A sense of justice is of course necessary. The ideal candidate is someone who can think theoretically, is good at eliciting stories, and is good at making bargains. A sense of balance that allows both sides to be objective and flexible in their arguments, and the perseverance to organize intricate information in a steady manner are also essential.

The lawyer's job is to protect the legal rights, interests, and human rights of his or her clients through court proceedings. As a legal specialist, he/she provides various consultations to clients, such as inheritance issues and compensation for traffic accidents. His main job is to handle civil (defending private rights) and criminal (invoking public rights) litigation cases in courts, and to handle commercial accidents and negotiate with foreign countries at the request of companies. While you may admire the brilliant courtroom tactics in movies and novels, the actual work is a bit more modest.

To become a lawyer, one must pass the bar exam, just as prosecutors and judges do. To take the bar exam, one must either complete a law school program or pass a preliminary examination. After completing the law school program or passing the preliminary examination, one may take the bar examination as many times as one wishes during the five-year period following completion of the law school program or passing the preliminary examination.

Although there are prestigious universities that have produced many successful applicants for the bar exam, it does not mean that one must be from a prestigious school to pass the exam. Some people have passed the exam through university law programs, private preparatory schools, or by self-study. It all depends on the individual's motivation.

It used to be said that there was a shortage of lawyers in Japan, but in recent years, the number of lawyers has been increasing every year as the judicial system has been reformed. Although it has been said that this may reduce the demand for lawyers, new needs are rising, such as in-house lawyers who handle international cases for globalizing companies, lawyers who protect intellectual property on the Internet, and lawyers who provide support for cyberbullying and child abuse. It is important to establish your own specialty.

Lawyers who belong to a law firm are paid by the firm. If they become independent, their income will vary depending on the number of cases they handle, but the average annual income nationwide is 9,454,000 yen. If you are successful in starting your own practice, you can earn more than 50 million yen.

Since it is a customer business, in some cases, holidays are returned. However, if you adjust well, you can take a vacation in your own way.

Working lawyers work in law firms. This is where they acquire the know-how to apply their knowledge to reality.

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as a lawyer!