Meeting Peers to Grow With: A Lifelong Treasure

  I work at a law firm specializing in corporate legal affairs, where I primarily handle cases concerning labor issues. Problems such as dismissals, disciplinary actions, overtime pay, and harassment can escalate into labor-management disputes if the company fails to respond appropriately, which can even impact corporate management. Therefore, as legal professionals, we are required to provide timely and appropriate responses. I was able to build the foundation for the thorough research into related laws, regulations, and judicial precedents—which is essential for providing such responses—during my time as a student.

  As a student, I focused on three main pillars: my university classes, club activities, and seminar activities. The first-year curriculum in the Department of Law starts with the fundamentals of compulsory subjects (Constitution, Civil Code, and Criminal Code). It was around this time that I developed an interest in studying law and began preparing for the bar examination. I joined a seminar in the second half of my second year. The most meaningful part was our “discussion” time. Since my major was civil law, our topics were often judicial precedents concerning legal issues relatively familiar to students. We would thoroughly read the precedents themselves and related case commentaries, analyze the arguments of the plaintiff and defendant, the court's decision, and scholarly opinions, and then debate our views with fellow seminar members. Through this, I learned the importance of studying with the goal of producing output.  

I believe the greatest benefit of student life at Keio University is the opportunity to meet peers who tackle everything with earnest dedication. While career paths after graduation vary for each person, meeting friends who will offer mutual encouragement for a lifetime has become a great treasure in my own life. I hope that you, too, will meet wonderful peers and have a meaningful campus life.