UH law school graduates can sleep easy knowing their degrees are highly valued

What’s the point of going to law school if you will face a big tuition bill and declining job prospects?

That was the question posed in Nanea Kalani’s excellent story, "Law less alluring as field of study" (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 23).

But as radio personality Paul Harvey — can you hear his voice? — liked to say: "Here’s the rest of the story."

Each prospective law student must make her or his own long-term decision, of course, but here are some facts about the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law that set us apart:

» We have not lowered our admission standards to keep enrollment up.

This sets us apart from most law schools in the United States and it means that prospective employers will know our graduates have been rigorously selected and highly trained.

» We are the most diverse law school in the country.

This is important not just in Hawaii, where we treasure our diversity, but across the nation as the United States and the rest of the world becomes increasingly multicultural and multiracial. No matter where our students end up, they will have cultural fluency and can become ambassadors for diversity, without ever forgetting their own origins.

» Our hiring rates are very high compared to other law schools.

Our bar passage rates are also high and trending higher. And our faculty truly is renowned not only for scholarship but also for their teaching skills. We are small enough that these great teachers can give one-on-one attention to our students as they continue to exemplify and to teach practical skills. Students who choose Richardson need not fear for their career prospects.

» Our students support one another wonderfully.

This helps to explain why our graduates face a considerably better job market that do most law graduates. Those making hiring decisions tend to know that Richardson graduates understand the cultures and aloha spirit of Hawaii and will bring that sensitivity to their work.

» Yes, law school can be expensive.

Even here. But our tuition rates are considerably lower than most other law schools and we are increasing scholarship funding and waiving application fees for many more people.

» We have increased opportunities for those who are considering going to law school by establishing a flexible, rolling admissions process and by offering the evening part-time program for those whose work and family commitments make it difficult or impossible to enter a full-time day program.

In keeping with the vision of the late Chief Justice Richardson and his allies, we are deeply committed to affording opportunity for all qualified applicants who otherwise could not attend law school.

This is the opportunity not only to become the leaders of the bench and bar in Hawaii and beyond our shores, but also to be the leaders in any other settings wherever our graduates choose to live.

This is an important responsibility and we stand by it.