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Named after the beloved Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court Chief Justice William S. Richardson, it is the only law school in the State of Hawaiʻi. It is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

The William S. Richardson School of Law has adopted a mission of promoting justice, ethical responsibility and public service with special emphasis on field of law of particular importance to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Rim region including environmental law, rights of native Hawaiians, maritime law and Pacific and Asian legal systems. There are approximately 270 students with an average of 90 students in each class, taught by 22 permanent faculty.

Establishment

The William S. Richardson School of Law was established by an act of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1968 and welcomed its first doctor of jurisprudence candidates in 1973. There were fifty-three students in the first class, including John D. Waihee III, future Governor of Hawaiʻi. In 1974, the American Bar Association granted provisional accreditation and then full accreditation in 1982. In 1983, the William S. Richardson School of Law moved into new facilities on the campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Recent developments

• U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy visited in Spring of 2006 as part of the school's Jurist-in-Residence program.
• U.S. Supreme Court Justice Breyer visited in Spring of 2008 as part of the school's Jurist-in-Residence program.
• The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in the top tier as one of America's Top Law Schools in 2004 by Law School 100.^{[citation needed]}
• The U.S. News and World Report ranked it as one of America's Best Graduate Schools for 2005.^{[citation needed]}
• In 2003, Aviam Soifer became the law school's newest Dean.
• The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked 82nd among the top 100 law schools in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.^{[citation needed]}
• The William S. Richardson School of Law, one of two NALSA teams, composed of Anosh Yaqoob and Scott Hovey, captured the 2007 National Native American Law Student Association Moot Court National Championship in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Yaqoob also garnered the 2nd Place Best Oralist Award. The team composed of Moani Crowell and Greg Schlais placed in the Top 8.^[3]
• On February 23, 2008, the William S. Richardson School of Law's NALSA Moot Court team, captured four out of nine awards (placing in all three categories) at the annual moot court competition held in Tempe, Arizona at the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law at Arizona State University. The duo of Moani Crowell & Greg Schlais was awarded First Place in the Best Brief category and Anosh Yaqoob won First Place in the Best Oralist category. Scott Hovey & Anosh Yaqoob garnered Third Place in the Best Advocate category (overall) and Edward Hu & Derek Kauanoe captured Second Place in the Best Advocate category (overall). Other participating Hawaii students include Ann Kanoelehua Otteman & Richard Wallsgrove (ranking in the Top 16), Christopher Santos & Terrence Thornburgh, and Rafael Renteria.^[4]
• On February 28, 2009, third year law student, Ann Otteman and second year law student Jesse Smith, from the William S. Richardson School of Law, won Second Place at the 17th Annual National Native American Law Students Association's moot court competition held in Boulder, Colorado. This award marks the third consecutive year that the Hawai'i law school placed in the final round. Four other Hawaii law school teams, consisting of 8 students; third year-law students: Rafael Renteria, Christopher Santos, and Terrence Thornburgh and second-year law students Lahela Hite, Chasid Sapolu, Scott Shishido, Kaupena Soon and Kaui Yamane, also competed. Three of these teams also placed in the top 16 bracket of the elimination rounds. These students were also accompanied by second year law students Joni Domingues and Uilisone Tua.^[5]
• Being the sole law school in the state, the William S. Richardson School of Law has produced a number of community leaders. The Lt. Governor, Duke Aiona, is a graduate of the school. Senate President Colleen Hanabusa is also an alumna.

References

Resources

• University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• William S. Richardson School of Law
• William S. Richardson Law Library
• Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal