The University of Hawai‘i Law School has established two new programs in advanced legal studies aimed at foreign-trained attorneys as well as U.S. attorneys hoping to spend time in further legal study, especially those who want to teach law outside the U.S.

UH Law Dean Avi Soifer noted that the advanced degree programs could be particularly attractive to East-West Center alumni and grantees interested in broadening their career paths.

The AJD – Advanced or Accelerated Juris Doctor – program offers advanced standing to foreign-trained applicants, and allows them to earn the JD degree in as little as two years of study rather than three, with the option of taking a U.S. bar exam after graduating and being admitted to practice in the United States.

The SJD – Doctor of Juridical Science – program is primarily intended for those who have completed a JD or an LLM program and who already teach, or are preparing to teach, law outside the United States. It is also designed for those involved in policy work in research institutes and government organizations.

These two new advanced law programs complement  Richardson Law School’s existing LLM program, launched in 2003, which has already attracted 143 attorneys from 52 countries, and was recently recognized as one of the best in the nation in three categories by The International Jurist magazine.

“The diversity of our Law School offers a nurturing atmosphere for students and scholars coming to the East-West Center,” Soifer said, adding: “We were pleased to be very highly ranked recently in terms of our career support as well as for our academics. These new programs offer attractive options for those who thrive while working in a diverse academic community.”

Applications are currently being accepted. Click here for more information.

AJD program in a nutshell:

• Provides an option for foreign-trained attorneys who want to be grounded in American law, and then have the option of practicing law in the United States.
• Foreign-trained attorneys may receive up to a year’s credit toward a JD for their foreign training.
• The degree enables foreign attorneys to take a U.S. bar exam and practice anywhere in the U.S.

SJD program in a nutshell:

• Students who have completed either a JD or LLM may apply for this advanced degree.
• Offers an important credential for those who hope to teach law outside the U.S. for both foreign-trained attorneys and American citizens.
• Requires just a year in residence at Richardson, with the expectation that the dissertation will be completed in three years.
• Offers time for advanced legal research or research on policy issues.