Sam Smith | William S. Richardson School of Law

Sam Smith

Class of 2022

Sam Smith is a first-year law student and is planning on graduating in May 2022. Born and raised in the Salacoa Valley of Georgia, a rural farming community outside of Atlanta, he is a graduate of Cherokee High School. He graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Psychology, his research focusing on autism, creativity, and the Dark Triad personality disorders. After graduation, he moved to Hawai‘i after receiving a position working with Hale Kipa through the AmeriCorps. He applied to Richardson after he decided his next step was to become a Marine Corps Judge Advocate. Currently, he is a Vice President of the Pacific Asian Legal Studies Organization (PALSO), a member of Delta Theta Phi, and on the party-planning committee for Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL).

  • Has a guard donkey at home in Georgia named Ms. Peaches
  • Worked as a high ropes course facilitator throughout his undergraduate
  • Spent a summer working at a school for autistic children in Agadir, Morocco
  • Loves Crossfit, running, soccer, and karaoke 
  • Career ambition is to become a war journalist

Students Speak

  •
    At Richardson, we’re learning how to be competent lawyers and, more importantly, good people.”
    Kenneth Go
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    UH Richardson is the best law school if you intend to practice law in Hawaii and want to give back to your community, family, and mentors.”
    Kendrick Chang
  •
    How connected the Law School is. Big time player on a small island. How many incoming 1Ls met three Supreme Court Justices the first week and continue to?”
    Beverlyn Simina
  •
    The student body has been gracious and keeps a good balance between academics and social engagements.”
    Nicole
  •
    I chose UH Law because I wanted to experience studying in Hawaiʻi, and I learned that the School has an excellent Environmental Law program. My graduate degree fellowship with the East-West Center is also tied with enrollment at UH.”
    Aya DeLeon
  •
    As a practicing attorney in Environmental Law in Japan, I was drawn to the strength of the Environmental Law Program at UH. I am striving to earn a specialization in Environmental Law.”
    Masao Shimanuki
  •
    All of my classmates are so encouraging and willing to help. We really are one big ‘ohana!”
    Turner Wong
  •
    I was working at the Al Lawati law firm which provides legal service to Oman Oil in Oman. I had previously practiced law in Iran since 2001.”
    Mojtaba Fallah
  •
    I chose UH because they offer a specialization in Criminal law. The other reason is the fact that I wanted to live in Hawai'i.”
    Katharina
  •
    I am proud to be a member of the Richardson ohana, where I am surrounded by the most down-to-earth, intelligent, and driven group of people I have ever met.”
    David Abitbol

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