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Paralegal Schools in Hawaii

This guide to paralegal schools in Hawaii contains important information on the options for obtaining a paralegal degree or certificate in the state that can help you make a decision on where to attend school. With this information, you can find the school that is the right match for your interests and career aspirations. As an alternative to traditional on-campus programs, an online paralegal degree may be a more flexible choice for some students. Please visit our guide to paralegal careers in Hawaii to find information about employment options for paralegals in the state.

Quick Facts

  • There are 2 colleges and universities that offer paralegal/legal assistant degree programs in Hawaii.1
  • 2 schools offer a certificate program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
  • 1 school offers an associate’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
  • No schools offer a bachelor’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
  • No schools offer a master’s or advanced degree for paralegals/legal assistants.1
  • No schools ranked in Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs.2
  • 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools in 2022.3
  • 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs in 2022.4
  • 1 ABA-approved paralegal degree program is in Hawaii.5

For not-for-profit colleges and universities with paralegal/legal assistant degree programs.

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Comparison of Paralegal Programs

The table below will help you compare not-for-profit paralegal and legal studies programs in Hawaii based on various factors. The table includes paralegal program-specific information such as the programs offered and whether there are any online options. It also includes general school information to help you compare the colleges and universities that host these programs, including overall acceptance rate, graduation rate for first-time bachelor’s degree seekers, median debt for graduates, and net tuition per year for full-time undergraduate study. We have also included information on approval by the American Bar Association (ABA). While ABA approval is not required in order to work as a paralegal, it is a mark of program quality that is preferred by many employers.

SchoolABA Approved?Paralegal Degree(s)Acceptance Rate6Grad Rate1Online Options?Median Debt7Net Price1
Kapi’olani Community College (Honolulu)YesCertificate-Paralegal;
AS-Paralegal		100%22%Yes$5,793$6,411
University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu)—Certificate-Law and Society;
Certificate-Pacific-Asian Legal Studies		58%62%—$14,000$15,193

  • — indicates none.
  • N.Av. indicates no data available.

Top-Ranked Schools with Paralegal Programs

US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools 2022

  • University of Hawaii-Manoa (#121 tie)

US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs 2022

  • University of Hawaii-Manoa (#98 tie)

Select Schools in Hawaii with Paralegal Degrees

Traditional Programs

University of Hawaii at Manoa

At the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH Manoa), students can earn a Graduate Certificate in Pacific-Asian Legal Studies (PALS) that is designed for students who are interested in business or legal affairs in the Pacific-Asian region. Two focus areas are offered, in Asian and business-related topics or Pacific Islands and legal issues. Courses of study are available in general Asian comparative and international law and in the more specialized fields of Chinese, Japanese, or Pacific law. In addition to courses such as International Criminal Law, International Environmental Law, and International Business Transactions, students can choose specialty courses that match their career interests and professional backgrounds, such as Gender and Law, or Law and Society in Japan. PALS students can also work with faculty in a directed study course, take special classes taught by visiting Asian scholars, and enroll in non-legal Asian-Pacific related courses. While pursuing the graduate certificate, students may complete an approved externship in Asia or the Pacific that can qualify for academic credit.

Hybrid and Online Programs

Kapi’olani Community College

The Legal Education Department at Kapi’olani Community College offers an ABA-approved Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies that will help students prepare for careers in law firms, corporations, and public agencies. Students can study on campus or online; online students take a mix of synchronous and asynchronous courses. In-person and synchronous classes are primarily held in the evenings to accommodate working students. The course material offers instruction in legal subjects such as property law, insurance law, business law, and Hawaiian law. In addition to legal knowledge, the program fosters critical thinking, reading, writing, and technology skills necessary to enter the paralegal workforce. Students will finish the four-semester program with a Cooperative Paralegal Education course that combines classroom study with work in a professional environment. The college also offers an ABA-approved Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal and a Legal Secretary Certificate of Competence.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs: https://www.paralegal411.org/degrees/bachelors/online/
3. US News & World Report Best Law Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Legal Writing Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/legal-writing-rankings
5. American Bar Association Approved Paralegal Programs: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/
6. Niche: https://www.niche.com/
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/