What is the beat way for me to go about working in Japan as a foreign lawyer?
I have particular interest in MandA and corporate and commercial law. From reading these are big international markets, but how much does it apply in this scenario.
From what I have read, there are huge advantages to becoming a gaiben, rather than settling as an NJQ. But for my situation – below – is this something I should be thinking about in advance? Or something I can look at once I have finished my studies in the UK – including the SQE.
Despite the research I am looking for advice on what I could look to do to strengthen my resume if I decide to move, and in particular any advice or things people might know about my UK-Spain-Japan career hopes. Do I need to have passed specifically the Bar to practice in Japan? Most of the advice I have read specifies the bar, but for US and other nation questions. Presumably a qualified Solicitor in the UK has the same accepted expertise (or similar) as a barrister would have in the eyes of the Japanese legal authorities etc.?
Context:
I am entering my third year of history (BA) and will apply for the MALaw (conversion) once I have graduated – in the UK.
I am half Japanese born and raised in the UK and hold a Japanese passport. I used to be enrolled in the local school for a month every year during my UK summer holidays. I have spoken Japanese around the house with my mum since I can remember, and hence I talk and sound like a Yamaguchi local, with the exception of not having the legal/ work vocabulary that, obviously, were never necessary for me as a child and teen around the house.
As I start to consider career plans, what are the things that I can do now that could help me in the long run to go to Japan to practice law?
Is it worth me going and working there temporarily as a language teacher or otherwise given the career path I want. Or am I better off spending that time gaining experience in the UK.
And given my background would I be expected to take the JLPT etc?
I also speak near native spanish, given my Gibraltarian heritage on the other side of my family and am registered with ID also from Gibraltar. Are there any opportunities between all three of the UK, Spain and Japan that anyone might know of?
It is a particularly niche question and one to which I have not really found any helpful answers. I know there are firms, such as bakerMackenzie and other magic circle firms that have offices in all three countries, but are there genuine opportunities for me to be able to practice/work across all three jurisdictions? UK and Spain has easy ties but the combined question of UK AND spanish ties to Japan are what I cannot find out about. (I have tried many variations of google searches etc and scrolled through feeds to try and find anything this niche to no avail)
To sum up:
– Is it worth trying to find non-legal experience/temp jobs in Japan – would it be able to help my cv for the sake of working in Japan?
– Are there roles where I can travel/use all three of my languages regularly within the profession?
– Am I going to need a JLPT to even apply to these firms given my scenario
– And if not, how difficult is learning the terminology etc of law and the workplace for someone of my context (obviously lots of variables apply, but would it be feasible to be done in say a year of part time learning?)
– Generally, how can I taylor my CV towards (possibly) eventually moving to get a job in/around Japan – as a lawyer?
Research:
R/movingtojapan: “Working as a lawyer in Japan”
https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/s/oTM9wHPgvG
Gaiben wiki page
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_at_foreign_law
AMT NJQ associate career page:
https://www.amt-law.com/en/careers/
Lawsociety: Doing legal business in Japan | The Law Society
by TG_FrostBolt