2014.10.24
We are posting the experience report of a graduate of our law school who participated in the University of Washington School of Law Summer Program ,
Mr. Takumi Kiriyama.
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I was given the opportunity to participate in the University of Washington School of Law Summer Institute in Transnational Law and Practice, held from August 29 to September 12 of this year.
Because I wanted to become a lawyer at a large law firm handling corporate legal affairs, including international cases, I decided to apply for this program. After my job search following the bar examination had settled down, I wanted to get a sense of what law schools at overseas universities were like, with an eye toward studying abroad in the near future. This program seemed to be positioned as an introductory course for students in the LL.M. program and others that begin in earnest at the end of September. It was the perfect program for me, as someone considering a future LL.M., because the classes taught how to study law—such as how to read case law and explanations of basic legal terminology—and provided a fundamental understanding of various legal fields.
Unlike studying abroad at a language school, which many university students experience, studying at a law school was extremely tough. I was required to attend over seven hours of classes each day, conducted in fast-paced English filled with technical terms, and was assigned a huge amount of preparation and review. To be honest, I had almost no energy left for sightseeing after class. However, in the end, participating in this program greatly broadened my horizons.
First, by being forced to do a large amount of continuous listening every day, I almost completely lost my resistance to English. Of course, basic independent study of English is essential, but after returning to Japan, I found I could understand foreign TV dramas and the like with real ease. Furthermore, law school classes often require you to express your own opinions. Experiencing the frustration of not being able to instantly translate what I wanted to say into English made me realize the importance of communication and speaking skills, which were not heavily emphasized in TOEIC or Japanese university entrance exams. This was a huge realization for me. Third, through this program, I was able to meet and be inspired by judges, prosecutors, and lawyers from all over the world. Having the precious opportunity to study alongside them significantly changed my perspective on my future career. Another major attraction of the program is that, in addition to meeting legal professionals from around the world, it also includes visits to a large local law firm (K&L Gates) and a district court.
I am not a returnee, nor was I particularly good at English, so I don't think I ever had a clear idea of the skills and qualities required of a lawyer active on the international stage. But now that I have completed the program, I feel that the path to becoming my ideal lawyer over the next few years has become much clearer. Even if you are not good at English, I would strongly recommend participating in a similar opportunity if you have a strong desire to work internationally.
I would like to thank Professor Yamamoto for his help in enabling me to participate in this program, the staff at the Office of Student Services who handled the procedures, and my three Keio classmates in Seattle with whom I tackled the waves of preparation and review and shared the joy of passing the bar exam.
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