Attorney Act(Act No. 205 of June 10, 1949)
Chapter I The Mission and Duties of an Attorney(The mission of an Attorney)
Article 1 (1) An attorney is entrusted with the mission of protecting fundamental
human rights and achieving social justice.
(2) An attorney shall, in keeping with the mission specified set forth in thepreceding paragraph, perform his/her duties in good faith and endeavor tomaintain the social order and to improve the legal system.
(The standards underlying the responsibilities of an attorney)
Article 2 An attorney shall strive to remain highly cultured and have an uprightcharacter and shall be well-versed in laws, regulations and legal practices.
(The duties of an attorney)
Article 3 (1) The duties of an attorney, upon the request of the party or theconcerned parties, or upon the entrustment of public agency, shall be to engage
in acts relating to lawsuits, non-contentious cases, and objections, request forre-examination, appeals, and other petitions against administrative agencies
and other general legal services.
(2) An attorney may, without any further qualification, provide the services of apatent attorney and/or a tax attorney.
Chapter II Qualifications for Becoming an attorney(Qualifications for becoming an attorney)
Article 4 A person who has completed the legal apprentice training course shallbe qualified to become an attorney.
(Attorney qualification exemptions for certain persons certified by the Ministerof Justice)
Article 5 Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, a person who
has met any of the requirements set forth in either of the following items andwho is certified by the Minister of Justice as having thereinafter completed a
training course for attorney services, as designated by the Minister of Justiceand implemented by a juridical person as specified in an Ordinance of the
Ministry of Justice, shall be qualified to become an attorney.

1(i) After acquiring the qualification to become a legal apprentice, to have
served, in total, not less than five years as a judge of a summary court, apublic prosecutor, a research law clerk, a court administrative official, a law
official of the Ministry of Justice, an instructor at the Legal Training andResearch Institute, the Research and Training Institute for Court Officials or
government organ, as prescribed by Cabinet Order, in charge of the practices
set forth in items (xxxvi) or (xxxviii) of Article 4 of the Act for Establishmentof the Ministry of Justice (Act No. 93 of 1999), a member of the House ofRepresentatives or of the House of Councilors or a councilor (Sanji-kan) of
the Legislative Bureau of the House of Representatives or of the House ofCouncilors, a councilor (Sanji-kan) of the Legislative Bureau of the Cabinet,or as a professor or associate professor of law at a department, major course
or graduate school for the study of law at a university as stipulated by the
School Education Act (Act No. 26 of 1947) that has a graduate school for the
study of law;(ii) After acquiring the qualification to become a legal apprentice, to have
utilized his/her own specialized knowledge of law in the discharge of duties
dealing with any of the following matters, for a total of not less than sevenyears:(a) Matters concerning the business of a corporation or other business
operator (excluding national or local government) that were conducted as aofficer, agent, employee or other person working for such business operator
and that fall under any of the following (limited to matters conducted notin contravention with the provisions of Article 72):
1. To produce drafts of contracts or other documents found to requirepreparation based on the results of a legal analysis concerning therights and obligations of the business operator in its businessactivities;
2. To confirm facts or to collect evidence for court proceedings, etc. (hereand hereinafter "court proceedings, etc." refers to court proceedings
and similar proceedings as specified in an Ordinance of the Ministry ofJustice.);
3. To prepare drafts of complaints, motions, answers, briefs or otherdocuments to be submitted in court proceedings, etc. setting forth theassertions of the business operator;
4. To present assertions or opinions or to make examination of witnesses
on hearing dates for court proceedings, etc.; or
5. To negotiate settlements resolving civil disputes, or to confirm facts or tocollect evidence necessary for such settlements.
(b) Matters of national or local government that are performed as a public
officer and that come under any of the following:2

1. To draft laws and/or regulations (including Prefectural Ordinance andMunicipal ordinance), to perform matters relating to the signing oftreaties or other international agreements, or to engage in the review
or deliberation regarding bills relating to the enactment, modification
or repeal of Prefectural Ordinance and Municipal ordinances;
2. To perform matters set forth in 2. through 5. of sub-item (a) hereof; or
3. To perform matters, to be handled by a person designated in an
Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, that are associated with hearingsor trial decisions (shinketsu), rulings (kettei), or other determinationsin administrative hearings (shinpan) or other judicial decision-likeproceedings specified in an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(iii) After passing the examination set forth in Article 18, paragraph (3) of the
Public Prosecutor's Office Act (Act No. 61 of 1947), to have served, in total,
not less than 5 years, as a public prosecutor (excluding assistant prosecutor).
(iv) Other than the minimum periods set forth in the preceding three items, theperiod listed in either of sub-item (a) or (b) below must not be less than thenumber of years set forth in the respective sub-item. (The periods of serving
in the positions or discharging the duties provided in items (i) and (ii) below
are limited to the period that elapsed after acquiring the qualification to
become a legal apprentice, and the periods of serving in the positions
provided in the preceding item are limited to the period that elapsed after
passing the examination set forth in Article 18, paragraph (3) of the Public
Prosecutor's Office Act.)(a) The total period of time in which he/she served in the positions set forthin item (i) hereof and in which he/she served in the positions set forth in
the preceding item - five years(b) The total period of time in which he/she discharged the duties set forth initem (ii) hereof, the period in which he/she served in the positions set forthin item (i) hereof, and the preceding item - seven years(Application for certification)
Article 5-2 (1) A person who wishes to become qualified as an attorney as set
forth in the preceding Article shall submit to the Minister of Justice a written
application for certification containing his/her name, the date he/she acquired
the qualification to become a legal apprentice or passed the examination set
forth in Article 18, paragraph (3) of the Public Prosecutor's Office Act, theperiod during which the positions set forth in item (i) or (iii) of the preceding
Article were served or the period during which the duties set forth in item (ii)of said Article were discharged, as well as the details of such duties, and suchother matters as are specified in an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) The following documents must be attached to the written application for3certification prescribed in the preceding paragraph: a document verifying theacquisition of the qualification to become a legal apprentice or the passing of
the examination set forth in Article 18, paragraph (3) of the Public Prosecutor's
Office Act; documents verifying the period during which the positions set forthin items (i) or (iii) of the preceding Article were served or the period during
which the duties set forth in item (ii) of said Article were discharged, as well as
the details of such duties; and other documents specified in an Ordinance ofthe Ministry of Justice.
(3) A person submitting an application in accordance with the provisions ofparagraph (1) shall pay a fee in an amount stipulated by Cabinet Order inconsideration of actual expenses.
(Proceedings, etc. for certification)
Article 5-3 (1) If the Minister of Justice confirms that a person submitting anapplication in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding
Article (hereinafter referred to as the "Applicant" in this Chapter) falls under
any item of Article 5, the Minister shall assign the Applicant the training
course set forth in said Article (hereinafter simply referred to as the "Training
Course" in this Article) and give written notice to the Applicant of suchassignment.
(2) When an Applicant completes all Training Course programs, the juridical
person implementing the Training Course shall, without delay, provide awritten report to the Minister of Justice regarding the Applicant's training
status in the Training Course (including an opinion of whether or not the
Minister of Justice may certify that the Applicant has completed all Training
Course programs), pursuant to the provision of an Ordinance of the Ministry ofJustice.
(3) When the Minister of Justice confirms that the Applicant has completed all
Training Course programs based on the report set forth in the preceding
paragraph, the Minister shall issue the certification set forth in Article 5(hereinafter simply referred to as "Certification") with respect to the Applicant.
(4) When the Minister of Justice issues a Certification or makes a disposition of
rejection with respect to an application submitted in accordance with theprovisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the Minister shall give
written notice to the Applicant to that effect.
(Designation of Training Course)
Article 5-4 (1) The Minister of Justice shall not issue the designation of aTraining Course in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 unless the
Minister confirms that the contents of the Training Course are appropriate andsufficient for the acquisition of the abilities necessary to engage in attorney4

services.
(2) The juridical person implementing the Training Course may state an opinion
to the Minister of Justice regarding the designation of the Training Course as
set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(3) The Minister of Justice may, to the extent necessary to ensure the proper andsound implementation of the Training Course set forth in Article 5, require thejuridical person implementing the Training Course to submit necessary reports
or materials on the Training Course, and may state any necessary opinions.
(Request for information, etc.)
Article 5-5 If the Minister of Justice finds it necessary for the administration ofaffairs relating to Certifications, the Minister may request an Applicant tosubmit necessary materials, or make inquiries to public offices, public or
private organizations or other related parties and request them to report onnecessary matters.
(Delegation to an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice)
Article 5-6 In addition to what is provided for in this Act, necessary mattersconcerning certification procedures shall be prescribed by an Ordinance of the
Ministry of Justice.
(Attorney qualification exemptions for certain persons who have served as
Justices of the Supreme Court)
Article 6 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 4, a person who has served as
Justices of the Supreme Court shall be qualified to become an attorney.
(Disqualification of an Attorney)
Article 7 Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 4, 5 or 6, no person specified
below shall be qualified to be an attorney:(i) A person who has been sentenced to imprisonment without work or severer
punishment;(ii) A person who has been subject to a judicial decision of dismissal from the
Impeachment Court;(iii) A person who, through disciplinary action, has been disbarred as an
attorney or as a Registered Foreign Lawyer, has been prohibited frompracticing as a patent attorney, has had his/her registration as a certified
public accountant revoked, has been prohibited from practicing business as a
tax attorney, or has been dismissed from his/her office as a public officer, andthree years have not elapsed since the date such disciplinary action was
imposed;(iv) A person who has been subject to an order for commencement of5

guardianship of an adult ward or a person under curatorship;(v) A person who has been declared bankrupt and has not had his/her civilrights restored.
Chapter III Roll of Attorneys(Registration of attorneys)
Article 8 To become an attorney, a person must have his/her name registered in
the roll of attorneys held by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(Requests for the registration)
Article 9 To become an attorney, a person shall make a registration request with
the Japan Federation of Bar Associations through the bar association to which
he/she intends to be admitted anew.
(Requests for transfer of registration)
Article 10 (1) For an attorney to transfer the bar association to which he/shebelongs, he/she shall make a request with the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations to transfer his/her registration through the bar association towhich he/she intends to be admitted anew.
(2) If an attorney makes a request to transfer his/her registration, he/she shallmake report to such effect to the bar association to which he/she belongs.
(Request for rescission of registration)
Article 11 If an attorney intends to cease his/her practice, he/she shall make arequest to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations to rescind his/her
registration through the bar association of which he/she belongs.
(Refusal to transmit requests for registration or transfer of registration)
Article 12 (1) If there is a likelihood that an applicant may harm the bar
association's order or reputation, or an applicant falls under one of thefollowing items and there is a likelihood that he/she may be unfit to practicelaw, the bar association may refuse to transmit his/her request for registration
or transfer of registration, pursuant to a resolution of its Qualifications
Screening Board:(i) If the person is mentally or physically disabled; or(ii) If a person who falls under the provisions of Article 7, item (iii) makes arequest after three years from the date of imposition of a disposition such as
disbarment, prohibition to practice his/her profession, revocation ofregistration, or dismissal.
(2) The preceding paragraph shall apply to an applicant who, in the one year6

prior to his/her request for registration or transfer of registration, was a fulltime public officer in the district of the applicable bar association, and who
may be particularly likely to be unfit to practice law within that district.
(3) If a bar association refuses to transmit a request pursuant to the provisions of
the preceding two paragraphs, it shall promptly give written notice to theperson who has requested registration or requested for transfer of registrationof that fact and the reasons therefore.
(4) If three months after receiving the request for registration or transfer ofregistration, a bar association has failed to transmit the request to the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations, it shall be deemed that the transmittal of sucha request was denied, and the person who made the request may request for
examination pursuant to the Administrative Appeal Act (Act No. 160 of 1962).
Article 12-2 (1) If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations is to rule on arequest for investigation pursuant to the Administrative Appeal Act (including
the request for examination pursuant to paragraph (4) of the preceding Article)
regarding a refusal to transmit a request for registration or transfer ofregistration pursuant to the preceding Article, the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations shall act on the basis of the resolution of its Qualifications
Screening Board.
(2) If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations finds grounds for the request for
examination set forth in the preceding paragraph, it shall order the bar
association to transmit the request for registration or transfer of registration.
(Request by a bar association for rescission of registration)
Article 13 (1) If an attorney has made false statements regarding the matters set
forth in paragraph (1), items (i) or (ii), or in paragraph (2) of Article 12, orthere is a likelihood that the attorney may be unfit to practice law because of amental or physical disability, the bar association may, upon the resolution of
its Qualifications Screening Board, request that the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations rescind the attorney's registration.
(2) If a bar association requests rescission as set forth in the preceding
paragraph, it shall promptly give written notice to the attorney of that fact andthe reasons therefore.
Article 14 (1) A person against whom a registration rescission has beenrequested pursuant to the preceding Article may file an objection with theJapan Federation of Bar Associations within a period of sixty days commencing
on the date following the date notice of such rescission was received.
(2) If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations receives an objection as set forthin the preceding paragraph, it shall, based on the resolution of its
7

Qualifications Screening Board, either refer the request for rescission ofregistration back to the bar association if it finds that there are grounds forsuch objection, or reject the objection if its finds it to be groundless.
(3) If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations makes the disposition set forth in
the preceding paragraph, it shall promptly give written notice to the person
who has filed the objection of that fact and the reasons therefore.
(Refusal of registration or transfer of registration)
Article 15 (1) When a bar association transmits a request for registration ortransfer of registration to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, and theFederation finds it proper to refuse such request for the reasons set forth in
Article 12, paragraphs (1) and (2), it may refuse such registration or transfer ofregistration based upon the resolution of its Qualifications Screening Board.
(2) If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations refuses registration or transfer ofregistration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, it shall promptly give
written notice to the person who has requested the registration or transfer ofregistration and to the bar association which transmitted the request, of thatfact and the reasons therefor.
(Institution of lawsuit)
Article 16 (1) A person whose request for examination of a refusal to transmit
his/her request for registration or transfer of registration in accordance withthe provisions of Article 12 was dismissed or rejected, or whose filing of an
objection in accordance with the provisions of Article 14, paragraph (1) was
rejected, or whose request for registration or transfer of registration was
refused in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article, may
institute a lawsuit for the rescission of such decision in the Tokyo High Court.
(2) If, three months after receiving a request for examination of the refusal totransmit the request for registration or transfer of registration in accordancewith the provisions of Article 12 or the filing of objection in accordance withthe provisions of Article 14, paragraph (1), the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations has not made a ruling or a disposition as set forth in Article 14,
paragraph (2), or if it has not effected the registration or transfer ofregistration in the roll of attorneys within three months of receiving thetransmission of a request for registration or transfer of registration, it shall bedeemed that the request for review or the filing of the objection has been
rejected or the request for registration or transfer of registration has beenrefused, and the person who made such a request for review or filed such an
objection or made such a request for registration or transfer of registration
may institute a lawsuit pursuant to the preceding paragraph.
(3) With regard to the refusal to transmit the request for registration or transfer
8

of registration, a lawsuit for the rescission of such refusal may be instituted
only against the ruling thereon of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(Reasons for rescission of registration)
Article 17 The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall rescind theregistration of an attorney from its roll of attorneys under the following
circumstances:(i) If an attorney falls under any provision of Article 7, items (i) or (iii) to (v),inclusive;(ii) If an attorney requests rescission of registration in accordance with theprovisions of Article 11;(iii) If a final ruling has been issued for the withdrawal, disbarment, or
rescission of the registration of an attorney in accordance with the provisionsof Article 13; or(iv) If an attorney dies.
(Reporting the reasons for rescinding a registration)
Article 18 If a bar association finds grounds to rescind the registration of an
attorney from its roll of attorneys, it shall promptly report that fact to theJapan Federation of Bar Associations.
(Notice and public notice of registration, etc.)
Article 19 The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall promptly give noticeof an attorney's registration, transfer of registration, or rescission ofregistration from the roll of attorneys to the bar association to which theattorney belongs, and publicize such registration, transfer of registration, or
rescission of registration in the Official Gazette.
Chapter IV The Rights and Obligations of an attorney(Law offices)
Article 20 (1) The office of an attorney shall be called a "law office".
(2) A law office shall be established within the district of the bar association towhich the attorney belongs.
(3) An attorney may not establish two or more law offices under any namewhatsoever; provided, however, that he/she is not prohibited from practicing at
the law office of another attorney.
(Duty to report regarding a law office)
Article 21 An attorney must immediately notify the applicable bar association towhich he/she belongs and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations when9

he/she establishes or relocates his/her law office.
(Duty to observe the articles of association of an association)
Article 22 An attorney shall observe the articles of association of the bar
association to which he/she belongs and of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations.
(Right and duty to maintain confidentiality)
Article 23 Unless otherwise provided by law, an attorney or a former attorney
shall have the right and bear the duty to maintain the confidentiality of any
facts which he/she may have learned in the course of performing his/her duties.
(Request for information)
Article 23-2 (1) An attorney may request the bar association to which he/shebelongs to make inquiries to public offices or public or private organizations for
information necessary for a case to which he/she has been retained. The bar
association may refuse the request if it finds such request to be inappropriate.
(2) A bar association may, pursuant to the request set forth in the preceding
paragraph, request public offices or public or private organizations to provide
necessary information.
(Duty to perform entrusted matters, etc.)
Article 24 An attorney shall not refuse, without due reason, to undertake
matters entrusted by the government or public agencies in accordance withlaws and regulations, or to undertake matters designated by the bar
association to which he/she belongs or by the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations in accordance with the provisions of their articles of association.
(Cases that an attorney may not undertake)
Article 25 An attorney shall not undertake the cases specified below; provided,
however, that the foregoing shall not apply for the cases specified in items (iii)and (ix), if the client of a case that has already been undertaken by theattorney consents:(i) Cases in which he/she provided support to the other party after
consultations, or accepted the other party as his/her client;(ii) Cases in which he/she was consulted by the other party and where theextent and form of the consultation is found to be based on a relationship ofmutual trust;(iii) Cases requested by the other party to a case that has already been
undertaken by the attorney;(iv) Cases that he/she handled as a public officer in the course of performing
10his/her duties;(v) Cases that he/she handled as an arbitrator in arbitration procedures;(vi) Cases in which, during the period in which he/she engaged in services as amember or employee of a juridical person as set forth in Article 30-2,
paragraph (1), said juridical person provided support to the other party after
consultation or accepted the other party as a client, and in which he/she
personally involved;(vii) Cases in which, during the period in which he/she engaged in services as amember or employee of a juridical person as set forth in Article 30-2,
paragraph (1), said juridical person was consulted by the other party, andwhere the extent and form of the consultation is found to be based on arelationship of mutual trust, and in which he/she personally involved;(viii) Cases accepted from the other party by a juridical person as set forth in
Article 30-2, paragraph (1), of which he/she is a member or an employee; or(ix) Cases requested by the other party to a case to which a juridical person as
set forth in Article 30-2, paragraph (1), of which he/she is a member or an
employee, has already undertaken (limited to cases in which he/she waspersonally involved in).
(Prohibition of corruption)
Article 26 An attorney shall not, in connection with any case that he/she has
undertaken, receive, demand, or promise to receive any profit from the otherparty.
(Prohibition against collaboration with non-attorneys)
Article 27 An attorney shall not undertake any cases referred by a person who isin violation of any of the provisions of Articles 72 to 74 (inclusive), or allow
such a person to utilize his/her name.
(Prohibition against obtaining any rights that are in dispute)
Article 28 An attorney shall not obtain any rights that are in dispute.
(Duty to give notice of decision not to undertake a case)
Article 29 When an attorney decides not to undertake a case, he/she shallpromptly give notice to the client of that fact.
(Notification, etc. of profit-making business)
Article 30 (1) If any of the following items applies to an attorney, he/she shallgive prior notification to the bar association to which he/she belongs of thematters set forth in the respective item.
(i) When he/she intends to personally operate a profit-making business - the11

trade name and the details of the business; or(ii) When he/she intends to become a director, executive officer or other officer
of a person operating profit-making business (hereinafter referred to as"Director, etc." in this Article) or an employee of such a person - the tradename or name of the person operating the business, the location or address ofthe head office or principal place of business, the details of the business, andif he/she intends to become a Director, etc., the title.
(2) A bar association shall prepare a Roll of Attorneys at Law Engaged in ProfitMaking Businesses, listing, for each attorney who has made notification inaccordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the matters as set
forth in each item of that paragraph, and keep the register at the office of thebar association for public inspection.
(3) A person who has made notification in accordance with paragraph (1) hereof
shall, without delay, notify the bar association to which he/she belongs should
any changes to the notified matters occur. The same shall apply if a person has
made a notification regarding a business, and such business is discontinued orsuch person ceases to serve as a Director, etc. or an employee.
(4) When a notification is made in accordance with the provisions set forth in thepreceding paragraph, the bar association shall immediately modify or delete
the matters set forth in the Roll of Attorneys at Law Engaged in Profit-Making
Businesses.
Chapter IV-2 Legal Professional Corporation(Establishment, etc.)
Article 30-2 (1) An attorney may establish a juridical person to perform theduties set forth in Article 3 (hereinafter referred to as "Legal Professional
Corporation") in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
(2) The provisions of Article 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis to Legal Professional
Corporations.
(Name)
Article 30-3 A Legal Professional Corporation shall include the words "legal
professional corporation" in its name.
(Eligibility for membership)
Article 30-4 (1) The members of a Legal Professional Corporation shall beattorneys.
(2) The persons specified below shall not be eligible to be members of a Legal
Profession Corporation.
(i) Any person who has been disciplined with suspension pursuant to Article 5612

or 60, and the applicable suspension period has not yet elapsed; or(ii) Any person who was a member of a Legal Professional Corporation within
30 days prior to the date such Legal Professional Corporation is disbarred or
disciplined with suspension pursuant to Article 56 or 60, and three years
have not elapsed from the date of such disciplinary action (or in case theLegal Professional Corporation has been suspended from the practice of law,
the applicable suspension period).
(Scope of practice)
Article 30-5 In addition to the practices set forth in Article 3, a Legal
Professional Corporation may, by making provisions in its articles ofincorporation, engage in all or part of any businesses that an attorney may
practice in accordance with laws and regulations, as designated by an
Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(Handling of matters related to litigation)
Article 30-6 (1) For the matters set forth below, a Legal Professional Corporation
shall assign matters it undertakes from its clients to attorneys who are its
members or employees ("Members, etc."). In such a case, the Legal Professional
Corporation shall allow the client to appoint its representative, defense counsel,
attendant, or assistant in court from among the Legal Professional
Corporation's Members, etc.
(i) Representation or assistance in the procedures for court cases (excluding
criminal cases); or(ii) Representation in procedures for criminal cases, acting as a defense counsel
in criminal cases, acting as an attendant in juvenile protection cases, orassistance in extradition review request cases(2) A Legal Professional Corporation shall not be relieved of liability to the client
for damages incurred in connection with the matters set forth in the preceding
paragraph, unless it proves that the Members, etc. used due care in theexecution of the practice of law.
(Registration)
Article 30-7 (1) All Legal Professional Corporations shall be registered inaccordance with Cabinet Order.
(2) Matters required to be registered as provided in the preceding paragraph may
not be duly asserted against a third party until after they are so registered.
(Establishment procedure)
Article 30-8 (1) In order to establish a Legal Professional Corporation, theattorneys who are to become members thereof shall adopt articles of13

incorporation.
(2) The provisions of Article 30, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act (Act No. 86
of 2005) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the articles of incorporation of a Legal
Professional Corporation.
(3) The articles of incorporation of a Legal Profession Corporation shall state, ata minimum, the following.
(i) Business purposes;(ii) Name;(iii) The location/locations of the law office/offices;(iv) The bar association to which the Legal Profession Corporation belongs;(v) The names and addresses of its members and the bar associations to which
they belong;(vi) Matters concerning capital contributions by its members; and(vii) Matters concerning the execution of its practice.
(Time of establishment)
Article 30-9 A Legal Professional Corporation shall be formed upon registrationof its establishment in the location of its principal law office.
(Notification of establishment)
Article 30-10 A Legal Professional Corporation shall, within two weeks from thedate of its establishment, give notification of such establishment to the bar
association to which it belongs and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations,
together with a certified copy of registration and a copy of its articles ofincorporation.
(Amendment to the articles of incorporation)
Article 30-11 (1) A Legal Professional Corporation may change its articles ofincorporation by an agreement of all its members, unless otherwise provided
for in the articles of incorporation.
(2) A Legal Professional Corporation shall, within two weeks from the date of anamendment to its articles of incorporation, notify the bar association to which
it belongs and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations of such amendment.
(Execution of the practice)
Article 30-12 The members of a Legal Professional Corporation shall have theright and bear the obligation to execute all of its practices unless otherwise
provided for in its articles of incorporation.
(Representation of a juridical person)
Article 30-13 (1) Each member of a Legal Professional Corporation who executes
14its practice shall represent such Legal Professional Corporation.
(2) The provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not preclude a Legal
Professional Corporation from specifying certain members who are to execute
its practice as its representatives, in accordance with its articles ofincorporation or pursuant to the consent of all its members.
(3) A member who represents a Legal Professional Corporation shall have theauthority to conduct all judicial and non-judicial activities regarding thepractice of the Legal Professional Corporation.
(4) The Legal Profession Corporation may not duly assert the restrictions
imposed on the authority set forth in the preceding paragraph against a third
party acting in good faith.
(Designated member)
Article 30-14 (1) A Legal Professional Corporation may designate a member tobe in charge of a specific case.
(2) If designation is made for a case pursuant to the preceding paragraph("Designated Case"), only the designated member ("Designated Member") shallhave the right and bear the obligation to perform the matters related to the
Designated Case.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, only the DesignatedMember shall represent the Legal Professional Corporation with respect to the
Designated Case.
(4) If a Legal Professional Corporation designates a case pursuant to paragraph(1), it shall give written notice to such effect to the client of the DesignatedCase.
(5) A client may request that the Legal Professional Corporation clarify, within areasonable period of time as specified by the client, whether or not the Legal
Professional Corporation will, pursuant to paragraph (1), designate a case it
has been requested to undertake. In such an event, if the Legal Professional
Corporation fails to give notice within such period as set forth in the preceding
paragraph, it may not make such designation thereinafter; provided, however,that the Legal Professional Corporation shall not be precluded from making
such designation with the consent of the client.
(6) If the Designated Member becomes unavailable before completion of the work
undertaken for the Designated Case, the Legal Professional Corporation shallmake a new designation. Failing such designation, the Legal Professional
Corporation shall be deemed to have designated all of its members to handle
the Designated Case.
(7) When a Legal Professional Corporation that has only one member isrequested to undertake a case, the Legal Professional Corporation shall bedeemed to have designated that member to handle the case.
15

(Member's liabilities)
Article 30-15 (1) If a Legal Professional Corporation is unable to fully satisfy its
obligations with its assets, each member shall be jointly and severally liable forsuch liabilities.
(2) If the results of a compulsory execution against a Legal Professional
Corporation's assets are inadequate, the preceding paragraph shall also apply.
(3) The provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not apply if amember proves that the Legal Professional Corporation has sufficient
resources and that a compulsory execution can be easily achieved.
(4) If a case has been designated pursuant to paragraph (1) of the preceding
Article and notice has been given pursuant to paragraph (4) of said Article(including cases in which such designation shall be deemed to have been madepursuant to paragraph (6) or (7) of said Article), and the Legal Professional
Corporation is unable to satisfy its obligations owed to the client with respect
to the Designated Case with only its assets, then, notwithstanding theprovisions of paragraph (1), the Designated Member (here and hereinafter inthis Article, including all former Designated Members) shall be jointly andseverally liable for such obligations; provided, however, that this shall not
apply to a Designated Member who has resigned from the Legal Professional
Corporation and proves that such obligations were incurred for reasons which
occurred after his/her resignation.
(5) If, in the situation set forth in the preceding paragraph, the results of acompulsory execution against a Legal Professional Corporation's assets basedon a client's claims with respect to a Designated Case are inadequate, thepreceding paragraph shall also apply, except where a Designated Member
proves that the Legal Professional Corporation has sufficient resources andthat a compulsory execution can be easily achieved.
(6) If, in the situation set forth in paragraph (4), a member who is not a
Designated Member has been involved in a Designated Case, whether before orafter such a designation is made, he/she shall assume liability equal to thatwhich the Designated Member assumed pursuant to the provisions of thepreceding two paragraphs, unless he/she is able to prove that he/she used due
care when he/she involved in the case. The same shall also apply after he/she
resigns from the Legal Professional Corporation.
(7) The provisions of Article 612 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the resignation of a member of a Legal Professional Corporation;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the obligations of a
Legal Professional Corporation owed to a client with respect to a DesignatedCase as set forth in paragraph (4).

16

(Liability of a person whose conduct misled others to believe that he/she is amember)
Article 30-16 Any person whose conduct misleads others to believe that he/she isa member shall bear the same liability as a member with respect to any party
who entered into a transaction with the Legal Professional Corporation as aresult of being misled.
(Permanent Assignment of Members)
Article 30-17 A Legal Professional Corporation shall assign to each of its law
offices, on a permanent basis, a member who belongs to the bar association of
the district in which the law office is located (here and hereinafter in this
Article, if there are two or more bar associations in that district, the member
must belong to the bar association to which the Legal Professional Corporation
belongs); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to secondary
offices if the bar association of the district in which such secondary law office islocated decides not to require such an assignment after taking into
consideration the distribution of attorneys in the vicinity of said secondary
office and other factors.
(Restrictions on the practice of law in specific cases)
Article 30-18 A Legal Professional Corporation shall not undertake a case that
falls under any of the following; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not
apply in the case set forth in item (iii) below if the client of a case alreadyundertaken by the Legal Professional Corporation consents.
(i) Cases in which the Legal Professional Corporation has provided support tothe other party after consultation, or in which the Legal Professional
Corporation has accepted the other party as its client;(ii) Cases in which the Legal Professional Corporation has been consulted uponby the other party, and the extent and form of the consultation was such that
it is found to be based on a relationship of mutual trust;(iii) Cases requested by the other party to a case already undertaken by the
Legal Professional Corporation;(iv) Cases that the Members, etc. have already undertaken for the other party;or(v) Cases set forth in Article 25, items (i) through (vii) in which one-half ormore of the Legal Professional Corporation's members may not be engaged.
(Prohibition on joining another Legal Professional Corporation, etc.)
Article 30-19 (1) A member of a Legal Professional Corporation shall not becomea member of another Legal Professional Corporation.
(2) No member of a Legal Professional Corporation shall, without the approval of17the other members, perform any undertaking within the scope of the Legal
Professional Corporation's practice for his/her own or a third party's benefit;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply when he/she handles
matters entrusted by a government or a public agency pursuant to laws andregulations.
(3) If a member violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph and performs
any undertaking within the scope of the Legal Professional Corporation's
practice for his/her own or a third party's benefit, the amount of profit earned
by that member or third party shall be presumed to be the amount of damages
incurred by the Legal Professional Corporation.
(Prohibition of corruption by the Members, etc. of a Legal Professional
Corporation)
Article 30-20 (1) The Members, etc. of a Legal Professional Corporation shall not
accept, demand, or promise to accept, any profit from the other party inconnection with a case that the Legal Professional Corporation has undertaken.
(2) The Members, etc. of a Legal Professional Corporation shall not, in connection
with any case that the Legal Professional Corporation has undertaken, cause
the Legal Professional Corporation to accept, demand, or promise to accept any
profit from the other party in connection with a case that the Legal
Professional Corporation has undertaken.
(Mutatis mutandis application of provisions for the obligations, etc. of an
attorney)
Article 30-21 The provisions of Article 20, paragraphs (1) and (2), Articles 21, 22,
23-2, 24, and 27 through 29 shall apply mutatis mutandis to Legal Professional
Corporations.
(Statutory resignation)
Article 30-22 A member of a Legal Professional Corporation shall resign fromthe Legal Professional Corporation for the following reasons:(i) The occurrence of any of the reasons stipulated in the articles ofincorporation;(ii) The agreement by all members;(iii) Death;(iv) He/she falls under Article 7, item (i), (iii), (iv), or (v);(v) He/she makes a request for rescission of his/her registration pursuant to
Article 11;(vi) He/she becomes subject to any of the disciplinary actions prescribed in
Article 57, paragraph (1), items (ii) through (iv), or a request for rescission of
his/her registration made pursuant to Article 13, paragraph (1) is irrevocably
18approved; or(vii) He/she is disbarred pursuant to Article 859 of the Companies Act asapplied mutatis mutandis to Article 30-30, paragraph (1).
(Dissolution)
Article 30-23 (1) A Legal Professional Corporation shall be dissolved for any of
the following reasons:(i) The occurrence of any of the reasons stipulated in the articles ofincorporation;(ii) The agreement by all members to the dissolution;(iii) A merger with another Legal Professional Corporation;(iv) A decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings;(v) The issuance of a judgment ordering its dissolution;(vi) Disbarment pursuant to Article 56 or 60; or(vii) Unavailability or death of its members.
(2) If a Legal Professional Corporation is dissolved for any reason other thanthose set forth in items (iii) and (vi) of the preceding paragraph, it shallprovide notification thereof to the bar association to which it belongs and to theJapan Federation of Bar Associations within two weeks from the date ofdissolution.
(Continuation of a Legal Professional Corporation)
Article 30-24 If and to the extent that a Legal Professional Corporation falls
under item (vii) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article due to the death of amember, the liquidator may, with the consent of the heir to that member (or, if
a person is appointed to exercise the rights of that member pursuant to Article
608, paragraph (5) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis in
Article 675 of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis in Article 30-30,
paragraph (2), then with the consent of such person), continue the Legal
Professional Corporation by admitting a new member into the Legal
Professional Corporation.
(Judgment ordering dissolution)
Article 30-25 (1) The provisions of Article 824, Article 826, Article 868,
paragraph (1), Article 870 (only with regard to item (xiii), the main text ofArticle 871, Article 872 (only with regard to item (iv)), the main text of Article
873, Article 875, Article 876, Article 904 and Article 937, paragraph (1) (onlywith regard to item (iii) (b)) of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the order to dissolve Legal Professional Corporations. The
provisions of Article 825, Article 868, paragraph (1), Article 870 (only withregard to item (ii)), Article 871, Article 872 (only with regard to items (i) and19

(iv)), Article 873, Article 874 (only with regard to items (ii) and (iii)), Article
875, Article 876, Article 905 and Article 906 of the Companies Act shall apply
mutatis mutandis to the preservation of the Legal Professional Corporation's
assets when a petition is made pursuant to Article 824, paragraph (1) of theCompanies Act as applied mutatis mutandis in this item. In such a case,"principal office (principal office and registered branch offices where matterslisted in each item of Article 930, paragraph (2) are registered by the
resolutions set forth in item (i) (g))" as used in Article 937, paragraph (1) shallbe read as "principal office and secondary office."(2) The provisions of Article 833, paragraph (2), Article 834 (only with regard toitem (xxi), Article 835, paragraph (1), Article 837, Article 838, Article 846,
Article 937, paragraph (1) (only regard to item (i) (i)) of the Companies Act
shall apply mutatis mutandis to an action for dissolution of Legal Professional
Corporations. In such case, "principal office (principal office and registeredbranch offices where matters listed in each item of Article 930, paragraph (2)are registered by the resolutions set forth in item (i) (g))" as used in Article 937,
paragraph (1) shall be read as "principal office and secondary office."(3) If the Minister of Justice intends to seek an order for dissolution under
Article 824, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis
to the paragraph (1), the Minister shall first ask for the opinion of the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations.
(Liquidation)
Article 30-26 (1) The liquidator of a Legal Professional Corporation shall be an
attorney.
(2) Upon completion of liquidation, the liquidator shall, upon registration of thecompletion of liquidation, promptly give notification thereof to the bar
association to which the Legal Professional Corporation belonged and to theJapan Federation of Bar Associations, together with a certified copy of theregistration.
(Merger)
Article 30-27 (1) A Legal Professional Corporation may merge with another
Legal Professional Corporation with the consent of all members.
(2) A merger between Legal Professional Corporations shall take effect uponregistration by the Legal Professional Corporation surviving the merger or
newly created through the merger at the location of its principal law office.
(3) A Legal Professional Corporation that merges shall, within two weeks fromthe date of the merger, give notification thereof to the bar association to which
it belongs and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, together with acertified copy of the register (and a copy of the articles of incorporation if a new20

Legal Professional Corporation is created through a merger).
(4) The Legal Professional Corporation surviving the merger or newly createdthrough the merger shall succeed to all rights and obligations of the Legal
Professional Corporation which is dissolved by the merger.
(Creditor's objections)
Article 30-28 (1) A creditor of a Legal Profession Corporations that is merging
may lodge an objection against the merger of the Legal Professional
Corporation.
(2) Each Legal Profession Corporation that is merging shall give public notice in
the Official Gazette (kanpou) and notify each known creditor individually of
the following matters; provided, however that the period set forth in item (iii)
below cannot be less than one month:(i) That it is being merged;(ii) Name and location of principal office of the Legal Professional Corporation
to be dissolved, and of the Legal Professional Corporation to survive or to beestablished as a result of the merger; and(iii) That a creditor may object to the merger within a certain period.
(3) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, individual notifications will not be
required if the Legal Professional Corporation to merge or to be merged, in
accordance with its articles of incorporation, to which the provisions ofparagraph (1) of Article 939 of the Companies Act applies mutatis mutandis toparagraph (6) below, gives public notice in the manner set forth in items (ii) or(iii) of Article 939, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act, as well as in the
Official Gazette (kanpou).
(4) A creditor shall be deemed to have approved the merger unless it objects tothe merger within the period set forth in paragraph (2), item (iii).
(5) If a creditor objects within the period set forth in paragraph (2), item (iii), theLegal Professional Corporation to merge or to be merged shall repay the
obligations to the creditor, provide sufficient security or entrust sufficient
properties to a trust company (this refers to a trust company or a financial
institution approved pursuant to Article 1, paragraph (1) of the Act on
Concurrent Operation, etc. of Trust Business by Financial Institutions (Act No.
43 of 1943)) for the purpose of causing the creditor to accept repayment;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply if there is no likelihoodthat the merger will harm the creditor.
(6) The provisions of Article 939, paragraph (1) (only with regard to items (ii) and(iii)) and paragraph (3), Article 940, paragraph (1) (only with regard to item(iii)) and paragraph (3), Article 941, Article 946, Article 947, Article 951,
paragraph (2), Article 953 and Article 955 of the Companies Act shall apply
mutatis mutandis to the public notice by a Legal Professional Corporation21

pursuant to the paragraph (2). In such case, "method of public notice" as usedin Article 939, paragraphs (1) and (3) shall be read as "method of public noticeof merger" and "trade name" as used in Article 946, paragraph (3) shall be readas "name."(Petition to Invalidate a Merger)
Article 30-29 The provisions of Article 828, paragraph (1) (only with regard toitems (vii) and (viii)) and paragraph (2) (only with regard to items (vii) and(viii)), Article 834 (only with regard to items (vii) and (viii)), Article 835,
paragraph (1), Article 836, paragraphs (2) and (3), Articles 837 through 839,
Article 843 (excluding paragraph (1), items (iii) and (iv) and the proviso toparagraph (2)) and Article 846 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis
mutandis to a petition to invalidate a merger of Legal Professional Corporation.
The provisions of Article 868, paragraph (5), Article 870 (only with regard toitem (xv)), the main text of Article 871, Article 872 (only with regard to item(iv)), the main text of Article 873, Article 875 and Article 876 of the Companies
Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a petition set forth in Article 843,
paragraph (4) of the Companies Act applied mutatis mutandis in this Article.
(Mutatis mutandis application, etc. of the Civil Code and the Companies Act)
Article 30-30 (1) The provisions of Article 50 of the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of1896) and Article 600, Articles 614 through 619, Article 621 and Article 622 of
the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to Legal Professional
Corporations. The provisions of Articles 55 of the Civil Code and Article 581,
Article 582, Article 585, paragraphs (1) and (4), Article 586, Article 593, Article
595, Article 596, Article 601, Article 605, Article 606, Article 609, paragraphs(1) and (2), Article 611 (excluding the proviso to paragraph (1)) and Article 613of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a member of Legal
Professional Corporations. The provisions of Articles 859 through 862 of theCompanies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an expulsion of a member of a
Legal Professional Corporation or an action for nullifying the authority to
execute activities for, or to represent, the Legal Professional Corporation. In
such cases, "trade name" as used in Article 613 shall be read as "name" and"Article 594, paragraph (1) (including a case of mutatis mutandis application in
Article 598, paragraph (2))" as used in Article 859, item (ii) shall be read as"Attorney Act (Act No. 205 of 1949) Article 30-19, paragraph (1) or (2)."(2) The provisions of Article 82 of the Civil Code and Article 35, paragraph (2),Article 40 of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedures Act (Act No. 14 of 1898),
Companies Act Article 644 (excluding item (iii)), Articles 645 through 649,
Article 650, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 651, paragraphs (1) and (2)(excluding portions relating to reference to Article 594), Article 652, Article 653,
22

Articles 655 through 659, Articles 662 through 664, Articles 666 through 673,
Article 675, Article 863, Article 864, Article 868, paragraph (1), Article 869,
Article 870 (only with regard to items (ii) and (iii)), Article 871, Article 872(only with regard to item (iv)), Article 874 (only with regard to items (i) and(iv)), Article 875 and Article 876 shall apply mutatis mutandis to dissolution
and liquidation of Legal Professional Corporations. In such a case, "Article 641,
item (v)" as used in Article 644, item (i) shall be read as "Attorney Act Article
30-23, paragraph (1), item (iii)" and "Article 641, item (iv) or (vii)" as used in
Article 647, paragraph (3) shall be read as "Attorney Act Article 30-23,
paragraph (1), items (v) through (vii)" and "Article 641, items (i) through (iii)"
as used in Article 668, paragraph (1) and Article 669 shall be read as "Attorney
Act Article 30-23, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii)" and "Article 939, paragraph(1)" as used in Article 670, paragraph (3) shall be read as "Article 939,
paragraph (1) as referred to in Attorney Act Article 30-28, paragraph (6)" and"Article 580" as used in Article 673, paragraph (1) shall be read as "Attorney
Act Article 30-15."(3) The provisions of Article 828, paragraph (1) (only with regard to item (i)) andparagraph (2) (only with regard to item (i)), Article 834 (only with regard toitem (i)), Article 835, paragraph (1), Articles 837 through 839 and Article 846
of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a petition to invalidate
the incorporation of a Legal Professional Corporation.
(4) A court overseeing the dissolution and liquidation of a Legal Professional
Corporation may ask for the opinion of, or request an investigation by, theJapan Federation of Bar Associations.
(5) The Japan Federation of Bar Associations may state its opinion to the court
referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(6) For the purposes of Article 16 of the Bankruptcy Act (Act No. 75 of 2004), a
Legal Professional Corporation shall be deemed to be a general partnershipcompany.
Chapter V Bar Associations(Purpose and juridical personality)
Article 31 (1) The purpose of a bar association, in view of the mission and duties
of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations, is to manage mattersrelating to the guidance, liaison, and supervision of its members in order tomaintain their integrity and improve and advance their work.
(2) A bar association shall be a juridical person.
(District to serve as basis of establishment)
Article 32 A bar association shall be established in the jurisdictional district of23

each district court.
(Articles of association)
Article 33 (1) A bar association shall formulate its articles of association withthe approval of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) The following matters shall be stipulated in the articles of association of a bar
association:(i) Name of the bar association and location of its office;(ii) Rules pertaining to the selection, structure and duties of its president, vicepresidents and other officers and organs;(iii) Rules pertaining to admission to or resignation from the association;(iv) Rules pertaining to the Qualifications Screening Board;(v) Rules pertaining to the meetings of the bar association;(vi) Rules pertaining to the transmittal of requests for registration, transfer ofregistration and rescission of registration in the roll of attorneys, andrequests for rescission of registration as specified in Article 13;(vii) Rules pertaining to the ethics of attorneys and maintaining the disciplineof its members;(viii) Rules pertaining to disciplinary matters, the Disciplinary Actions
Committee and the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee;(ix) Rules pertaining to legal support to be provided to indigent persons;(x) Rules pertaining to the recommendation of an attorney to a government or apublic agency etc.;(xi) Rules pertaining to the training of legal apprentices;(xii) Rules pertaining to settlement of disputes concerning the performance of
duties of a member(xiii) Rules pertaining to proposals and replies to the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations, the government, or public offices;(xiv) Rules pertaining to notifications to engage in a profit-making businessand rules pertaining to the Roll of Attorneys at Law Engaged in ProfitMaking Businesses;(xv) Rules pertaining to membership fees; and(xvi) Rules pertaining to accounting and assets.
(3) Any amendment in the matters stipulated in the preceding paragraph shallbe subject to the approval of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(Registration)
Article 34 (1) A bar association shall be formed upon the registration in its
location of its establishment.
(2) The following matters shall be included in the registration of establishment ofa bar association:24

(i) Name;(ii) Name and jurisdictional district of the district court which is the basis of
its establishment;(iii) Location of its office;(iv) Full names and addresses of its president and vice- presidents;(v) If its articles of association stipulate that public notices shall be made bypublishing matters regarding current affairs in a daily newspaper as set
forth in Article 30-28, paragraph (2), as applied mutatis mutandis to Article
43, paragraph (3), such stipulations; and(vi) If its articles of association stipulate that a public notice as set forth in
Article 30-28, paragraph (2), as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 43,
paragraph (3), should be made by electronic notices (this term herein and in
subsection (a) refers to an electronic notice as stipulated in Article 2, item
(xxxiv) of the Companies Act), such stipulations, as well as the following
matters:(a) Such matters that are necessary in order for the general public to receive
information regarding which a public notice should be made electronicallyand that are prescribed in a Ministry of Justice ordinance; and(b) If the articles of association contain stipulations pursuant to the latterpart of Article 939, paragraph (3) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis
mutandis pursuant to Article 30-28, paragraph (6) as applied mutatis
mutandis in a bar association pursuant to Article 43, paragraph (3), such
stipulations.
(3) If a bar association is dissolved, it shall register its dissolution within two
weeks.
(4) If there are any changes to the matters specified in paragraph (2) of this
Article, such changes shall be registered within two weeks.
(5) Matters that must be registered by a bar association cannot be duly asserted
against a third party until after such matters have been registered.
(6) Any matter concerning the registration procedures of a bar association that is
not prescribed in this Act, shall be stipulated by Cabinet Order.
(President and vice-presidents)
Article 35 (1) The representative of a bar association shall be its president.
(2) If the president is unable to perform his/her duties or the position is vacant,the vice-president shall perform the duties of the president as provided in thisAct and in the articles of association of the bar association.
(3) In the application of criminal penalties pursuant to the Penal Code (Act No.
45 of 1907) or other laws, the president and vice-presidents shall be deemed to
be officials engaging in public duties pursuant to the provisions of laws andregulations,.
25

(Admission and resignation)
Article 36 (1) A person who is registered or whose registration has beentransferred on the roll of attorneys shall, as a matter of course, become amember of the bar association to which he/she intends to be admitted, and bychanging his/her registration, he/she shall thereby resign from his/her former
bar association.
(2) A person whose registration has been rescinded upon a request as set forth in
Article 11 shall as a matter of course resign from the bar association to which
he/she belongs.
(Admission and withdrawal of a Legal Professional Corporation)
Article 36-2 (1) A Legal Professional Corporation shall, upon its establishment,
become a member of the bar association of the district in which its principal
law office is located (if there are two or more bar associations in that district,the one that is specified in the Legal Professional Corporation's articles ofincorporation).
(2) A Legal Professional Corporation that establishes a new law office orrelocates its existing law office outside the district of the bar association towhich it belongs shall, upon registration thereof at the location of such new or
relocated law office, become a member of the bar association of the district inwhich such law office is located (if there are two or more bar associations inthat district, then the one that is specified in its articles of incorporation).
(3) A Legal Professional Corporation that no longer has a law office in the
district of the bar association to which it belongs due to relocation or closing
shall, upon registration of relocation or closing of the former location of that
office, withdraw from the association.
(4) A Legal Professional Corporation may transfer its bar association to which
he/she belongs by modifying its articles of incorporation accordingly, provided
that there are two or more bar associations in the district in which its law
office is located.
(5) A Legal Professional Corporation may not belong to more than one bar
associations in the same district.
(6) A Legal Professional Corporation that is admitted to a member of a new bar
association pursuant to paragraph (2) or (4) shall, within two weeks from thedate of admission, give notification thereof to said bar association and to theJapan Federation of Bar Associations, together with a certified copy of theregister and a copy of its articles of incorporation.
(7) Any Legal Professional Corporation that withdraws from a bar association
pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) shall, within two weeks from the date of suchwithdrawal, give notification thereof to said bar association and to the Japan
26

Federation of Bar Associations.
(General meeting)
Article 37 (1) A bar association shall hold an ordinary general meeting every
year.
(2) A bar association may convene an extraordinary general meeting when it
deems necessary.
(Report on resolutions, etc. of general meeting)
Article 38 A bar association shall report to the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations on resolutions adopted at its general meeting, on its officers'
taking office and on their retirement.
(Matters requiring a resolution of a general meeting)
Article 39 Any amendment of its articles of association, budgets and settlementof accounts shall be approved by a resolution adopted at its general meeting.
(Rescission of a resolution adopted at a general meeting)
Article 40 If a resolution adopted at the general meeting of a bar association
adversely affects the public interest, violates the provisions of any laws or
regulations or the articles of association of the bar association or the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations, the latter may rescind such resolution.
(Mediation of disputes)
Article 41 A bar association may, upon request of an attorney, a Legal
Professional Corporation, the party in question, or other concerned parties,
mediate any dispute regarding the duties of an attorney or the activities of a
Legal Professional Corporation.
(Replies and proposals)
Article 42 (1) A bar association shall reply to inquiries and requests for
consultation from the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) A bar association may make its proposals or reply to a request for
consultation, to government or public agencies regarding the professional
affairs of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations, and other judicial
affairs.
(Merger and dissolution)
Article 43 (1) If the jurisdictional district of a district court is changed andconsequently it becomes necessary for a bar association within such district tomerge or dissolve, said bar association shall merge or dissolve by means of a27

resolution adopted at its general meeting.
(2) The bar association surviving the merger or newly created through themerger shall succeed to all rights and obligations of the bar association whichis extinguished by the merger.
(3) The provisions of Article 30-28 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a merger ofbar associations. In such case, "articles of incorporation" as used in paragraph(3) shall be read as "articles of association" and "Article 939, paragraphs (1)and (3)" as used in paragraph (6) shall be read as ""articles of incorporation" as
used in Article 939, paragraph (1) shall be read as "articles of association" andthe same paragraph and paragraph (3) of the same Article."(4) The provisions of Articles 73 through 76, 78 through 80, and 82 of the Civil
Code and Article 27 of the Act for Enforcement of the Civil Code (Act No. 11 of
1898) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the dissolution of bar associations.
(5) Where there is a merger of bar associations, attorneys who were members of
the bar association which was dissolved on account of said merger shall
automatically become members of the bar association which survives themerger or is newly established as a result of the merger.
(6) The provisions of Article 10, paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis in
the case specified in the preceding paragraph.
(Exemption from application of the Administrative Procedure Act)
Article 43-2 Chapters II and III of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88
of 1993) shall not apply to an action taken by a bar association pursuant to thisAct.
(A federation of bar associations)
Article 44 Bar associations situated in an area within the jurisdictional districtof the same high court may, in order to jointly perform certain matters,
formulate rules and establish a federation of bar associations with the approvalof the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
Chapter VI The Japan Federation of Bar Associations(Establishment, purpose, and juridical personality)
Article 45 (1) All bar associations in Japan shall together establish the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) The purpose of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be, in view ofthe mission and duties of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations, tomanage matters relating to the guidance, liaison, and supervision of attorneys,
Legal Professional Corporations, and bar associations, in order to maintain the
dignity and improve and advance the work of attorneys and Legal Professional
28

Corporations.
(3) The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be a juridical person.
(Articles of association)
Article 46 (1) The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall formulate its
articles of association.
(2) The following matters shall be stipulated in the articles of association of theJapan Federation of Bar Associations.
(i) Matters specified in items (i) to (v) inclusive, (vii) to (xi) inclusive, (xiii), (xv)and (xvi) of paragraph (2) of Article 33;(ii) Provisions regarding registration, transfer and rescission of registration in
the roll of attorneys; and(iii) Provisions regarding the Board of Discipline Review.
(Membership)
Article 47 Attorneys, Legal Professional Corporations, and bar associations shallas a matter of course become members of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations.
(Request for investigation)
Article 48 The Japan Federation of Bar Associations may request thatgovernment and public agencies investigate necessary matters relating to its
functions concerning the guidance, liaison, and supervision of attorneys, Legal
Professional Corporations, and bar associations.
(Powers of the Supreme Court)
Article 49 The Supreme Court may, if it deems necessary, demand that theJapan Federation of Bar Associations report on its affairs, or request that it
investigate matters regarding attorneys, Legal Professional Corporations, orbar associations.
(Exemption from application of the Administrative Procedure Act)
Article 49-2 Chapters II and III of the Administrative Procedure Act shall not
apply to an action taken by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations pursuant
to this Act.
(Restriction on the filing of complaints)
Article 49-3 No complaint under the Administrative Appeal Act can be filed
against the dispositions made by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations inaccordance with this Act.

29

(Mutatis mutandis application)
Article 50 The provisions of Article 34, 35, 37, 39 and Article 42, paragraph (2)shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
Chapter VII The Qualifications Screening Board(Establishment and functions)
Article 51 (1) Each bar association and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations
shall respectively establish a Qualifications Screening Board.
(2) A Qualifications Screening Board shall, upon request by the bar association or
the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in which it is established, conduct
necessary examinations regarding requests for registration or transfer andrescission thereof.
(Organization)
Article 52 (1) A Qualifications Screening Board shall be composed of a president
and several board members.
(2) The president of the bar association or the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations in which a Qualifications Screening Board is established shallbecome the ex-officio president of said Board.
(3) The president of the Qualifications Screening Board shall appoint board
members from among attorneys, judges, public prosecutors and academic
experts; provided, however, that appointment of board members who are judges
or prosecutors to the Qualifications Screening Board of a bar association shallbe based upon the recommendations respectively of the High Court, theDistrict Court, the superintendent public prosecutor of the High Public
Prosecutors Office, or the chief public prosecutor of the District Public
Prosecutors Office, located within the same jurisdiction, and the othermembers shall be appointed based on a resolution adopted at a general meetingof the bar association. The appointment of members who are judges orprosecutors to the Qualifications Screening Board of the Japan Federation of
Bar Associations shall be based on the recommendations of the Supreme Courtor the Prosecutor-General, and the other members shall be appointed based ona resolution adopted at a general meeting of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations.
(4) The term of office of board members shall be two years; provided, however,that the term of office of substituting board member shall be the remaining
term of office of the member they replace.
(Reserve members)
Article 53 (1) Each Qualifications Screening Board shall have several reserve30

members.
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) of the preceding Article shall apply
mutatis mutandis to reserve members.
(3) If a board member is unable to perform his/her duties or there is a vacancy,
the president shall appoint a person to act in place of such member or fill thevacancy from among such reserve members having the same qualifications.
(Duties and status of a president, etc.)
Article 54 (1) The president shall supervise all affairs of the Board.
(2) In the application of criminal punishments stipulated pursuant to the Penal
Code or other laws, the president, board members and reserve board members
shall be deemed to be officials engaging in public duties pursuant to theprovisions of laws and regulations.
(Screening procedures)
Article 55 (1) The Qualifications Screening Board may, when necessary forscreening, request the party in question, concerned parties, government andpublic agencies or others to submit statements, explanations or information.
(2) If the Qualifications Screening Board makes a resolution refusing a request
for registration, a request for transfer of registration or the transmittal thereof,
or approves a request for rescission of registration as specified in Article 13, it
shall provide notice of that fact to the party in question and give him/her an
opportunity to submit statements and information.
Chapter VIII Disciplinary action
Section 1 Grounds for Disciplinary Actions and the Organ Empowered toTake Disciplinary Action, etc.
(Grounds for disciplinary actions and the organ empowered to take disciplinary
action)Article 56 (1) An attorney or Legal Professional Corporation shall be subject todisciplinary actions if he/she or it violates this Act or the articles of associationof the bar association to which he/she or it belongs or of the Japan Federationof Bar Associations, or damages the order or reputation of said bar association
or misbehaves in a manner impairing his/her or its own integrity, whether inthe conduct of his/her professional activities or not.
(2) Disciplinary actions shall be taken by the bar association to which theattorney or Legal Professional Corporation belongs.
(3) The grounds for disciplinary actions that a bar association may impose on a
Legal Professional Corporation having a secondary law office within thejurisdiction of the bar association shall be limited to grounds involving the31secondary law office.
(Kinds of disciplinary actions)
Article 57 (1) There shall be four kinds of disciplinary actions against attorneys,
as follows(i) Admonition;(ii) Suspension for not more than two years;(iii) Order to withdraw from the bar association to which he/she belongs; or(iv) Disbarment.
(2) There shall be four kinds of disciplinary actions against Legal Professional
Corporations, as follows:(i) Admonition;(ii) Suspension of the Legal Professional Corporation or of its law office for not
more than two years;(iii) Order to withdraw from the bar association to which it belongs (this action
shall be limited to Legal Professional Corporations with only a secondary law
office within the jurisdiction of the association); or(iv) Disbarment (this action shall be limited to Legal Professional Corporations
whose principal law office is within the district of the association).
(3) If a bar association takes the disciplinary action set forth in item (ii) of thepreceding paragraph against a Legal Professional Corporation with only asecondary law office within the district of said bar association, the only action
it may take is to order the suspension at the law office located within its
district.
(4) In connection with the application of the provisions of paragraph (2) orparagraph (3), the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be deemed to be
the bar association in whose district the Legal Professional Corporation inquestion has its principal law office.
(Prohibition of the establishment or relocation of a law office by a Legal
Professional Corporation subject to disciplinary action)
Article 57-2 (1) If a Legal Professional Corporation is ordered to suspend thepractice of all of its law offices within a bar association's district as a result of
a disciplinary action, it shall not establish or relocate a law office within such
district during the term of suspension.
(2) A Legal Professional Corporation that has been subject to the disciplinary
action set forth in item (iii) of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article shall notestablish or relocate a law office within the district of the bar association
taking such action for three years from the date of such action.
(Request for disciplinary action, investigation and examination)
32

Article 58 (1) Any person who believes that there are grounds for disciplining an
attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation may make a request fordisciplinary action to the bar association to which said attorney or Legal
Professional Corporation belongs, attaching thereto an explanation of suchgrounds.
(2) If a bar association finds that there are grounds for disciplining an attorney
or a Legal Professional Corporation who/which is a member thereof, or if there
has been a request as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the bar association
shall cause its Disciplinary Enforcement Committee to make an investigation
regarding the disciplinary procedures against such member.
(3) If a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee finds, based on an examination
pursuant to the preceding paragraph, that it would be appropriate to refer thematter to the Disciplinary Actions Committee to examine the case with respect
to the Accused Attorney, etc. (the "Accused Attorney, etc." here and hereinafter
mean refers to the attorney or Legal Professional Corporation being subject tothe disciplinary procedure), the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee shalladopt a resolution to that effect. In such a case, the bar association shall, basedon said resolution, refer the matter to the Disciplinary Actions Committee for
examination.
(4) If the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee finds, based on an investigation
pursuant to paragraph (2), that the request mentioned in paragraph (1) hereof
is not legitimate, or is unable to commence the disciplinary procedure against
the Accused Attorney, etc., or finds that there are no grounds to discipline the
Accused Attorney, etc., or it is apparent that disciplinary action should not be
imposed in light of the relative importance of the case or other extenuating
circumstances, the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee shall adopt a
resolution that it shall not refer the matter to the Disciplinary Actions
Committee for examination. In such a case, the bar association shall issue aruling to the effect that it will not discipline the Accused Attorney, etc.
(5) If the Disciplinary Actions Committee finds, based on an examination
pursuant to paragraph (3), that it is appropriate to discipline the Accused
Attorney, etc. it shall adopt a resolution to that effect setting forth the detailsof the disposition to be undertaken. In such a case, the bar association shall,
based on said resolution, discipline the Accused Attorney, etc.
(6) If the Disciplinary Actions Committee finds, based on an examination
pursuant to paragraph (3), that it is appropriate not to discipline the Accused
Attorney, etc., it shall adopt a resolution to that effect. In such a case, the bar
association shall, based on said resolution, issue a ruling that it will notdiscipline the Accused Attorney, etc.
(Ruling on an appeal by a person subject to discipline)
33Article 59 When the Japan Federation of Bar Associations receives an appeal
under the Administrative Appeal Act regarding a disciplinary action imposedby a bar association pursuant to the provisions of Article 56, it shall refer thematter to the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations for examination, and shall issue a resolution based on the rulingof its Disciplinary Actions Committee.
(Discipline by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations)
Article 60 (1) If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations itself finds that it isappropriate to discipline an attorney or Legal Professional Corporation
regarding the circumstances set forth in Article 56, paragraph (1), it may
discipline him/her or it as set forth in the following paragraphs (2) through (6).
(2) If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations finds that there are grounds todiscipline an attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation, it may cause theDisciplinary Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations to investigate the matter.
(3) If the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations finds, based on an examination pursuant to the preceding
paragraph, that it would be appropriate to refer the matter to the Disciplinary
Actions Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations for
examination with respect to the Accused Attorney, etc., the Disciplinary
Enforcement Committee shall adopt a resolution to that effect. In such a case,
the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall, based on said resolution, refer
the matter to the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan Federation of
Bar Associations for examination.
(4) If the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations finds, based on an investigation pursuant to paragraph (2), that it
is not able to commence disciplinary procedures against the Accused Attorney,etc., or that there are no grounds to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc., or it
is apparent that disciplinary actions should not be imposed in light of therelative importance of the case or other extenuating circumstances, theDisciplinary Enforcement Committee shall adopt a resolution that it will notrefer the matter to the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan Federationof Bar Associations for examination. In such a case, the Japan Federation of
Bar Associations shall issue a ruling that it will not discipline the Accused
Attorney, etc.
(5) If the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations finds, based on an examination pursuant to paragraph (3), that it
is appropriate to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc., it shall adopt a
resolution to that effect setting forth the details of the dispositions to beundertaken. In such a case, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall,
34

based on said resolution, discipline the Accused Attorney, etc.
(6) If the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations finds, based on an examination pursuant to paragraph (3), that it
is appropriate not to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc., it shall adopt a
resolution to that effect. In such a case, the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations shall, based on said resolution, issue a ruling that it will notdiscipline the Accused Attorney, etc.
(Institution of lawsuit)
Article 61 (1) A person whose appeal regarding a disciplinary action imposed bya bar association pursuant to the provisions of Article 56 is dismissed or
rejected or who is subject to disciplinary actions by the Japan Federation of
Bar Associations pursuant to the provisions of Article 60, may institute a
lawsuit for recission of such decision with the Tokyo High Court.
(2) With respect to disciplinary actions imposed by a bar association pursuant to
the provisions of Article 56, a lawsuit for recission may be instituted only
against the ruling of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(Restrictions on requests for transfer of registration, etc.)
Article 62 (1) An attorney against whom disciplinary procedures have been
initiated may not make a request for a transfer of registration or a rescission ofregistration until such procedures have been concluded.
(2) A Legal Professional Corporation against which disciplinary procedures havebeen initiated shall not, even if it no longer has a law office within the districtof the bar association to which it belongs due to relocation or closing, withdraw
from that bar association until such procedures have been concluded.
(3) A Legal Professional Corporation against which disciplinary procedures havebeen initiated shall not transfer its bar association pursuant to Article 36-2,
paragraph (4) until such procedures have been concluded.
(4) If a Legal Professional Corporation against which disciplinary procedures
have been initiated relocates its principal law office outside of the district of
the bar association to which it belongs, the Legal Professional Corporation
shall, for the purposes of this Chapter, be deemed to have retained its principal
law office at its former location until such procedures have been concluded.
(5) For the purposes of this Chapter, a Legal Professional Corporation against
which disciplinary procedures have been initiated shall, even after its
liquidation has been completed, be deemed to survive until such procedures
have been concluded.
(Statute of limitations)
Article 63 No disciplinary procedures shall be initiated after the lapse of three35

years from the time the grounds for such action arose.
Section 2 Filing of an Objection, etc. by a Party Requesting Discipline(Filing of an objection by a party requesting discipline)
Article 64 (1) If, despite a request for discipline made against an attorney orLegal Professional Corporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 58,
paragraph (1), a bar association issues a ruling not to discipline the Accused
Attorney, etc., or has not concluded disciplinary procedures within areasonable period, the requesting party (hereinafter referred to as "Discipline
Requesting Party") may file an objection thereto with the Japan Federation of
Bar Associations. The same shall apply to cases where the Discipline
Requesting Party finds that disciplinary actions imposed by the bar association
were unjustly lenient.
(2) The filing of an objection pursuant to the provisions of the preceding
paragraph (other than an objection that disciplinary procedures have not beenconcluded within a reasonable period) shall be made within 60 days from the
day following the day of receipt of a notice from the bar association pursuant to
the provisions of Article 64-7, paragraph (1), item (ii), of its decision not todiscipline, or the date of receipt of a notice regarding disciplinary actions
pursuant to the provisions of Article 64-6, paragraph (2).
(3) If a written objection is submitted by mail or by a general correspondence
delivery service operator as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (6) of the Act on
Correspondence Delivery by Private Business Operators (Act No. 99 of 2002) ora specified correspondence delivery service operator as set forth in paragraph(9) of the same Article or via postal service as set forth in paragraph (2) of thesame Article, the days needed for delivery shall not be included for purposes ofcalculating the objection period set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(Examination of an objection, etc. by the Disciplinary Enforcement Committeeof the Japan Federation of Bar Associations)
Article 64-2 (1) If, after an objection is filed in accordance with the provisions ofparagraph (1) of the preceding Article, the case is not referred to theDisciplinary Actions Committee of the original bar association (the "original
bar association" here and hereinafter refers to the bar association to which theDiscipline Requesting Party submitted a request for disciplinary action) for
examination, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall refer the objection
to the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations for examination.
(2) If an objection is filed regarding the original bar association's ruling not todiscipline the Accused Attorney, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 58,
36

paragraph (4), and based on an examination of the objection set forth in thepreceding paragraph, the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations finds it appropriate to refer the case back to theDisciplinary Actions Committee of the original bar association for investigation,
the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations shall adopt a resolution to that effect. In such a case, the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations shall, based on such resolution, rescind theoriginal bar association's decision not to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc.,
and remand the case to the original bar association.
(3) The original bar association that receives a matter in accordance with theprovisions of the preceding paragraph shall have its Disciplinary Actions
Committee examine the matter. In such a case, the provisions of Article 58,
paragraphs (5) and (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(4) If an objection is filed that the original bar association failed to conclude
disciplinary procedures within a reasonable period, and the Disciplinary
Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations allows theobjection based on an examination of the objection as set forth in paragraph (1),it shall adopt a resolution to that effect. In such a case, the Japan Federationof Bar Associations shall, based on such resolution, order the original bar
association to promptly proceed with disciplinary procedures, and either
discipline the Accused Attorney, etc. or issue a ruling that the Accused
Attorney, etc. will not be disciplined.
(5) If the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations finds that it is appropriate to dismiss the objection as not being
legitimate, or rejects the objection as being groundless, the Disciplinary
Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shalladopt a resolution to that effect. In such a case, the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations shall, based on such resolution, issue a ruling dismissing or
rejecting the objection.
(Application for discipline review)
Article 64-3 (1) If a Discipline Requesting Party is dissatisfied with a rulingissued by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in accordance withparagraph (5) of the preceding Article dismissing or rejecting the objection filed
pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the same Article, he/she may
apply to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations for a discipline review by the
Board of Discipline Review. In such a case, the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations shall request the Board of Discipline Review to conduct a
discipline review.
(2) The application for a discipline review pursuant to the provisions of thepreceding paragraph shall be made within a period of 30 days commencing
37

from the date following the date of receipt of notice from the Japan Federationof Bar Association of its ruling dismissing or rejecting the objection inaccordance with the provisions of Article 64-7, paragraph (2), item (vi).
(3) The provisions of Article 64, paragraph (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis tothe application for discipline review as set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(Discipline Review, etc.)
Article 64-4 (1) If, based on the discipline review set forth in paragraph (1) of thepreceding Article, the Board of Discipline Review finds that it is appropriate tohave the matter examined by the Disciplinary Actions Committee of theoriginal bar association, the Board of Discipline Review shall adopt a
resolution to that effect. This resolution must be adopted by a two-third's
majority of the committee members present.
(2) If the preceding paragraph applies, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations,based on the resolution of the preceding paragraph, shall remand the matter tothe original bar association after rescinding its ruling dismissing or rejecting
the objection, as well as the ruling rendered by the original bar association not
to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc.
(3) The original bar association to which a matter pursuant to the provisions of
the preceding paragraph has been remanded shall have its Disciplinary Actions
Committee conduct an examination of the matter. In such a case, theprovisions of Article 58, paragraphs (5) and (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(4) If the Board of Discipline Review finds that it is appropriate to dismiss theapplication for a discipline review as not being legitimate, the Board of
Discipline Review shall adopt a resolution to that effect. In such a case, theJapan Federation of Bar Associations shall, based on said resolution, issue aruling dismissing the application for a discipline review.
(5) Except for the case set forth in the preceding paragraph, if the Board of
Discipline Review is unable to adopt a resolution as set forth in paragraph (1)hereof, the Discipline Review Committee shall adopt a resolution to that effect.
In such a case, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall, based on said
resolution, issue a ruling rejecting the application for a discipline review.
(Examination of an objection, etc., by the Disciplinary Actions Committee of
the Japan Federation of Bar Associations)
Article 64-5 (1) If an objection is filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 64,
paragraph (1), and the matter had been previously investigated by the
Disciplinary Actions Committee of the original bar association, the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations shall have its Disciplinary Actions Committee
conduct an examination of the objection.
(2) If an objection is filed regarding the original bar association's decision not to38

discipline the Accused Attorney, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 58,
paragraph (6), and based on an examination of the objection set forth in thepreceding paragraph, the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations finds that it is appropriate to discipline the
Accused Attorney, etc., the Committee shall adopt a resolution to that effect,setting forth the details of the disciplinary action. In such a case, the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations shall, based on such resolution, overturn theoriginal bar association's decision not to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc.,
and discipline the Accused Attorney, etc. itself.
(3) If an objection is filed that the original bar association has not concluded
disciplinary procedures within a reasonable period, and the Disciplinary
Actions Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations finds that
there are grounds for the objection based on an examination of the objection
pursuant to paragraph (1) hereof, it shall adopt a resolution to that effect. In
such a case, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall, based on such
resolution, order the original bar association to promptly proceed withdisciplinary procedures, and either discipline the Accused Attorney, etc. or
issue a ruling that it will not discipline the Accused Attorney, etc.
(4) If an objection is filed that the disciplinary actions imposed by the original
bar association were unjustly lenient, and the Disciplinary Actions Committeeof the Japan Federation of Bar Associations finds that there are grounds forthe objection based on an examination of the objection pursuant to paragraph(1) hereof, it shall set forth the details of such disciplinary actions and adopt a
resolution ordering that the disciplinary actions be changed. In such a case, theJapan Federation of Bar Associations shall, based on such resolution, overturnthe disciplinary actions imposed by the original bar association, and itself
impose disciplinary actions against the Accused Attorney, etc.
(5) If the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations finds that it is appropriate to dismiss the objection as not being
legitimate, or to reject the objection as being groundless, it shall adopt a
resolution to that effect. In such a case, the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations shall, based on said resolution, issue a ruling dismissing or
rejecting the objection.
(Notice and public notice of disciplinary actions)
Article 64-6 (1) If disciplinary actions are imposed against an Accused Attorney,etc., the bar association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shallprovide the Accused Attorney, etc. with written notice of the details of thedisciplinary actions and the reasons for the imposition thereof.
(2) If disciplinary actions are imposed against an Accused Attorney, etc., the bar
association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall promptly send a39

written notice describing the contents of the disciplinary actions and thereasons for the imposition thereof to, in cases where the bar association
imposes the actions, the Discipline Requesting Party, the other bar
associations to which the accused Legal Professional Corporation belongs andthe Japan Federation of Bar Associations, or, in cases where the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations imposes the actions, the Discipline Requesting
Party and the bar association to which the Accused Attorney, etc. belongs.
(3) If disciplinary actions are imposed against an Accused Attorney, etc. by thebar association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations shall make public the details of the disciplinary
actions in the Official Gazette without delay.
(Notice regarding disciplinary procedures)
Article 64-7 (1) If any of following items applies to a disciplinary procedure, thebar association shall promptly provide written notices of the matters set forthin the relevant item to the Accused Attorney, etc., the Discipline Requesting
Party, the other bar associations to which the accused Legal Professional
Corporation belongs, and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(i) If the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee has been made to investigate ora request for an examination has been made to the Disciplinary Actions
Committee, a statement to such effect and details of the matter(ii) If a ruling not to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc. has been issued, astatement to such effect and reasons therefor(iii) If disciplinary proceedings are suspended or resumed by the Disciplinary
Actions Committee or its sub-committee due to pending criminal proceedings
for the same event, a statement to such effect(iv) If disciplinary proceedings are terminated because the attorney subject tothe disciplinary proceedings dies or is no longer an attorney, a statement tosuch effect and the reasons therefor(2) If any of the following items applies with respect to a disciplinary proceeding,the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall promptly give written notices ofthe matters set forth in the relevant item to the Accused Attorney, etc., theDiscipline Requesting Party and the bar association to which the Accused
Attorney, etc. belongs.
(i) If the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee has been made to examine thecase, or the Disciplinary Actions Committee has been requested toinvestigate a matter, a statement to such effect and the details thereof(ii) If a ruling not to discipline the Accused Attorney, etc. has been issued, astatement to such effect and the reasons therefor(iii) If the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee has been requested to examine
an objection, or the Board of Discipline Review has been requested to conduct40

a discipline review, or the Disciplinary Actions Committee has beenrequested to investigate an objection, a statement to such effect(iv) If a matter has been remanded to the original bar association pursuant to
the provisions of Article 64-2, paragraph (2) or Article 64-4, paragraph (2), a
statement to such effect and reasons therefor(v) If the original bar association has been ordered to promptly proceed withdisciplinary procedures, and either discipline the Accused Attorney, etc. or
issue a ruling that it will not discipline the Accused Attorney, etc., astatement to such effect and reasons therefor(vi) If a ruling dismissing or rejecting an objection has been issued, astatement to such effect and the reasons therefor(vii) If a ruling dismissing or rejecting an application for a discipline review
has been issued, a statement to such effect and the reasons therefor(viii) If disciplinary proceedings are suspended or resumed by the Disciplinary
Actions Committee or its sub-committee due to pending criminal proceedings
regarding the same event, a statement to such effect(ix) If disciplinary proceedings are terminated because the attorney subject tothe disciplinary proceedings has died or is no longer an attorney, a statement
to such effect and the reasons therefor
Section 3 The Disciplinary Actions Committee(Establishment of a Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 65 (1) A Disciplinary Actions Committee shall be established in each bar
association and in the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) A Disciplinary Actions Committee shall, upon the request of its bar
association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations conduct necessary
examinations regarding the disciplining of an attorney or a Legal Professional
Corporation that belongs to said bar association.
(Composition of a Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 66 A Disciplinary Actions Committee shall be composed of four or morecommittee members as designated in the articles of association of the bar
association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(The committee members of a Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 66-2 (1) The committee members of a Disciplinary Actions Committee ofa bar association shall be individually appointed by the president of the bar
association from among attorneys, judges, public prosecutors and academic
experts. In such a case, the committee members who are judges or publicprosecutors shall be appointed based on the recommendations from the High41

Court or the District Court or by the superintendent public prosecutor of theHigh Public Prosecutors' Office or the chief public prosecutor of the District
Public Prosecutors' Office located within the same jurisdiction, and the othermembers shall be appointed based on a resolution adopted at a general meetingof the bar association.
(2) The committee members of the Disciplinary Actions Committee of the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations shall be individually appointed by the presidentof the Japan Federation of Bar Associations from among attorneys, judges,
public prosecutors and academic experts. In such a case, the committee
members who are judges or public prosecutors shall be appointed based upon
the recommendations of the Supreme Court or the Secretary General of the
Public Prosecutor's Office, and the other members shall be appointed based ona resolution adopted at a general meeting of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations.
(3) The term of committee members of a Disciplinary Actions Committee shall be
two years; provided that the term of a substituting committee member shall be
the remaining term of his/her predecessor.
(4) In the application of criminal punishments stipulated pursuant to the Penal
Code or other laws, the committee members of a Disciplinary Actions
Committee shall be deemed to be officials engaging in public duties pursuant to
the provisions of laws and regulations.
(The chairman of a Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 66-3 (1) A Disciplinary Actions Committee shall have a chairman who
shall be elected from among its members.
(2) The chairman shall preside over all affairs of the committee.
(3) If the chairman is unable to carry out his/her duties, such duties shall be
fulfilled by another member of the committee designated according to an order
stipulated in advance by the Disciplinary Actions Committee.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the chairman.
(Reserve committee members of a Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 66-4 (1) A Disciplinary Actions Committee shall include four or morereserve committee members as designated in the articles of association of thebar association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) If a committee member is unable to carry out his/her duties or there is avacancy on the committee, the president of the bar association or the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations shall designate a person from among thereserve committee members having the same qualifications as that member toact in his/her place or fill such vacancy.
42

(3) The provisions of Article 66-2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to reserve
committee members.
(Sub-committees of a Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 66-5 (1) A Disciplinary Actions Committee may establish sub-committees
to examine a given case as is necessary.
(2) A sub-committee shall be composed of one or more sub-committee member(s)who is/are attorney(s), judge(s), public prosecutor(s) or academic expert(s) andis/are designated by the chairman.
(3) A sub-committee shall have a chairman, who shall be elected from among the
sub-committee members.
(4) If the chairman of the sub-committee is unable to carry out his/her duties,
such duties shall be fulfilled by another sub-committee member designatedaccording to an order stipulated in advance by the sub-committee.
(5) A Disciplinary Actions Committee may treat a resolution adopted by a subcommittee for a matter that the sub-committee has examined as a resolution of
the Disciplinary Actions Committee, as stipulated by the Committee.
(Examination procedures of a Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 67 (1) If a Disciplinary Actions Committee has been requested to conduct
an examination, it shall promptly set the date of the examination and notify
the Accused Attorney, etc. to such effect.
(2) An attorney or a member of a Legal Professional Corporation subject to an
examination may appear before the Committee on the date of examination andmake a statement. In such a case, said attorney or member of the Legal
Professional Corporation shall follow the directions of the chairman of theDisciplinary Actions Committee.
(3) If necessary for the examination, the Disciplinary Actions Committee may
request the Accused Attorney, etc., the Discipline Requesting Party, concerned
parties or public agencies to make statements or submit explanations orinformation.
(The resolution statement of Disciplinary Actions Committee)
Article 67-2 When adopting a resolution, the Disciplinary Actions Committee
shall promptly prepare a resolution statement giving the reasons therefor.
(Suspension of disciplinary procedures)
Article 68 A Disciplinary Actions Committee may suspend disciplinary
proceedings while a criminal action is pending regarding the same event.
(Provisions that apply mutatis mutandis to sub-committees of Disciplinary
43Actions Committee)
Article 69 The provisions of the preceding three Articles shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the sub-committees of a Disciplinary Actions Committee.
Section 4 The Disciplinary Enforcement Committee(Establishment of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 70 (1) A Disciplinary Enforcement Committee shall be established ineach bar association and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) A Discipline Enforcement Committee of a bar association shall conduct theinvestigations set forth in Article 58, paragraph (2) and Article 71-6, paragraph(2), and shall handle other matters related to maintaining the discipline ofattorneys and Legal Professional Corporations belonging to that bar
association.
(3) The Discipline Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations shall conduct the investigations set forth in Article 60, paragraph(2) and Article 71-6, paragraph (2) as well as examinations of the objections set
forth in Article 64-2, paragraph (1), and shall handle other matters related tomaintaining the discipline of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations.
(Composition of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 70-2 A Disciplinary Enforcement Committee shall be composed of four ormore committee members as designated in the articles of association of the bar
association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(The committee members of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 70-3 (1) The committee members of a Disciplinary Enforcement
Committee of a bar association shall be individually appointed by the presidentof the bar association from among attorneys, judges, public prosecutors andacademic experts. In such a case, the provisions of the second sentence ofArticle 66-2, paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(2) The committee members of the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of theJapan Federation of Bar Associations shall be individually appointed by thepresident of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations from among attorneys,judges, public prosecutors and academic experts. In such a case, the provisionsof the second sentence of Article 66-2, paragraph (2) shall apply mutatis
mutandis.
(3) The term of committee members of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee
shall be two years; provided, however, that the term of a substituting
committee member shall be the remaining term of his/her predecessor.
(4) In the application of criminal punishments stipulated pursuant to the Penal
44

Code or other laws, the committee members of a Disciplinary Enforcement
Committee shall be deemed to be officials engaging in public duties pursuant to
the provisions of laws and regulations.
(The chairman of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 70-4 (1) A Disciplinary Enforcement Committee shall have a chairman
who shall be elected from among its members.
(2) The chairman shall preside over all affairs of the committee.
(3) If the chairman is unable to carry out his/her duties, such duties shall be
fulfilled by another member of the committee designated according to an order
determined in advance by the Disciplinary Committee.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the chairman.
(Reserve committee members of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 70-5 (1) A Disciplinary Enforcement Committee shall include four ormore reserve committee members as designated in the articles of association of
the bar association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) If a committee member is unable to carry out his/her duties or there is avacancy on the committee, the president of the bar association or the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations shall designate a person from among thereserve committee members having the same qualifications as that member toact in his/her place or fill such vacancy.
(3) The provisions of Article 70-3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to reserve
committee members.
(Sub-Committees of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 70-6 (1) A Disciplinary Enforcement Committee may establish subcommittees to investigate or examine a case as necessary.
(2) A sub-committee shall be composed of one or more sub-committee member(s)who is/are attorney(s), court judge(s), public prosecutor(s) or academic
expert(s) and is/are designated by the chairman.
(3) A sub-committee shall have a chairman who shall be elected from among the
sub-committee members.
(4) If the chairman of the sub-committee is unable to carry out his/her duties,
such duties shall be fulfilled by another sub-committee member designatedaccording to an order determined in advance by the sub-committee.
(5) A Discipline Enforcement Committee may treat a resolution adopted by a subcommittee for a case that the sub-committee has investigated or examined as a
resolution of the Discipline Enforcement Committee, as stipulated by theCommittee.
45

(Requests for statements, etc. by a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 70-7 If necessary for an investigation or examination, a Disciplinary
Enforcement Committee may request the Accused Attorney, etc., the Discipline
Requesting Party, concerned parties or public agencies to make statements or
submit explanations or information.
(The resolution statement of a Disciplinary Action Committee)
Article 70-8 When adopting a resolution, a Disciplinary Committee shallpromptly prepare a resolution statement giving the reasons therefor.
(Provisions that apply mutatis mutandis to sub-committees of a Disciplinary
Enforcement Committee)
Article 70-9 The provisions of the preceding two Articles shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the sub-committees of a Disciplinary Enforcement Committee.
Section 5 The Board of Discipline Review(Establishment of the Board of Discipline Review)
Article 71 (1) A Board of Discipline Review shall be established in the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) If a Discipline Requesting Party files a request for a review of a matter
regarding which a bar association had issued a ruling not to discipline the
Accused Attorney, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 58, paragraph (4),and to which the Japan Federation of Bar Associations had issued a rulingdismissing or rejecting the Discipline Requesting Party's objection to the bar
association's ruling, the Board of Discipline Review shall reflect the public
opinion of Japan and conduct discipline reviews as necessary to ensure thatdisciplinary procedures are appropriate.
(Composition of the Board of Discipline Review)
Article 71-2 The Board of Discipline Review shall be composed of eleven board
members.
(The board members of the Board of Discipline Review)
Article 71-3 (1) The board members of the Board of Discipline Review shall be
appointed by the president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations fromamong academic experts (excluding attorneys, judges, public prosecutors andpersons who formerly served in those professions) based on a resolution
adopted at a general meeting of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) The term of the board members of the Board of Discipline Review shall be two46

years; provided that the term of a substituting board member shall be theremaining term of his/her predecessor.
(3) In the application of criminal punishments stipulated pursuant to the Penal
Code or other laws, the board members shall be deemed to be officials engaging
in public duties pursuant to the provisions of laws and regulations.
(The chairman of the Board of Discipline Review)
Article 71-4 (1) The Board of Discipline Review shall have a chairman who shallbe elected from among the board members.
(2) The chairman shall preside over all affairs of the board.
(3) If the chairman is unable to carry out his/her duties, such duties shall be
fulfilled by another board member designated according to an order determinedin advance by the Board of Discipline Review.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the chairman.
(Reserve board members of the Board of Discipline Review)
Article 71-5 (1) The Board of Discipline Review shall include reserve board
members, the number of which shall be designated in the articles of associationof the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(2) If a board member is unable to carry out his/her duties or there is a vacancy
on the board, the President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shalldesignate a person from among the reserve board members having the same
qualifications as that member to service in his/her place or fill such vacancy.
(3) The provisions of Article 71-3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to reserve board
members.
(Request for statements, etc. by the Board of Discipline Review)
Article 71-6 (1) If necessary for a discipline review, the Board of Discipline
Review may request that the Accused Attorney, etc., the Discipline Requesting
Party, concerned parties or public agencies make statements or submit
explanations or information.
(2) If necessary for a discipline review, the Board of Discipline Review may
request the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee of the bar association towhich the Accused Attorney, etc. belongs or the Disciplinary Enforcement
Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations to conduct any
necessary investigations.
(The resolution statement of the Board of Discipline Review)
Article 71-7 When adopting a resolution, the Board of Discipline Review shallpromptly prepare a resolution statement giving the reasons therefor.
47

Chapter IX Control of the Handling of Legal Services(Prohibition of the provision of legal services by non-attorneys)
Article 72 No person other than an attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation
may, for the purpose of obtaining compensation, engage in the business ofproviding legal advice or representation, handling arbitration matters, aiding
in conciliation, or providing other legal services in connection with any
lawsuits, non-contentious cases, or objections, requesting for re-examination,
appeals and other petitions against administrative agencies, etc., or othergeneral legal services, or acting as an intermediary in such matters; provided,
however, that the foregoing shall not apply if otherwise specified in this Act orother laws.
(Prohibition against the enforcement of assigned rights as a business)
Article 73 No person shall engage in the business of obtaining the rights ofothers by assignment and enforcing such rights through lawsuits, mediation,
conciliation or any other method.
(Prohibition against false designations by non-attorneys)
Article 74 (1) No person who is not an attorney or a Legal Professional
Corporation shall use for itself the indication or description of "attorney" or"law office."(2) No person who is not an attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation shall,for profit, use a designation or reference indicating that he/she or it handles
legal consultations or provides other legal services.
(3) No person who is not a Legal Professional Corporation shall use "legal
professional corporation" or any other similar name in its name.
Chapter X Penal Provisions(The crime of false registration, etc.)
Article 75 (1) A person without the required qualifications to be an attorney who
has his/her name registered in the roll of attorneys by filing a false statementwith the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be punished with a term of
imprisonment with work of up to two years or by a fine of up to one million yen.
(2) The preceding paragraph shall also apply to a person who obtained from the
Minister of Justice the Certification set forth in Article 5 by making a false
statement on an application made pursuant to the provisions of Article 5-2,
paragraph (1), regarding the period of having assumed a position set forth in
Article 5, item (i) or (iii), the period of having discharged the duties set forth in48

item (ii) of said Article, the details regarding the duties of said item, or any
other material matters.
(3) Any attempt to commit the crimes specified in the preceding two paragraphs
shall be punishable.
(Crime of Corruption)
Article 76 Any person who violates the provisions of Article 26 or Article 30-20
shall be punished with imprisonment at labor at a term of up to three years.
(Crime of acting in concert, etc. with non-attorneys)
Article 77 A person who falls under any of the following items shall be punishedwith imprisonment at labor at a term of up to of two years or a fine of up to
three million yen:(i) A person who has violated Article 27 (including that Article applied mutatis
mutandis in Article 30-21);(ii) A person who has violated Article 28 (including that Article applied mutatis
mutandis in Article 30-21);(iii) A person who has violated Article 72; or(iv) A person who has violated Article 73.
(Crime of false indications, etc.)
Article 77-2 Any person who violates the provisions of Article 74 shall bepunished by a fine of up to one million yen.
Article 77-3 Any person who, in violation of the provisions of Article 955,
paragraph (1) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 3028, paragraph (6) (including cases of mutatis mutandis application in Article
43, paragraph (3)), does not make entry of or record those matters stipulatedby Ministry of Justice ordinance regarding the electronic public notice
investigations prescribed in the same paragraph in the investigation record
books, etc., prescribed in the same paragraph, or who makes a false entry or
recording, or who does not retain such investigation record books, etc., shall bepunished by a fine of up to three hundred thousand yen.
(Double punishment)
Article 78 (1) If Members, etc. of a Legal Professional Corporation violate thefollowing provisions in connection with the legal practice of said corporation,such member shall be punished, and in addition, said Legal Professional
Corporation shall be punished by the imposition of a fine as set forth below:(i) A fine of up to three million yen for a violation of Article 76 (to the extent
that it relates to the provisions of Article 30-20); or49

(ii) The fine set forth in Article 77 for a violation of Article 77, item (i) (to theextent that it relates to the provisions of Article 27 as applied mutatis
mutandis in Article 30-21) or Article 77, item (ii) (to the extent that it relates
to the provisions of Article 28 as applied mutatis mutandis in Article 30-21).
(2) If a representative of a juridical person or the agent, employee, or otherworker of a juridical or natural person violates the provisions of Article 77,
item (iii) or (iv), Article 77-2 or the preceding Article in connection with thebusiness of said juridical or natural person, such persons in violation shall bepunished, and in addition said juridical or natural person shall be punished by
the imposition of a fine as stipulated in this article.
(Administrative fines)
Article 79 Any person who falls under any of the following items shall bepunished by an administrative fine of up to one million yen:(i) A person who fails to make the report required by the provisions of Article
946, paragraph (3) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to
Article 30-28, paragraph (6) (here and hereafter, including mutatis mutandis
application in Article 43, paragraph (3)), or who falsifies such report.
(ii) A person who, without justifiable grounds, rejects claims made pursuant to
the provisions of any item of Article 951, paragraph (2) and Article 955,
paragraph (2) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to Article
30-28, paragraph (6).
Article 79-2 A member or a liquidator of a Legal Professional Corporation who
falls under any of the following items shall be punished by an administrative
fine of up to three hundred thousand yen:(i) Failure to register, in violation of the provisions of a Cabinet Order issuedin accordance with this Act;(ii) A merger in violation of the provisions of Article 30-28, paragraph (2) or (5);(iii) Failure to request an investigation, in violation of the provisions of Article
941 of the Companies Act, as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 30-28,
paragraph (6);(iv) Failure to make required statements or entries in, or the falsification of,
the articles of incorporation or the account books required by Article 615,
paragraph (1) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to Article
30-30, paragraph (1) or the balance sheet required by Article 617, paragraph(1) or (2) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 30-30,
paragraph (1);(v) Failure to apply for the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings, inviolation of the provisions of Article 656, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act
as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 30-30, paragraph (2);50

(vi) The distribution of the corporation's assets in violation of the provisions ofArticle 664 of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 3030, paragraph (2); or(vii) The disposal of the corporation's assets in violation of the provisions ofArticle 670, paragraph (2) or (5) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis
mutandis to Article 30-30, paragraph (2).
Supplementary Provisions(Effective date)
Article 80 This Act shall come into effect as from September 1, 1949.
(Persons qualified as an attorney pursuant to prior provisions)
Article 81 With respect to the application of this Act, a person qualified as an
attorney pursuant to prior provisions shall be deemed to have completed thecourse for a legal apprentice at the time such said person obtained suchqualification.
(Exceptions for probationary attorneys)
Article 82 A person who is a probationary attorney (Bengoshi-shiho), at the time
this Act becomes effective, and has completed practical training for more than
one year and a half and passed the examination in accordance with the prior
Attorney Act, shall be deemed to have completed the course for a legal
apprentice at the time such person passed said examination.
(Application of grounds for disqualification of an attorney)
Article 83 In the application of Article 7, a person who has been prohibited frompracticing pursuant to the prior Accountant Law (Keirishi-ho, Act No.31 of
1927) shall be deemed to have had his/her registration as a certified public
accountant revoked from the register of certified public accountants as a resultof such disciplinary action, a person whose license was revoked pursuant to theprior Tax Accountants Law (Zeimu-dairishi-ho, Act No.46 of 1942) shall bedeemed to have had his/her registration as a tax accountant revoked as aresult of such disciplinary action, and a person who has been dismissed from
his/her office as a government official under the order of the disciplinary action
for public officials (Imperial Ordinance No. 63 of 1899) shall be deemed to havebeen discharged from his/her office as a public officer as a result of suchdisciplinary action.
(Registration on the former roll of attorneys)
Article 84 Registration on the prior roster pursuant to prior provisions shall be51

deemed as registration on the roll of attorneys pursuant to this Act.
(Request for registration or change of registration)
Article 85 Request for registration or change of registration made to the Head of
the Bureau of Legal Affairs (Homu-sosai) pursuant to prior provisions shall bedeemed as a transmission of request for registration or change of registration
to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
(Attorney's office pursuant to prior provisions)
Article 86 An office of an attorney which was notified to the Head of the Bureauof Legal Affairs pursuant to prior provisions shall be deemed as the law office
notified pursuant to this Act by such attorney.
(Transfer of the roll of attorneys, etc., pursuant to prior provisions)
Article 87 Upon request by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, theBureau of Legal Affairs (Homu-fu) shall deliver to the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations the roll of attorneys and any other documents concerning
attorneys and bar associations which have been kept at the Bureau pursuant toprior provisions.
(Current bar associations and federation of bar associations)
Article 88 (1) Any bar association or federation of bar associations existing in
the jurisdictional district of each high court at the time this Act becomes
effective shall be deemed to be a bar association or federation of bar
associations pursuant to this Act.
(2) The bar associations or federations of bar associations set forth in thepreceding paragraph shall promptly obtain the approval of the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations with respect to their articles of association orrules; in addition, the bar associations shall be required to register theirestablishment.
(3) Paragraph (2) and paragraphs (4) through (6) of Article 34 shall apply
mutatis mutandis to the registration set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(Special provisions for bar associations within the same district)
Article 89 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 32, two or more bar
associations existing within the jurisdictional district of the same district court
may continue to exist as heretofore even after this Act becomes effective.
(2) The bar associations set forth in the preceding paragraph may at any time bemerged with each other or be dissolved.
(3) In case of merger or dissolution pursuant to the preceding paragraph,paragraphs (2) through (6) of Article 43 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
52

(Preparatory proceedings for the establishment of the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations)
Article 90 Any preparatory proceedings necessary for the establishment of theJapan Federation of Bar Associations may commence prior to the date set forthin Article 80.
(Application of Act concerning Exceptions to the Qualification of Attorneys andProbationary Attorneys)
Article 91 The Act concerning the Exceptions to the Qualification of Attorney
and Probationary Attorney (Act No. 11 of 1946) shall continue to apply as
heretofore; provided, however, that a probationary attorney in said Act shall beread as a legal apprentice and the duties of the Examining Committee shall be
performed by the Qualifications Screening Board of the Japan Federation of
Bar Associations as set forth in this Act.
(Repeal of the Act concerning Control over the Handling of Legal Matters)
Article 92 The Act concerning Control over the Provision of Legal Services (ActNo. 54 of 1933) shall be repealed; provided, however, with respect to theapplication of penal provisions under said Act to any act committed prior to therepeal of said Act, the provisions then in force shall remain applicable.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 96 of April 14, 1950] [Extract](1) Those provisions of this Act amending Articles 61-2, 61-3 and 65 of the Court
Act, amending those provisions of Article 6, item (vi) of the Act on Committee
for Inquest of Prosecution that concern juvenile investigators and assistantjuvenile investigators and amending provisions of the Juvenile Act shallbecome effective after 30 days have elapsed from the day of the promulgation,
and all other provisions shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 221 of June 9, 1951]
This Act shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 237 of June 15, 1951] [Extract](1) This Act shall come into effect as from the day after one month has elapsed
from the day of promulgation of this Act.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 268 of July 31, 1952] [Extract]53

(1) This Act shall come into effect as from August 1, 1952.
(3) Previous organs and personnel shall become comparable organs and personnel
under this Act and shall continue with the same identity.
(4) Tenure of office as each Chief in the Attorney-General's Office, Secretary
General of the Attorney-General's Office, officials of the Attorney-General's
Office, and educational officials of the Attorney-General's Office before
effectuation of this Act shall respectively be regarded as the tenure of office as
Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Justice, law officials of the Ministry of Justice,and education officials of the Ministry of Justice for the purpose of theapplication of the provisions of Article 41, Article 42 (including the case where
the same Article is applied mutatis mutandis under Article 1, paragraph (2) ofthe Act concerning the Exceptions to the Authority of Assistant Judges, etc.)
and Article 44 of the Court Act, and Article 19 of the Public Prosecutor's Office
Act, Article 5 of the Attorney Act and Article 2 of the Judicial Scrivener Act.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 155 of August 10, 1955] [Extract](1) This Act shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation.
(3) Upon enforcement of this Act, regarding persons who have in fact received theapproval of the Supreme Court prescribed in either paragraphs (1) or (2) ofArticle 7 of the pre-amendment Attorney Act, the provisions then in force shallremain applicable.
(4) Excluding those persons set forth in the previous paragraph, for purposes ofapplication of penal provisions against acts carried out before the enforcementof this Act by persons who had received the approval of the Supreme Court
prescribed in either paragraphs (1) or (2) of Article 7 of the pre-amendment
Attorney Act, the provisions then in force shall remain applicable.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 158 of June 1, 1957] [Extract](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from August 1, 1957.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 137 of June 15, 1961] [Extract](1) This Act shall come into effect as from a date prescribed by a Cabinet Orderwithin a period not exceeding six months from the day of promulgation.
(15) For the purpose of application of the provisions of item (iii) of Article 7 anditem (ii) of paragraph (1) of Article 12 of the Attorney Act, revocation ofregistration as a tax accountant as disciplinary action pursuant to the former
54

law shall be deemed to be prohibition against the practice of business as a tax
accountant as disciplinary action under the new law.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 77 of April 16, 1962] [Extract](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation; provided,
however, that the provisions of Article 6 and paragraphs (5) through (11) of the
Supplementary Provisions shall come into effect as from July 1, 1962.
(10) For the purpose of application of the provisions of Article 5 of the amended
Attorney Act, the tenure of office of an instructor of the Training Institute of
the Minister of Justice (houmu kenshyujyo) prior to the enforcement of theprovisions of Article 6 shall be deemed to be the tenure of office of an instructorof the Research and Training Institute of the Minister of Justice (houmu sogo
kenkyujyo), and the tenure of office of a councilor of the legislative bureau(houseikyoku sanjikan) prior to the enforcement of the provisions of Article 6
shall be deemed to be the term of office of a councilor of the Legislative Bureauof the Cabinet (naikaku houseikyoku sanjikan).
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 140 of May 16, 1962] [Extract](1) This Act shall come into effect as from October 1, 1962.
(2) The provisions revised by this Act shall also apply to matters that arose prior
to the enforcement of this Act except as otherwise set forth in these
Supplementary Provisions; provided, however, that the foregoing shall nothinder any valid force that arose pursuant to provisions prior to revision by
this Act.
(3) With regards to lawsuits actually pending at the time of enforcement of thisAct, the provisions then in force shall remain applicable notwithstanding
provisions revised by this Act stipulating that such lawsuits may not be filed(4) With respect to the jurisdiction over lawsuits actually pending at the time ofenforcement of this Act, the provisions then in force shall remain applicable
notwithstanding provisions revised by this Act stipulating exclusive
jurisdiction.
(5) With respect to the valid period for filing a lawsuit concerning a disposition or
determination for which the valid period for filing a lawsuit pursuant toprovisions prior to revision by this Act is actually running at time ofenforcement, the provisions then in force shall remain applicable; provided,
however, that the foregoing shall apply only in the case where the amended
valid period is shorter than the valid period prior to revision.
(6) The valid period for filing a party lawsuit concerning a disposition or55

determination for which the valid period is stipulated through the amendment
by this Act shall be counted from the effective date of this Act.
(7) With regard to actions for rescission of disposition or determination actuallypending at time of enforcement of this Act, the provisions then in force shallremain applicable, notwithstanding provisions revised by this Act stipulatingthat one party to the legal relationship be the defendant; provided, however,that the court may, upon the plaintiff's request, may rule to permit changing
the action into a party suit.
(8) In the case set forth in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, the provisionsof the second sentence of Article 18 and Article 21, paragraphs (2) to (5) of the
Administrative Litigation Act shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 161 of September 15, 1962] [Extract](1) This Act shall come into effect as from October 1, 1962.
(2) The provisions revised by this Act shall also apply to dispositions by anadministrative agency prior to the enforcement of this Act, inactions by anadministrative agency pertaining to filings prior to the enforcement of this Act
or other matters that have arisen prior to the enforcement of this Act, except
as otherwise provided for in these Supplementary Provisions; provided,
however, that those provisions shall not hinder legal effects that have arisen
pursuant to provisions prior to revision by this Act.
(3) With respect to petitions, requests for examination, objections or otherappeals ("Petitions, etc.") filed prior to the enforcement of this Act, theprovisions then in force shall remain applicable even after the enforcement of
this Act. The same shall apply to Petitions, etc. filed in the case of
dissatisfaction with determinations, rulings, or other dispositions on Petitions,etc., which have been made prior to the enforcement of this Act("Determinations, etc."), or a judgment, etc., made after the enforcement of thisAct in regard to Petitions, etc., filed prior to the enforcement of this Act.
(4) Petitions, etc. specified in the preceding paragraph pertaining to a disposition
on which after enforcement of this Act an appeal may be filed pursuant to the
Administrative Appeal Act shall be deemed to be appeals pursuant to the
Administrative Appeal Act with respect to the application of laws other thansuch Act.
(5) No appeal pursuant to the Administrative Appeal Act may be entered against
Determinations, etc., on requests for examination, objections or other appeals
filed after the enforcement of this Act pursuant to the provision of paragraph(3).
(6) With respect to dispositions of an administrative agency prior to theenforcement of this Act on which Petitions, etc. may be filed pursuant to the56

provisions prior to revision by this Act and for which the valid period has not
be stipulated, the valid period for filing an appeal pursuant to the
Administrative Appeal Act shall be counted from the effective date of this Act.
(8) With respect to the application of penal provisions against acts committed
prior to the enforcement of this Act, the provisions then in force shall remain
applicable.
(9) In addition to the provisions of the preceding eight paragraphs, transitional
measures necessary for the enforcement of this Act shall be stipulated by
Cabinet Order.
(10) In the event this Act and the Act on the Arrangement, etc. of Relevant Acts
with the Enforcement of the Administrative Case Litigation Act (Act No. 140 of
1962) contains provisions amending the same other Act, such Act shall first be
amended by this Act and then by the Act on the Arrangement, etc. of RelevantActs with the Enforcement of the Administrative Case Litigation Act.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 69 of May 18, 1965] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from a date prescribed by Cabinet
Order within a period not exceeding 90 days from the day of promulgation
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 89 of June 28, 1966] [Extract](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 78 of December 2, 1983](1) This Act (excluding Article 1) shall come into effect as from July 1, 1984.
(2) Transitional measures necessary for organs, etc. that are in existence
pursuant to the provisions of laws on the day prior to the enforcement of thisAct and that will be in existence pursuant to the provisions of the National
Government Organization Act or Cabinet Order pursuant to the provisions ofrelated laws that are amended by this Act ("Related Cabinet Orders") after theenforcement of this Act, and transitional measures necessary for the enactment
or changes to Related Cabinet Orders resulting from the enforcement of thisAct, may be stipulated by Cabinet Order.
Supplementary Provisions [Act. No. 80 of December 2, 1983] [Extract](Effective date)57

(1) This Act shall come into effect as from the date that the Act for
Establishment of the Management and Coordination Agency (Act No. 79 of
1983) becomes effective.
(Transitional measures)(6) In addition to the provisions of this Act, transitional measures necessary forthe enforcement of this Act may be stipulated by Cabinet Order.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 66 of May 23, 1986] [Extract](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from a date prescribed by Cabinet Orderwithin a period not exceeding two years from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 89 of November 12, 1993] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from the day the Administrative
Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993) becomes effective.
(Transitional measures concerning adverse dispositions regarding which an
appeal etc. has been made)Article 2 If prior to the enforcement of this Act, a consultation or other request
has been made under laws and regulations to a council or any other panel
requesting that procedures corresponding to hearings, grant of opportunity for
explanation and other procedures for giving statement of opinion prescribed in
Article 13 of the Administrative Procedure Act be implemented, with regard to
the procedures for adverse dispositions that are the subject of suchconsultation or request, the provisions that were then in force shall remain
applicable notwithstanding the provisions of relevant Acts after amendment by
this Act.
(Transitional measures upon arrangement of provisions relating to hearings)
Article 14 Procedures for hearings (excluding those concerning adverse
dispositions) implemented under this Act prior to the enforcement of this Act
or procedures incidental thereto shall be deemed to have been implemented
under corresponding provisions of related laws after amendment by this Act.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 103 of June 26, 1996] [Extract](Effective date)58

(1) This Act shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 13 of March 31, 1998] [Extract](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 1998.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 102 of July 16, 1999] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from the effective date of the Act for
Partial Revision of the Cabinet Act (Act No. 88 of 1999); provided, however,that the provisions in the following items shall come into force on the datestipulated therein.
(i) Omitted(ii) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (5) of Article 10, paragraph (3) of
Article 14, Article 23, Article 28 and Article 30 of the Supplementary
Provisions: day of promulgation.
(Separately stipulated transitional measures)
Article 30 In addition to the provisions of Article 2 through the previous Article,
transitional measures necessary for the enforcement of this Act shall beseparately stipulated by law.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 116 of July 30, 1999] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 151 of December 8, 1999] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 2000.
(Transitional measures)
Article 3 With regard to the application of the provisions revised by this Act
concerning quasi-incompetent persons and the curators thereof for whom theprovisions then in force shall be deemed to remain applicable pursuant to
Article 3, paragraph (3) of the Supplementary Provisions of the Act for Partial
Revision of the Civil Code (Act No. 149 of 1999), the provisions then in force
shall remain applicable except for the following provisions:59

(i) to (xxv) Omitted
Article 4 With respect to application of penal provisions to acts carried out prior
to enforcement of this Act, the provisions then in force shall remain applicable.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 160 of December 22, 1999] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act (excluding Articles 2 and 3) shall come into effect as fromJanuary 16, 2001.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 125 of November 27, 2000] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 40 of June 8, 2001] [Extract](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from a date prescribed by Cabinet Order nolater than March 31, 2002; provided, however, the following provisions shallcome into effect as from the day of promulgation. Those provisions of Article 2that amend the following: paragraph (1) of Article 36-4 of the Self Defense
Forces Act ("SDF Act"); "Article 36-4" of the SDF Act to read as "Article 36-8"of the SDF Act; "Article 36-3" of the SDF Act to be "Article 36-7" of the SDF
Act; the SDF Act by deleting the heading preceding Article 36-2 of the SDF Act;
Article 36-2; "Article 36-2" of the SDF to be "Article 36-6" of the SDF Act; theSDF Act by adding a heading to precede Article 36-6; and the SDF Act byadding four Articles after Article 36. The provisions of Article 3 (excluding
parts that amend the following: paragraph (1) of Article 3 of the Act on
Remuneration, etc. of Ministry of Defense Personnel; paragraph (1) of Article
22 of such Act; Articles 24-4 and 24-5 of such Act; "Article 24-5" of such Act tobe "Article 24-6"; such Act by adding one Article after Article 24-4; and Article28-3 of such Act). The provisions of Article 4. The provisions of paragraphs (3)through (5) of the Supplementary Provisions.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 41 of June 8, 2001] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 2002.

60

Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 129 of November 28, 2001] [Extract](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 2002.
(Transitional measures regarding the application of penal provisions)(2) With respect to the application of penal provisions to acts committed prior to
the enforcement of this Act as well as acts committed after the enforcement of
this Act in cases where the provisions then in force are to remain applicablepursuant to the provisions of this Act, the provisions then in force shall remain
applicable.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 45 of May 29, 2002](Effective date)(1) This Act shall come into effect as from a date prescribed by Cabinet Orderwithin a period not exceeding one year from the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 48 of May 29, 2002] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from a date prescribed by a Cabinet
Order within a period not exceeding three months from the day of
promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 128 of July 25, 2003] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 2004; provided, however,that the provisions listed in the following items shall be effective on the datestipulated in the relevant item:(i) Provisions of Articles 6, 11 and 12 of the Supplementary Provisions: day of
promulgation.
(Transitional measures regarding notification of a profit-making business by
an attorney)
Article 6 (1) If prior to the amendment of the Attorney Act ("Old Attorney Act")
pursuant to Article 7, an attorney who prior to the enforcement of this Act
obtained the permission set forth in paragraph (3) of Article 30 and operates a
profit-making business, or became an employee of a person operating such abusiness, or became an executive member, director, executive officer or61

employee of a profit-making juridical person, and wishes to continue such abusiness or be in such a position after the enforcement of this Act, may, prior
to the effective date, in accordance with the classifications set forth in theitems in paragraph (1) of Article 30 of the Attorney Act as amended by Article
7 ("New Attorney Act"), provide notification of the matters set forth in theitems of the same paragraph to the bar association to which he/she belongs.
(2) A person who has made notification in accordance with the previous
paragraph shall, without delay, notify the bar association to which he/shebelongs should any changes to the notified matters occur. The same shall apply
if, prior to the effective date, a business subject to such notification is
discontinued or a position subject to such notification is lost.
(3) Any matters regarding which notification has been made pursuant to theprovisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall, on the effective date, bedeemed to be subject to notification pursuant to paragraph (1) of Article 30 of
the New Attorney Act; provided, however, that this shall not apply to thenotification pursuant to the provision in the latter part of the previous
paragraph.
(Transitional measures regarding grounds for disciplinary actions against
attorneys, etc.)
Article 7 If an attorney violates the provisions of Article 30 of the Old Attorney
Act prior to the effective date, the bar association to which such attorney
belongs or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations may discipline suchattorney on such grounds even after the effective date.
(General rule for transitional measures regarding procedures for disciplining
attorneys, etc.)
Article 8 Regarding the disciplinary procedures against attorneys or Legal
Professional Corporations, except for the matters stipulated in the following
Article, the provisions of the New Attorney Act shall apply even to cases wherea demand for discipline has been made or disciplinary procedures have beencommenced prior to the effective date; provided, however, that the foregoingshall not hinder legal effects that arose pursuant to the Old Attorney Act.
(Special provisions for transitional measures regarding disciplinary procedures
against attorneys, etc.)
Article 9 (1) Regarding disciplinary procedures for cases for which an objection
has been filed prior to the effective date pursuant to the provisions ofparagraph (1) of Article 61 of the Old Attorney Act, except for the provisions ofArticles 64-6 and 64-7 of the New Attorney Act, the provisions then in force
shall remain applicable.
62(2) The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of Article 64-6 of the New Attorney
Act shall not apply in disciplinary actions taken by the bar association or theJapan Federation of Bar Associations prior to the effective date.
(3) The provisions of Article 64-7 of the New Attorney Act shall not apply if thegrounds for the notice set forth in the items of paragraphs (1) and (2) of said
Article arose prior to the effective date.
(4) If prior to the date of enforcement the bar association makes a ruling not todiscipline or disciplines an attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation, and if
the person who made the request for disciplinary action against such attorney
or Legal Professional Corporation files an objection regarding suchdetermination or action after the effective date, such objection must be filed
within 60 days from the day after the person making the demand fordisciplinary action receives notice (if such notice is received prior to the date ofenforcement, then from the date of enforcement) from the relevant bar
association that it has made a decision not to discipline or that it has
disciplined such attorney or Legal Services Corporation.
(5) The provisions of paragraph (3) of Article 64 of the New Attorney Act shallapply mutatis mutandis to an objection set forth in the previous paragraph.
(Special provisions regarding the term of members of the Disciplinary
Enforcement Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations)
Article 10 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (3) of Article 70-3 ofthe New Attorney Act, the term of members of the Disciplinary Enforcement
Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations that are the first to beappointed after the effective date shall be, based on a resolution adopted at a
general meeting of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, one year for halfof the total number of such committee members (if the total number ofcommittee members is odd, the number remaining after dividing the total
number by two and rounding down to the nearest whole number).
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 71-3 of the New
Attorney Act, the term of members of the Board of Discipline Review that are
the first to be appointed after the effective date shall be, based on a resolution
adopted at a general meeting of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, one
year for five of the board members.
(Special provisions regarding procedures to appoint members, etc. to theDisciplinary Enforcement Committee)
Article 11 All actions necessary for the appointment of members and reserve
members to the Disciplinary Enforcement Committee pursuant to paragraphs(1) and (2) of Article 70-3 of the New Attorney Act (including mutatis mutandis
application in paragraph (3) of Article 70-5 of the New Attorney Act) and for63the appointment of members and reserve members to the Board of Discipline
Review pursuant to paragraph (1) of Article 71-3 of the New Attorney Act(including mutatis mutandis application in paragraph (3) of Article 71-5 of the
New Attorney Act) shall be carried out prior to the effective date.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 8 of March 31, 2004] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 2004.
(Transitional Measures for qualifications pertaining to the Court Act, etc.)
Article 2 Tenure of offices as Professors of the Court Clerk Research andTraining Institute shall be deemed as the tenure of office as professors of theTraining and Research Institute for Court Officials with respect to theapplication of the provisions of Articles 41, 42 of the Court Act (including
application mutatis mutandis under Article 1, paragraph (2) of the Act
concerning the Exceptions to the Authority of Assistant Judge (Act No. 146 of
1948)) and Article 44 of the same, Article 19 of the Public Prosecutor's Office
Act (Act No. 61 of 1947) and Article 5 of the Attorney Act (Act No. 205 of 1949).
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 9 of March 31, 2004] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 2004.
(Repeal of the Act Stipulating the Universities Prescribed in item (ii),paragraph (1) of Article 6 of the Attorney Act)
Article 2 The Act Stipulating the Universities Prescribed in item (ii), paragraph(1) of Article 6 of the Attorney Act (Act No. 188 of 1950) is repealed.
(Transitional measures regarding special provisions for qualifications of an
attorney)
Article 3 (1) With respect to the qualifications to become an attorney of a person
who, at the time of enforcement of this Act, actually has the qualifications tobecome an attorney pursuant to the Attorney Act prior to its revision ("OldAct"), the provisions then in force shall remain applicable.
(2) In addition to the provisions of the previous paragraph with respect to thequalifications of a person (excluding a person who falls under any of the itemsof Article 5 of the Attorney Act as amended by this Act ("New Act") and aperson stipulated in Article 6 of the New Act) serving in a position stipulated
in item (ii) of paragraph (1) of Article 6 of the Old Act prior to the effective date64

to become an attorney, the provisions then in force shall remain applicable. In
such case, the text "a person who is listed in the following" in paragraph (1) of
Article 6 of the Old Act shall be read as "a person who has met therequirements of item (ii) and who is certified by the Minister of Justice as
having thereinafter completed a training course for attorney services pursuant
to the provisions of Articles 5 through 5-6 of the Attorney Act as amended
pursuant to the Act for Partial Amendment of the Attorney Act (Act No. 9 of
2004)" and the text "a person with a total of not less than five years" in item(ii) of paragraph (1) of Article 6 of the Old Act shall be read as "a total of notless than five years by March 31, 2008".
(3) In addition to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, regarding theapplication of the provisions of Article 5 of the New Act to a person who, prior
to the effective date of this Act, served in a position as set forth in item (ii),paragraph (1) of Article 6 of the Old Act, the period of time he/she serves insuch a position and the period of time between the effective date of this Act andMarch 31, 2008 during which he/she serves in a corresponding position(hereinafter referred to in this paragraph as the "Transitional Tenure Period")
may be added to the following: the period of time he/she serves in a position
stipulated in item (i) of said Article after acquiring the qualification to becomea legal apprentice; the period of time he/she works at a job stipulated in item(ii) of said Article after acquiring the qualification to become a legal
apprentice; and the period of time he/she serves in a position stipulated in item(iii) of Article 5 of the New Act after passing the examination set forth inparagraph (3) of Article 18 of the Public Prosecutor's Office Act (includes theperiod of time that may be added pursuant to item (iv) of said Article;
hereinafter, referred to in this paragraph as the "Tenure, etc. Period"). In suchcase, the relevant transitional Tenure Period shall be deemed to be included in
the Tenure, etc. Period and the provisions of the New Act shall be applied.
(Penal provisions)
Article 4 (1) A person who, in an application pursuant to the stipulations ofparagraph (1) of Article 5-2 of the New Act that, under the provisions ofparagraph (1) of Article 6 of the Old Act construed, pursuant to the
stipulations of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, as being applicable in themanner previously applicable, are to be applied in the manner set forth in suchprovisions, makes a false application with respect to the period of time inwhich he/she served in the position stipulated in item (ii), paragraph (1) of
Article 6 of the Old Act construed, pursuant to the stipulations of paragraph(2) of the preceding Article, as being applicable in the manner previously
applicable or with respect to other material matters, thus causing the Ministerof Justice to give the certification set forth in that same paragraph, shall be
65punished with a maximum jail term of two years or a maximum fine of one
million yen(2) Attempts to commit the crime of the preceding paragraph will be punished.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 76 of June 2, 2004] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from the date the Bankruptcy Act(Act No. 75 of 2004; referred to as the "New Bankruptcy Act" in paragraph (8)of the next Article and paragraph (8) of Article 3, paragraphs (8), (16) and (21)of Article 5 and Article 13) becomes effective.
(Transitional measures regarding the application of penal provisions)
Article 12 With respect to the application of penal provisions to acts committed
prior to the effective date of this Act as well as acts committed after theeffective date for which the provisions then in force shall remain applicablepursuant to article 2 paragraph (1), article 3 paragraph (1), article 4, article 5paragraph (1), article 9, article 17, article 19 and article 21 of supplementaryprovisions (Act No. 76, June 2, 2004), article 6 paragraph (1) and paragraph (3)of the supplementary provisions for which the provisions then in force shallremain applicable pursuant to said provisions after the enforcement of this Act
in cases where the provisions then in force are to remain applicable pursuant
to the provisions of the previous article, the provisions then in force shallremain applicable.
(Delegation to Cabinet Order)
Article 14 In addition to the matters provided for in Article 2 through theprevious Article of the Supplementary Provisions, all other transitional
measures necessary with respect to the enforcement of this Act shall be
stipulated by Cabinet Order.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 87 of June 9, 2004] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from a date prescribed by Cabinet
Order within a period not exceeding one year from the day of promulgation.
(Transitional measures regarding the application of penal provisions)
Article 3 With respect to the application of penal provisions to acts committed
prior to the enforcement of this Act as well as acts committed after theenforcement of this Act in cases where the provisions then in force are to66

remain applicable pursuant to the provisions of the previous Article, theprovisions then in force shall remain applicable.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 124 of June 18, 2004] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from the date the New the Real
Property Registration Act becomes effective.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 83 of July 15, 2005] [Extract](Effective date)
Article 1 This Act shall come into effect as from April 1, 2007.
(Transitional measures regarding the tenure of assistant professor)
Article 2 For the purpose of application of the provisions of the following Acts
after the revision pursuant to the provisions of this Act, the tenure of assistantprofessor prior to the enforcement of the provisions of this Act shall be deemed
to be the tenure of associate professors;(i) to (v) Omitted(vi) Article 5 of the Attorney Act (Act No. 205 of 1949)
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 87 of July 26, 2005] [Extract]
This Act shall come into effect as from the date the Companies Act becomes
effective.

67