The Effects of Globalisation on Legal Education in Japan: The Reforms of 2004

Abstract

Japan’s reform of legal education in April 2004 saw the introduction of a law school system and has clearly reflected the impact of globalisation on legal education. The aim of the reforms was not only to reinforce the presence of lawyers in Japanese citizens’ life by increasing the number of lawyers, but also to ameliorate the quality of lawyers, to form a type of lawyer who would take part in transnational transactions arising from the global economy. Introducing the law school system is a means to arrive at this end. These reforms have also resulted in a substantial increase of students passing the National bar exam, bringing the average pass rate from three to 25 %. Critics say this is not enough; however, if the 25 % pass rate is not a revolution, it can be qualified as a substantive evolution, by increasing the pass rate so dramatically. Furthermore, this figure only serves as the average; the specifics depend on the law school. Once students get into a top law school such as Keio, they are almost certain of their success in the National Exam, and they can think and prepare their future, something that was never possible under the old system.