Students may study law in a foreign country through summer or semester abroad programs to broaden their comparative knowledge of other legal systems and cultures. The University of Hawai'i maintains ties with universities around the world that could serve as possible host institutions for law students. Richardson students have participated in programs or internships at several institutions, including the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore, and Monash University in Australia.
Students may also participate in ABA-accredited law school summer abroad programs, which are offered in universities throughout Europe and Asia; review details on the American Bar Association’s website. In general, credits earned via ABA-accredited law school programs will be transferable toward your degree, but you should consult with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to confirm this and to determine how your desired study abroad program fits in with your overall law school curriculum.
Study Abroad Educational Objectives
The Law School has adopted a the statement required by ABA Foreign Study Criterion I.A.3. that defines the educational objectives the law school seeks to achieve in allowing students to study abroad for credit toward the J.D. degree:
Because of Richardson Law School’s unique geographic location and long-standing relationships with the international legal community, learning about and working with foreign legal systems is increasingly an important aspect of legal education.
The educational objective of study law outside of the United States is to provide students with the opportunity to gain familiarity with foreign legal systems. The specific goals of the foreign study include:
- To permit students to gain in-depth substantive knowledge of other legal systems that goes beyond curriculum offered at Richardson Law School;
- To provide students with exposure to cultures and ethics outside of the United States, including an appreciation for the role that law plays in other societies;
- To give students the opportunity to interact with lawyers, faculty, and students from other legal systems in order to better understand legal processes and reasoning; and
- To offer students the opportunity to identify and reflect on their own values and legal training within the context of foreign cultural settings.
Opportunity to Transfer to the LLM Program
Exchange students from our partner universities who have completed one semester of study at the Law School as part of the exchange program may be eligible to complete an LLM degree in one semester of study. Students wishing to participate in this program must have completed their country’s first degree in law, and they must return to the Law School within five years from the end of their exchange semester. All students must apply to and be admitted to the LLM program.
If accepted to this program, students must meet all LLM requirements, including the Introduction to U.S. Law course and the completion of 24 credits of study. Up to 12 credits may be transferred from their exchange program of study at the WSRSL and counted towards the LLM degree. Participating students must spend at least one semester in residence at the Law School and complete a minimum of 12 credits during that semester.
