the Amendment Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers (Law No. 33 of 2020)
On May 22nd, 2020, the Law to Partially Amend the Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers was enacted, and promulgated a week later.
The outline of the revision is as follows:
(1) The scope of "international arbitration cases", in which a registered foreign lawyer, etc. can represent, was expanded, and the provisions defining "international mediation cases", which enable a registered foreign lawyer, etc. to represent, were newly set.;
(2) The period of being employed by lawyers, etc. in Japan, which can be included for a professional legal experience required for the apparoval to become a registered foreign lawyer, was extended from one year to two years.(The applicant must have three-year and more professional legal experience, in principle, in the jurisdiction where they obtains the qualification.);
(3) The Joint Corporation System (officially called "Attorney at Law/Registered Foreign Lawyer Joint Corporation System") was established, with the aim of letting attorneys and registered foreign lawyers become members and engage in legal business together.
The revisions (1) and (2) came into force on August 29th, 2020.
The revision (3) will be enforced on a date specified by a Cabinet Order within two years and six months from the date of promulgation, specifically by November 29th, 2022.
Consultations and preliminary examinations on applications for the approval, based on the revised provisions, are available. Please refer to the following page for application procedures.
For the outline of the Amendment Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers, please refer to the following document. Please refer to the following page for the revisions (1) and (2). Relating to the revision (1), Article 1-2 and Article 1-3 have been added to the Regualtion for Enforcement of the Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers, delegated by the provisions of Article 2, item (xi), (a) and item (xi)-2, (a) of the Act.
For that part, please refer to the following page, available in Japanese and English.
The outline of the revision is as follows:
(1) The scope of "international arbitration cases", in which a registered foreign lawyer, etc. can represent, was expanded, and the provisions defining "international mediation cases", which enable a registered foreign lawyer, etc. to represent, were newly set.;
(2) The period of being employed by lawyers, etc. in Japan, which can be included for a professional legal experience required for the apparoval to become a registered foreign lawyer, was extended from one year to two years.(The applicant must have three-year and more professional legal experience, in principle, in the jurisdiction where they obtains the qualification.);
(3) The Joint Corporation System (officially called "Attorney at Law/Registered Foreign Lawyer Joint Corporation System") was established, with the aim of letting attorneys and registered foreign lawyers become members and engage in legal business together.
The revisions (1) and (2) came into force on August 29th, 2020.
The revision (3) will be enforced on a date specified by a Cabinet Order within two years and six months from the date of promulgation, specifically by November 29th, 2022.
Consultations and preliminary examinations on applications for the approval, based on the revised provisions, are available. Please refer to the following page for application procedures.
For the outline of the Amendment Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers, please refer to the following document. Please refer to the following page for the revisions (1) and (2). Relating to the revision (1), Article 1-2 and Article 1-3 have been added to the Regualtion for Enforcement of the Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers, delegated by the provisions of Article 2, item (xi), (a) and item (xi)-2, (a) of the Act.
For that part, please refer to the following page, available in Japanese and English.