William S. Richardson School of Law Associate Faculty Specialist Lawson, who also serves as Co-Director of the Hawai‘i Innocence Project (HIP), recently received a 2017 Regents’ Excellence in Teaching Award for his “extraordinary gifts” and the “strength of character” he brings to his teaching.
Law Dean Avi Soifer said Lawson “is truly inspirational to his colleagues as well as his students.” Soifer called Lawson both “courageous and indomitable” for what he has overcome and for the contributions he makes to the Law School.
As Co-Director of the HIP, Lawson has been an electrifying force with his personal story of overcoming addiction and finding redemption – a story that has often brought students to tears - and that has produced standing ovations by his classes as well as by members of the public to whom Lawson has spoken.
He is also credited for innovations that have helped make HIP a thriving clinic in which law students learn to conduct intake, investigate claims of innocence, evaluate cases, and advocate effectively on behalf of inmates when there is strong factual evidence of actual innocence.
Lawson was chosen by the graduating class as the faculty speaker at the Law School Commencement ceremonies last year, and he is consistently a favorite faculty member in law student evaluations.