May 11, 2015
This is a partial report on the Keio University Law School information session held on Saturday, April 25, 2015.
【Information Session Outline】
Date and Time: Saturday, April 25, 2015, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Venue: South School Building Hall, Mita Campus
Osaka City Campus (simulcast)
【Information Session Agenda】
1. Opening Remarks
2. Greeting from the Dean of the Law School
3. Curriculum Overview
4. About the 2016 Admissions System
5. Introduction of a Legal Practitioner: Taku Fukui (Professor, Keio University Law School)
6. Introduction of Current Students
7. Q&A Session
Introduction of a Legal Practitioner:
Taku Fukui
(Professor, Keio University Law School)
We are pleased to present excerpts from a lecture by Taku Fukui, a professor and practicing attorney, given at the Keio University Law School admissions information session held on Saturday, April 25, 2015. We hope this will be helpful for those aspiring to a career in the legal profession.
I passed the bar examination in 1984, thirty years ago. At that time, the legal apprenticeship at the Supreme Court's Legal Training and Research Institute lasted for two years. After that, I was admitted to the bar in 1987 and have been practicing as an attorney for 27 years. My usual work is in the field of so-called corporate law, where I handle litigation, arbitration, and other matters for various companies. Recently, I have also been increasingly involved in the fields of M&A and corporate governance. For example, at this time of year, the general shareholders' meetings for companies with fiscal years ending in March are concentrated at the end of June, so I advise on these meetings. I also participate in third-party committees to prevent corporate misconduct, where I conduct investigations and make recommendations.
The first time I wanted to become a lawyer was around elementary school, when an American TV drama called *Perry Mason* was on the air. It was a drama about a wheelchair-bound lawyer who solved one criminal case after another, saving innocent people from wrongful convictions. I think it's common for children to aspire to a profession because they admire something about it and think it's cool. For me, it was the same; it all started with thinking that being a lawyer was cool.
The work of a legal professional differs significantly from that of someone working in a typical company. For example, in general civil cases, you can take the lead and handle various tasks yourself. You can speak directly with clients in need, immediately start working on how to fulfill their wishes, and actually carry out court proceedings. This kind of work might not be possible if you join a company. Also, if you work as a lawyer in corporate law, even a first-year attorney has the opportunity to participate in meetings with company presidents and senior executives and express various opinions. This comes with great responsibility, but it is also very rewarding.
However, the work of a legal professional involves more than you might think; it doesn't end with your studies at law school or for the bar exam. The laws you handle are constantly being revised. Compared to when I took the exam, major laws such as the Code of Civil Procedure, the Commercial Code, the Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure have been amended. Next, the law of obligations in the Civil Code is also scheduled to be revised. You must constantly follow these revisions and confirm their content, or it won't be useful in your work. We legal practitioners also place great importance on case law. Those of you studying at the Faculty of Law may understand that there are various academic theories on various issues, but since practitioners are neither legislators nor researchers, our primary concern is not "what the law should be" but "what the Supreme Court has actually said." Even if you argue from the standpoint of a minority or opposing theory, the courts will not accept it, so you must constantly follow and study the Supreme Court's rulings. Therefore, even as a practitioner, you must continue to study until you retire.
Hearing all this, many of you might think that being a legal practitioner sounds very difficult. However, what I want to say is that I truly hope those of you who study law and find it interesting will aim to become practitioners. If you enter this world simply with the feeling that you can make a living by getting a qualification, even if it doesn't seem interesting, you may have a hard time in the future. It would be great if you could study law and find it interesting in various ways.
Like many of you and those around you, you may be interested in legal practice, but I think many students hesitate when they see recent media reports about people passing the bar exam but being unable to find a job at a law firm, and that the number of applicants is decreasing as a result.
However, what I want to tell you is that now might actually be a great opportunity. It was very unfortunate, but about 12 years ago, in 2004, the law school system was established. Just after the first graduating class took the bar exam, completed their one-year legal apprenticeship, and became practitioners, the Lehman Brothers collapse occurred. This created a difficult situation not only for the global economy but also for the Japanese economy, and in Japan, large law firms and international law firms drastically reduced their hiring. Even ordinary law firms began to postpone hiring new graduates. The introduction of the law school system and the Lehman Brothers collapse happened to coincide. This is why reports began to appear about people passing the bar exam but having no job prospects. However, the Japanese economy has been recovering recently, and the number of hires at each law firm is also bouncing back. In Keio's case, the number of people becoming in-house lawyers, joining companies, or becoming civil servants is also increasing. As far as I know, I have not recently heard of any graduates who have been unable to find a job after graduation.
While the overall number of applicants is decreasing, the legal profession, like the medical profession, will never disappear. Therefore, I believe that now is a great opportunity. Of course, I cannot offer any guarantees, but I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you that I believe it is a good career choice.
Finally, I would like to explain about an organization called the Mita Hoso-kai. Please look at pages 28 to 29, and also page 19, in the brochure you have. The Mita Hoso-kai is one of the so-called Mita-kai. At Keio University, all graduates become alumni, and we call them Keio University alumni. Keio University alumni always belong to one of the Mita-kai. There are various types of Mita-kai. There are regional Mita-kai, for example, in Aomori, Hokkaido, and Sapporo, as well as in places like Setagaya Ward. Then there are the alumni associations for clubs you belonged to as a student. These are also Mita-kai. There are also workplace Mita-kai within various companies. The Mita Hoso-kai is one of these Mita-kai. For example, if you enter Keio Law School, pass the bar exam, and become a judge, prosecutor, or lawyer, you automatically become a member of the Mita Hoso-kai.
As of this April, many of the practitioners and full-time faculty members are from the Mita Hoso-kai. Including part-time lecturers, assistant professors, and instructors who accept externs, more than 100 members of the Mita Hoso-kai are involved in the education at this law school. In terms of financial support, the Mita Hoso-kai has also established a fund to provide various forms of assistance. As mentioned on page 19, young faculty members who are also Keio graduates back you up by helping with your studies in various ways after you enroll, such as through academic counseling sessions and study support seminars. I hope that in the future, you will all enter this Keio Law School, graduate, pass the bar exam, and join our Mita Hoso-kai.
Introduction of Current Students
From the Keio University Law School admissions information session held on Saturday, April 25, 2015, we would like to share the voices of students currently enrolled in our law school (hereafter, Keio Law School) who are aspiring to become legal professionals. We hope this will be helpful for those considering Keio Law School.
A : Male, second-year student, non-law graduate course.
B : Female, third-year student, law graduate course.
C : Female, third-year student, law graduate course.
Q1: Among the many law schools, what was the deciding factor for choosing Keio Law School? When did you start thinking about and preparing for the law school entrance exams?
A : I was working at the time, and there were four professionals I respected, who, by chance, were all graduates of Keio University. Two of them were lawyers, and seeing them made me admire the legal profession. I felt that if I were to aspire to be a lawyer, Keio University was the only choice, so I decided to enroll. When I first started thinking about law school, I was a working professional and had no information at all. Furthermore, since I decided to take the exam in mid-June, I missed the application deadline for that year's aptitude test. For the next year, I spent about an hour after work preparing for the aptitude test and was able to pass.
B : I was interested in the EU region, especially France, but I didn't have the opportunity to study their laws during my undergraduate years. So, while my primary goal is to become a practitioner, I also wanted to go to a law school where I could learn about the EU and France. While looking through brochures from various universities, I found out that Keio Law School offered such classes and decided I wanted to enroll. As for the exam, since I was a Faculty of Law graduate, I had been studying law since my first year. I remember seeing the students a year ahead of me preparing for the aptitude test and other exams, and thinking, "It'll be my turn next year," which gradually made me focus on my own preparations.
C : I decided to aim for law school after doing volunteer work in Cambodia during my first year of university, which made me want a job where I could help people. However, I only started studying for it in my third year, and I think I got serious from the fall of my third year onward. There were two deciding factors for me in choosing Keio Law School. The first was that the classes are geared toward the bar exam. I planned to take the law school and bar exams without attending a prep school, so I placed great importance on whether the school offered strong support in that area. The second was the variety of elective courses. I was attracted by the fact that there were many classes related to my hobbies and interests, such as courses offered by KBS (Keio Business School) and a class that used to be offered called Themed Seminar (Art and Law), although it seems it's not available now.
Q2: What are your impressions of the classes at Keio Law School?
A : The course for non-law graduates has many classes, and they are all very intensive. As a graduate of the Faculty of Economics, a so-called "pure" non-law student, I was desperate just to keep up with the classes. Time flew by as I prepared and reviewed. We learn new things every day, and just because it's the first year doesn't mean it's an introductory course. We have to solidify the fundamentals for the exam, so both I and the other non-law students around me felt quite pressured throughout the first year. Therefore, I had no time for anything else; my first year was spent preparing for and reviewing school lessons, studying the school's textbooks, and getting support for my classes in a Keio Law School seminar called the Study Support Seminar. I've just started my second year, but while the first year was mostly lecture-style, the second year uses the Socratic method. In this format, the professor asks a series of questions that you have to answer immediately. I was confused at first, but I've gradually become able to answer. Before I knew it, I found myself naturally discussing legal topics with friends I was studying with. So, I feel that simply following the track that Keio Law School lays out for you is the simplest yet most effective way to learn.
B : Before class, we receive a lot of materials, including case studies that will be used in the lesson. When I started preparing, I found many issues that I had thought about up to a certain point, but never beyond, and I would rush to look them up in my textbooks. From the preparation stage, I began to realize how substantial the school's curriculum is. From the second year, classes switch to the Socratic method, so professors start asking a lot of questions. Even if you've considered an issue and think you have the right answer, you're often told that the thinking that comes after is what's important. Feeling my own lack of preparation and ability, I studied with the motivation to be able to answer properly next time. Also, when asked about fundamental matters, professors would often point out, "This is how you're thinking, but what if you thought about it from a different angle?" Being questioned from many perspectives can be a bit overwhelming, but if you don't give up and try to answer persistently, the professor will praise you, saying, "You've thought it through well," which builds your confidence. When you study alone, it's easy to become unsure if you're studying correctly, but by studying with classmates and interacting with professors, you gain a clear understanding of how to study for the bar exam. That's why I think this school's curriculum is very substantial and excellent.
C : First, the required courses are basically bar exam subjects, and the level is very high. Usually, we are given problems beforehand, solve them, and then attend class. But even if you read through thick textbooks, the professor will ask you to go even further. However, this isn't about nitpicking; I feel it helps you understand the legal way of thinking as a whole. Looking at past bar exam questions, there are many problems you can understand if you have thoroughly prepared for and reviewed your classes. I believe the professors carefully research what kind of problems are good and create questions packed with the essentials. Next, regarding electives, because there are many students, there are many options and a lot of appealing classes. For example, there are English classes with international students and classes directly related to practice taught by legal practitioners. These subjects are not directly related to the bar exam, but since I came to law school instead of taking the preliminary exam route, I think it's a good idea to take such courses to gain both deep knowledge and practical skills. I also found it appealing that taking these electives can help you discover what you want to do in the future. There are also electives where you can learn about bar exam subjects, so I think even people who only want to study for the bar exam can create a meaningful curriculum.
Q3: What is your typical daily lifestyle like?
A : I usually wake up at 6:30 AM and try to arrive at school 30 minutes before classes start. Including the Study Support Seminar, I have about three or four classes a day. After they're all over, I study, mainly preparing for the next day's classes, in the school's study room until about 10:00 PM. As for my preparation and review pace, I don't have much time for review on weekdays, so I just focus on preparing for the next day's classes and do all my reviewing over the weekend. However, if I spend the entire weekend reviewing, I fall behind on preparation, so by Sunday night, I'm usually already preparing for Tuesday's classes. For time allocation, I spend about three hours preparing for each required class. If the case we're covering is complex, it can sometimes take about six hours for one class. For review time, in my first year, I spent about six hours because there was a lot of new knowledge to memorize. But in my second year, it's more about confirming what I've already memorized, so I now aim for about three hours, the same as my preparation time. Also, in my first year, my friends and I held a weekly seminar-like meeting to review the content of our classes.
B : My main study place is usually the school, except on Saturdays. On other days, I aim to get to school between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. I go home between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. I try to be at school for about 12 hours. When I get to school in the morning, I do my own studying before classes start. I use this time to study deeper into areas I want to explore more. For preparation, I do it all on Saturdays and don't prepare on weekdays. Then, after my classes on weekdays, I make it a goal to finish reviewing that day's lessons. This frees up my Sundays, which I use for my own study or for things like writing answers for my independent study group. My commute is very long, so I also use the time on the train to study. I schedule my independent study group on weekdays or Saturdays. In this group, we use commercially available workbooks to review what we've learned in class. Of course, since the problems are different, we also cover new issues that come up, but we tackle them in the seminar by connecting them to what the professor said in class.
C : I basically go to school about four or five days a week. My preparation time depends on the class, but it's usually one or two hours, and on weekdays I sometimes stay at school until 9:00 PM. To be honest, I feel I should probably prepare a bit more. In my independent study group, during my second year, we reviewed for final exams and summarized casebooks. Since the fall of my second year, we've also been looking at bar exam questions. I'm the type of person who plays when it's time to play and concentrates when it's time to concentrate, so I try to study while taking good breaks. That's why I have a part-time job, hang out on either Saturday or Sunday, and go out for drinks with friends about once a week. Law school life is often thought to be busy with studying, but I think you can manage your time well and make time for other things.
Q4: Any advice for everyone applying to Keio Law School?
A : I was busy with work, so I didn't submit my foreign language proficiency test scores, but I still passed. For those who are really busy, I wanted to share that this is also a possibility, just for your reference. After you get in, the first year of the non-law graduate course is very busy, so if you can effectively use the six months after passing as a warm-up period before starting law school, I think you'll be able to get into the swing of things more smoothly once you're here.
B : If you score in the bottom 15 percent on the aptitude test for the entrance exam, you won't be considered for admission not just at Keio Law School, but at any law school. So, for fourth-year undergraduates, I think the top priority is to work hard to get at least the minimum required score on the aptitude test. As for the law subjects for law graduates, I panicked right before the exam and tried to cram everything in, but in the end, if you stick to calmly writing about the basics and sincerely answering what is asked, you can pass the law school exam. So, for fourth-year students, I think you'll be fine if you focus on the fundamentals in the time you have left. Once you get into law school, you have to work hard for a different exam, the bar exam, so I recommend taking a break to refresh yourself after the law school entrance exams are over. Studying hard with new friends at law school is a lot of fun, so please work hard toward each goal in front of you, one by one.
C : I imagine many of the law graduates in this room are in their third or fourth year of university. I also started studying in my third year or later, so there's no need to give up or panic, thinking it's too late. I think the law school entrance exam asks about fundamental things, so you don't need to cram in a lot of difficult knowledge. It seems the number of law school applicants is decreasing, and many people may have a negative image, but I see this as a great chance to get into a school with such wonderful friends, classes, and professors. And to the non-law graduates, having students from different backgrounds in the law school is very stimulating for us law graduates as well, so please don't hesitate to enroll. I hope we can work together in the future.