Law schools in Japan need to cut back admissions and improve programs

Law schools in Japan face admissions retrenchments and calls for improvement. Two stories in English-language newspapers here explain:

Law schools in Japan face admissions retrenchments and calls for improvement. Two stories in English-language newspapers here explain:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090424TDY02302.htm

excerpt:

>>The number of students to be admitted to 74 law schools throughout the nation will be slashed by about 18 percent during the 2010 and 2011 academic years, it has been learned.

The widespread plans will see a cut in the current total intake of 5,765 students nationwide to between 4,700 and 4,800, sources said, although they added that six schools were not planning any cuts.

It has been pointed out that an excessive number of students at law schools has resulted in a lower percentage of students passing the national bar examination.

A special panel of the Central Council for Education has called for drastic cuts in the number of students allowed to enroll at law schools to improve the quality of education at them.

As the Japan Federation of Bar Associations also has proposed that the intake of students should be cut to around 4,000, it is expected there will be further calls for cuts in the number of law students accepted by schools, the sources said.<<

See full story at Yomiuri online.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20090420a2.html

excerpt:

>>Raising the bar at law schools

In April 2004, 68 law schools were established in accordance with the nation's legal reform. Since then, the number has increased to 74. Earlier this month, about 5,800 people enrolled in these schools. Those who have not studied law at undergraduate level will have to complete a three-year course and those who did, a two-year course.

These schools were created to help satisfy a national demand for legal professionals who can provide high-quality services, in particular lawyers. But criticism persists that some of these schools fail to offer high-quality education.

The Japan Law Foundation, the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation and the Japan University Accreditation Association have recently evaluated 68 of the law schools and determined that 22 of them have problems with their curricula and teaching methods.

Problems identified include a shortage of basic subjects, a lack of balance between theoretical studies and practical application, a lack of transparency in the evaluation of students' performances in tests and under-qualified teachers.<<

See full story/editorial at Japan Times online.