2011.07.08
Here is a partial report on the Keio University Law School information session held on Saturday, June 18, 2011.
[Information Session Overview]
Date and Time: Saturday, June 18, 2011, 10:00–11:10 a.m.
Venue: South School Building Hall (5th floor, South School Building)
[Information Session Agenda]
1. Opening Remarks
2. Curriculum Overview
3. About the 2012 Entrance Examination
4. Introduction to a Legal Practitioner... Takashi Asai (Professor, Keio University Law School)
5. Introduction to Current Students
6. Q&A Session
Introduction to a Legal Practitioner...
Takashi Asai
(Professor, Keio University Law School)
From the Keio University Law School entrance examination information session held on Saturday, June 18, 2011, we present an excerpt of the lecture by Professor Takashi Asai, who is active as both a faculty member and a lawyer. We hope this will be a useful reference for all who aspire to join the legal profession.
I have been a lawyer for 22 years now. I decided to pursue a legal career when I was in my third to fourth year of my undergraduate studies, which I believe is around the same age as you are now. When I started thinking about finding a job, I was more attracted to the work of a lawyer—which allows you to see various companies and the world through the window of independent work—than to becoming a member of an organization like a company, so I chose the path to the legal profession. It took me about five to six years of studying to pass the bar examination. I think my experience can serve as a cautionary tale for you, so I hope you will find it helpful.
My time studying for the bar examination can be broadly divided into two periods. The first was a period of self-study. Although I was attending a preparatory school for the bar exam, I studied on my own for over three years. At that time, out of 25,000 people who took the bar examination, only about 4,000 passed the multiple-choice section, and fewer than 500 passed the essay section. In that environment, I couldn't even pass the multiple-choice section until I was 24.
Feeling a sense of crisis about not even being able to pass the multiple-choice section, I joined the "Shiho Kenkyushitsu" (Judicial Research Office; hereafter, Shihoken) that existed at Keio at the time. The Shihoken no longer exists, but back then, we could use its study rooms, and it held seminars and practice sessions for writing exam answers. Thanks to studying at the Shihoken, being taught by senior students and successful candidates in seminars, and practicing outlining and writing answers in the practice sessions, I passed the multiple-choice section the following year, passed the essay section the year after that, and finally passed the entire exam within two years of joining the Shihoken.
What I can say from my experience studying for the bar exam is that as you enter law school and aim for the new bar examination, "you should absolutely not study alone." This is because if you study by yourself, you can end up solidifying incorrect understandings. It is crucial to correct wrong understandings and study methods immediately. During my two years at the Shihoken, the presence of "excellent study partners" and "senior students who would teach me" was extremely important to me. Keio Law School is the best educational institution, providing these excellent study partners, senior students, and faculty members. This is clearly demonstrated by Keio Law School's success rate on the new bar examination.
After that, following two years of legal apprenticeship, you obtain your legal qualification (become a lawyer) and must choose a law firm. This is a very important decision. I wanted to go into corporate law, but at the time, corporate law primarily meant either commercial or labor relations. Within that, I joined a law firm that handled labor cases and consultations. I became a partner (co-owner) in my ninth year and have been there ever since. Currently, about 80 percent of my work involves labor cases and consultations on the corporate side.
As I explained at the beginning, I have been able to glimpse various companies and society through the window of my work. Specifically, my clients are in various industries, including retail, finance, educational institutions, and medical institutions. About 70 to 80 percent are Japanese companies, and 20 to 30 percent are foreign-affiliated.
My work can be broadly divided into two types. When you think of a lawyer's job, litigation probably comes to mind. For a lawyer specializing in labor law, while litigation is indeed a large part of the work, designing corporate human resources systems is equally significant. The design of an HR system has a major impact on corporate management. In that sense, it is a very creative job that allows me to be involved in the management of a company. I want you to use the fact that lawyers can do creative work—not just the post-incident processing of litigation—as motivation for your studies.
The key point in labor-related work is how a company treats its own employees. It is important to remember that you are not dealing with objects, but with human beings who have emotions. Even if a measure is legally permissible, its appropriateness as a policy is called into question. For example, while the recent trend is to shift from seniority-based to performance-based wage systems, I raise the issue with management of whether employees will actually embrace such a policy or HR system in light of the corporate culture, even if it is legally sound. This is a point that, surprisingly, many managers overlook.
In terms of my duties, companies with a nationwide presence often ask their legal counsel in Tokyo to handle incidents that occur in other regions, so I travel to different parts of the country almost every week. I also receive requests to speak at seminars for corporate representatives and certified social insurance and labor consultants, as well as requests to write for magazines and books.
Being a lawyer is a liberal profession, but when I have a lot of work, I am not free in terms of time, often working through weekends. However, I am mentally free. This is because I do not have to compromise my own ideas, nor do I have to accept cases that go against my principles. This is the very essence of a liberal profession.
I hope my story will be a helpful reference as you enter Keio Law School, become legal practitioners, and consider the vision you will have for your future careers.
Introduction to Current Students
From the Keio University Law School entrance examination information session held on Saturday, June 18, 2011, we would like to share the voices of students currently enrolled in our law school (hereafter, Keio Law School) who are aiming for a legal career. We hope this will be a helpful reference for those aiming to enter Keio Law School.
A : Male, 3rd-year student in the program for law graduates.
B : Female, 3rd-year student in the program for law graduates.
Q1: Among the many law schools, what was the deciding factor in choosing Keio Law School?
A : First, at Keio, there is a clear correlation between school grades and the pass rate for the new bar examination, which means the classes are very helpful for the exam. Second, the professors are very considerate of the students and create a supportive environment. I was debating between Keio and a national university, but after speaking with senior students who had gone to each, I felt these two points were a good fit for me, and I chose Keio, which also has a strong track record on the new bar examination.
B : First, its strong track record on the new bar examination. Second, since I am considering finding employment in the Tokyo metropolitan area in the future, I chose the well-known Keio University.
Q2: What are your impressions of the classes at Keio Law School?
A : Most classes use the Socratic method, where students answer the professor's questions. I was very inspired by my fellow students—seeing people who could smoothly answer questions I didn't understand, make sharp comments, and think quickly on their feet. Also, the curriculum at Keio Law School is of high quality because the excellent professors for each subject thoroughly discuss the course content in advance. Every day in class, I gain so much—correcting my misunderstandings, deepening my understanding of existing knowledge, and making new discoveries—that I can feel myself growing. There are also many classes taught by legal practitioners. It is extremely beneficial not only to hear them share stories from their practice but also to be taught the legal thought processes of top-tier practitioners.
B : Before entering law school, senior students told me that preparation and review would be very demanding, and since enrolling, it's all I can do to keep up with the assigned materials every day. Also, when I study on my own, I tend to focus too much on individual points, but the professors teach the fundamental core concepts, which makes many of the classes very useful. I feel that daily preparation and review are essential to make the most of these classes.
Q3: What is your typical daily schedule like? (Regarding time for self-study, such as preparation and review)
A : I study at home in the time between classes and outside of my voluntary study group sessions. I have classes six days a week, with one or two 1.5-hour classes per day. I limit my preparation time for any single class to a maximum of two hours, and I spend more time on review after class to improve my abilities. On weekends, I often do things to relax. My study time is probably less than that of my peers, but I maintain a high-density study style in the environment where I can concentrate best.
B : Since I live in a boarding house, I mainly study in the study room to help me concentrate. There are many friends studying there, so we can teach each other when we don't understand something. I get to school between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. and stay until around 10:00 p.m. every night. On weekends, I make a point of taking a break from studying for half a day to a full day to relax and rest.
Q4: Finally, what is your advice for everyone taking the Keio Law School entrance examination?
A : The main characteristic of the Keio Law School entrance exam is that it is a race against time. The biggest waste would be not being able to perform to your full potential due to a lack of time, so no matter how busy you are, you should definitely try to answer at least one year's worth of past exams while timing yourself. Furthermore, I recommend reviewing your own answers, properly analyzing what you are lacking to pass, and then creating a study plan aimed at reinforcing those weak areas. Also, be sure to take good care of your health.
B : I ran out of time on the multiple-choice section of the exam. I was determined to finish the essay portion, so I managed to, but many people around me said they ran out of time. Incomplete answers receive a poor evaluation, so I think it's a good idea to be mindful of your time management during the exam.