Future legal experts are required to have nature and ability to solve the problems from a global perspective as “21 Century Global Citizen Lawyers” who are responsible for the future of Japan and the world. The Ritsumeikan University School of Law gives students a solid background to achieve this goal.

A Curriculum aimed at Aquiring a Foundation and a Sense of International Legal Services

Firstly, among basic courses in legal practice, Legal English is taught by lawyers and legal specialists from corporations experienced in international legal affairs. This course enables students to acquire communication skills in English and legal English.

Secondly, as common advanced/applied courses, courses in foreign law including Anglo-American Law, European Law, and Seminar in Foreign Law are offered so as to provide students with knowledge of foreign law and legal affairs. All these courses reflect the actual practice of law in the targeted countries. In particular, Anglo-American Law is taught by a current professor invited from the Washington College of Law, American University in Washington D.C., every year. Participants are required preparation and efforts to follow the course given in English, but they are able to experience what it is like to study at a law school in the United States and to learn about the American legal system and the actual situation of the legal profession firsthand.

In addition to individual subject of international law, Private International Law and Civil Procedure Law, program packages in International Transaction Law and International Law of Human Rights (8 units for each of the three courses) are offered as part of the advanced/applied courses. The curriculum is aimed at training legal experts who specialize in international transactions and international human rights by packaging some related courses.

Seminar in Foreign Law: a Hands-on Experience of Legal Practice in Washington D.C.

For those who aim to be a lawyer working internationally, the Seminar in Foreign Law in addition to Legal English, Anglo-American Law and International Transaction Law are offered. In partnership with the American University Washington College of Law, this intensive field-study course is held in Washington D.C. over a two week period during summer vacation. Along with lectures and seminars at the law school, students visit the U.S. Congress, federal/state courts, federal/state administrative agencies, law firms (a huge law firm), legal department of NGOs, etc., to experience legal settings in the United States.

We expect that law school students will seize an opportunity to become Global Citizen Lawyers through experiences to look at foreign legal systems and legal situations in real life. Furthermore, they have the alternative to go on to a law school in the United States (especially a one-year LL M. Course) to become qualified as a lawyer in the US. For this purpose, we promote a close partnership with American University and have support system.

Working Activity for the International Society of the 21st Century

The Ritsumeikan University School of Law endeavors to train legal professions who play active roles in the changing international society of the 21st century. For this purpose we offer international legal curriculum such as a field study program in Washington DC (August) and “Kyoto Seminar” (February), in which overseas law school students and lawyers participate. We offer a way to become a 21 Century Global Citizen Lawyer with a truly international mindset.