Law School (Chuo Law School)

The Chuo Law School (CLS) was established in 2004 to fulfill the new national objectives of reforming judicial and/or legal education system to foster legal professionals who are adequately capable of meeting the complex and diverse needs of today’s society, and to meet demands to establish a professional graduate school having the capability of fostering the higher education which is necessary in the sophisticated and globalized society and economy.

As the core of new national system to develop and nurture legal professionals, CLS provides the high level of legal education that links the theoretical with the practical.

Graduates of CLS will be awarded a Juris Doctor degree (J.D. [specialist]). Holders of J.D. will be eligible to sit for the New Bar Examination introduced in 2006. One of the biggest law schools in Japan, CLS is providing six models for education and training; (1) “home lawyers” who are closely involved in the day-to-day activities of the people, (2) corporate lawyers, (3) external and international affairs lawyers, (4) advanced science and technology lawyers, (5) public policy lawyers, and (6) criminal lawyers. In line with 120 years tradition and achievements, and with our alumni network of legal professionals that covers one of every five members in Japan’s legal community, Chuo University and CLS will continue to grow and provide the finest legal education.

Overview of Chuo Law School

Program

The program is comprised of five curricula. Each curriculum is taught based on the syllabus shown below.

1) Basics of Law Curriculum

Specialized study of the fields of basic law (public law, civil law, criminal law) is based around the case method. The Socratic Method, where the members of the class interactively participate in the lecture, is employed to cultivate more effective ways to use the law.

[Examples of Courses]

Advanced Studies in Public Law, Advanced Studies in Civil Law, Advanced Studies in Criminal Law.

2) Basics for Practicing Law Curriculum

Students gain real-life experience working in such places as the legal clinic at the Chuo University Surugadai Law Office, a law firm attached to the University, or getting training in an externship program at law offices affiliated with the University. These courses place a strong emphasis on practical experience, giving the students the opportunity to develop problem-solving skills.

[Examples of Courses]

Professional Ethics, Moot Court Practice (Civil, Criminal)

3) Basic Law and International Law Curriculum

Fostering a high sense of ethics and a high degree of competency, and keeping with the traditions handed down from its founding as the Igirisu Horitsu Gakko, Chuo University, the curriculum includes a wide array of courses on Anglo-American law, providing the students with the fundamentals needed to study at law schools abroad.

[Examples of Courses]

Anglo-American Public Law, Anglo-American Private Law, Foreign Law Seminar, Asian Business Law

4) Developmental and Specialized Law Curriculum

In addition to the fields of basic law, the University makes full use of its assets as a comprehensive educational and research institution to provide a quality education that is theoretical and practical in developmental and specialized fields of law.
The curriculum offers high-level and pragmatic courses which are also offered at the Faculty of Law, including Insurance Law, Economic Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Private Law, Labor Law, Information Law, Taxation Law, and General Study of International law.

[Introductory Courses]

Legal Disputes in Daily Life, Gender and Law, Business Strategies and Law, Policy-making and Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Sociology of Judicial Process, Specialized Litigations Practice

[The Field of Business Law]

Corporate Governance and Law

Corporate Finance and Law

Business Transactions and Law

Security Exchange Law

Venture Business and Law

Business Reorganization Law

Creditor's Rights Law

International Transaction Law

International Economic Law

[The Field of Public Interest]

Family Disputes and Law

Medical Practices and Law

Information Law

Environmental Law

Consumer Law

IT Society and Law

Entertainment/Sports Law

[The Field of Public Policy]

Administrative Litigations Practice

International Human Rights Law

Community Safety Policy and Law

Organizational Wrong-doing and Law

Corporate Crimes and Law

Crime Victims and Law

Offender's Correction and Law

5) Seminars and Thesis Writing

In addition to the developmental and specialized law courses, a number of small seminars, each based on a theme selected for study and limited to around 10 participants, are also offered.
Graduate students in the Law School who wish to go on to the doctorate program can take the Thesis Writing (worth 2 credits) in place of writing a Master's Thesis.