Troy J. H. Andrade ’11, who mentors law students from underserved communities as part of a special Richardson Law School program, has won national recognition from the American Bar Association as one of the ‘Top 40 Young Lawyers’ for 2017.
As a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law, Andrade is being honored as part of the ABA’s ‘On the Rise’ program for his “teaching and mentoring of law students who have overcome adversity and demonstrate tremendous potential to succeed in law school and beyond.”
Andrade is the first and only Hawai‘i attorney to receive this national award from the two-year-old ABA program that recognizes and spotlights young attorneys from across the nation who exhibit experience, skill, and character.
A year ago Andrade took on leadership of the unique Ulu Lehua Scholars Program at Richardson that supports students from underserved communities. As the Ulu Lehua Interim Director, he has also administered a grant that provides funding to support student success and is also enabling the Law School to collect and analyze data on indicators that ensure Bar passage among these students.
The study is expected to serve as a national model in raising Bar passage rates that have been slipping nationally over the last few years.
Andrade said he is humbled by the award but said recognition must also go to the Law School faculty and staff who provide additional mentoring and assistance to program participants during their first full year of Law School at the University of Hawai‘i.
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition from the ABA,” he continued. “My success is directly attributable to the unending support I have received from mentors, colleagues, students, and my family. I have tried my best to give back where I can to ensure the betterment of our community.”
Acting Law Dean Melody MacKenzie cited Andrade’s deep commitment to his students, and to the mission of Richardson Law.
“This recognition from the ABA is so well-deserved,” said MacKenzie. “Troy embodies the values that we seek to foster in our students and graduates – dedication, commitment, and excellence. We are extremely proud of him and we’re so fortunate that he has been willing to take on the responsibility of being the Interim Director of the Ulu Lehua program.”
For second year law student Andres Y. Gonzalez ’19, Andrade has been both inspiration and support. “Prof. Andrade's work ethic and dedication inspire me every day,” said Gonzalez. “During our conversations, he's always listened carefully to my aspirations and helped me navigate the various ways in which I can achieve my goals. It's a great honor to count on his mentorship and support. I am truly confident that he believes in me and wants to see me succeed.”
Adds Gonzalez: “His approach has never been the one-size fits all type. Professor Andrade recognizes that the students at our school have traveled different paths in life to get to where we are and he cherishes those individual experiences as potential sources of strength and hope.”
Andrade is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, where he studied political science and economics, and the Richardson School of Law. He also obtained a PhD from UH, where his studies focused on Native Hawaiian legal history and the American Civil Rights Movement. During college Andrade interned with former Hawai‘i Senator Daniel Akaka in Washington, D.C. becoming interested in politics and law during that time.
He is also Of Counsel with McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP, and before returning to Law School to assist the Ulu Lehua program, Andrade clerked for Hawai'i Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, and then practiced primarily in the areas of complex commercial litigation, administrative law, and appellate litigation.
In citing his background, the ABA award pointed out that Andrade “has represented clients in matters relating to the most contentious issues in Hawai'i, including the regulation of GMOs and pesticides, homelessness, and Native Hawaiian self-determination.”