DAINI TOKYO BAR ASSOCIATION

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• Outline of Daini Tokyo Bar Association
• About the Daini Tokyo Bar Association
• History
• The Mission
• Activities of the Association
• Activities for Members
• Legal Info & Services
• Arbitration and Mediation Center
• If You are Arrested
• Access & Map

The Mission

The Mission of Attorneys and Attorney Self-Governance

The Practicing Attorneys Law states that the mission of practicing attorneys is to protect fundamental human rights and ensure social justice. In order to realize this purpose, attorneys must be free and independent from the interference and supervision of the Diet, the courts and other government agencies. For this reason, the law grants full autonomy to bar associations comprised of attorneys.

The principal self-regulatory powers of each bar association are as follows:

* independent screening of the qualifications of attorneys and registration of attorneys;

* establishment of its own rules and regulations regarding structure and management, including standard fee schedules; and

* the power to take disciplinary action against attorneys.

Furthermore, bar associations retain financial independence from state and other organizations. Bar associations are largely self-financed by membership dues.

The Composition of Bar Associations

In Japan, there are 52 local bar associations. A local bar association is organized in each district court jurisdiction (except that there are three local bar associations in the jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court). These local bar associations, along with individual attorneys, constitute the members of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Except for certain law professors, to qualify as an attorney, one must pass the national bar examination and complete a two-year legal training course at the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court. Judges and public prosecutors also must take such examination and undergo such training.Thus, the entire bar, consisting of attorneys, judges and public prosecutors, receives the same legal education. After completion of their education at the Institute, persons wishing to become attorneys must apply through the local bar association that they intend to join to have their names registered in the roll of attorneys maintained by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.