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Activities for Members

1. Continuing Legal Education and Study Groups

Continuing legal education of attorneys was first established when the House of Delegates of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association(the"Association") adopted the proposed Member Training Rules and Rules of Training and Culture Committee in March 1994. The rules have been formulated to reflect the existing practice of requiring new members to undergo continuing legal education. Themes of continuing legal education include the bar association, attorney self-governance and attorney ethics. For members who are not new members, continuing legal education with respect to attorney ethics is regularly conducted. To foster better understanding of attorney ethics, the Association conducts case research, panel discussions, etc. on specific cases regarding disputes, maintenance of discipline and disciplinary action for members who have been registered for three, ten, twenty, and thirty years. Other continuing legal education consists of general lectures and special lectures. The former deal with general legal subjects in which attorneys are commonly interested and the latter focus on subjects in specific specialized areas.

2. Maintenance of Discipline and Disciplinary Action

As a part of attorney self-governance, the Association is empowered to maintain discipline and take disciplinary action against its members. It is understood that the Association is obligated to exercise such power as appropriate to maintain the confidence of society in attorneys.

Disciplinary maintenance proceedings are conducted to determine whether due grounds exist to take disciplinary action against a member. Disciplinary maintenance proceedings are conducted by the Disciplinary Maintenance Committee for the purpose of maintaining discipline among the Association's members. If the Disciplinary Maintenance Committee determines that due grounds exist for disciplinary action, then a disciplinary action proceeding is begun. Disciplinary action proceedings are conducted by the Disciplinary Actions Committee to investigate members who violate the Practicing Attorney Law, the by-laws or regulations of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations or of the Association, or disturb the order of or discredit the Association, or otherwise commit acts unbecoming to an attorney. A warning, suspension from legal practice, an order to withdraw from the Association or disbarment are the actions that may be taken against an attorney. If the attorney being disciplined objects to the action taken against him or her, such attorney may file an appeal with the Federation and an action may also be brought in the Tokyo High Court to re-examine such disciplinary action.

The Association is very serious and strict about enforcing the disciplinary rules, because the credibility of lawyers among the country's citizens is essential to fulfilling the mission of attorneys.

3. Disputes

If a dispute arises between a member and his or her client in respect of the performance of the attorney's duties, such dispute will be subject to mediation proceedings conducted by the Committee for Dispute Mediation to settle such dispute promptly and fairly. The Committee for Dispute Mediation aims to achieve a just resolution of disputes between a member and his or her client.

4. Publication

The Association issues publications in various fields for its members. The publications issued by the Association are a compilation of the research results obtained by committees, study groups and from continuing legal education. Significant academic and practical publications have been distributed and favorably received by members, other legal practitioners and scholars.

5. International Exchange

In recent years, Japanese society has been internationalizing rapidly and the Association is no exception. In addition to holding seminars and symposia on comparative law topics, the International Exchange Committee takes a leading role in facilitating visits to or exchanges with foreign bar associations and promoting closer association with foreign legal consultants. The Association expects to conduct more such international activities and exchanges to encourage Japanese attorneys to develop an international point of view.

6. Mutual Aid System, Pension System

The mutual aid society is organized to promote friendship among members and promote mutual welfare and support. The mutual aid society has established a group insurance system and offers insurance to members. It has also pays for sending the Association's expressions of encouragement, congratulations, condolences, etc. Furthermore, the mutual aid society holds a members' group trip every year and promotes friendly relations among members and their families.

To guarantee a greater pension over and above the basic amount received from the National Pension, attorneys may participate in the "Lawyers Pension Foundation of Japan"under the auspices of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.