Promotion of Systems for Comprehensive Legal Support

In the eyes of the public, the administration of justice may seem to be a matter of little importance. Such a viewpoint probably arises from the fact that information helpful to the solution of legal disputes is not easily obtainable and people cannot easily consult professionals such as attorneys-at-law because there are few to be found around them or cannot employ them because of financial reasons. Such being the case, the Government has decided to carry out the objectives of the Comprehensive Legal Support Plan with a view to solving these problems.

See "Implementation of Comprehensive Legal Support by the Japan Legal Support Center" for details of the Comprehensive Legal Support Plan. The Japan Legal Support Center, which was established in April and commenced operations in October, is responsible for managing the plan and has as its objective, to solve the above-mentioned problems and to accomplish “administration of justice close at hand” through cooperation with the state, local governments, bar associations and other related organizations by carrying out operations such as information services, civil legal aid and measures for areas with limited judicial services.

The Ministry of Justice is to set out the mid-term objectives for the operations to be achieved the Japan Legal Support Center and to give instructions to the center on the objectives. On the expiration of the period for the mid-term plan, the Minister of Justice shall examine the necessity of continuing the operations of the Japan Legal Support Center, and shall review the organization of the Japan Legal Support Center and other general matters concerning its organization and work, and shall take necessary steps based on the results of the examination.