Kobe University
Graduate School ofLaw

NEWSLETTEROCTOBER2015

Seventh Issue
KOBE LL.M / GMAP IN LAW’s
FALL SEMESTER 2015
We are pleased to present to our readers the line up oflectures and workshops due for this fall semester of ourprogramme:Japanese Legal System I
By: Professor Akira Saito

InsideThe Fall Semester for 2015 has
begun!
Take a peek inside to learn
about the line up of lectures
and workshops for this fall.

1
Test your vocabulary
Expandvocabularysimple quiz!

yourEnglishby taking this3

Theme & Objective of the course: This course is mainly
designed for foreign exchange students who will attend theUniversity for one or two semesters only. This course is not acomprehensive introduction to the Japanese Legal System.
Rather, it tries to pick up recent important topics ofJapanese Law, which shows the features in the context ofthe characteristics of Japanese cultures and societies
including business activities. It is also useful for Japanese
students to learn the legal terminology in English.
The topics are selected and explained by specialists of eachlegal area. Most of the lectures are delivered by the team offulltime faculty members of the graduate school of law ofKobe University. Each topic is analysed from theFollow me to Page

2

KOBE UNIVERSITY :: Kobe LL.M / GMAP in Law

SEVENTH ISSUE :: OCTOBER 2015

Continued from page 1

viewpoint of comparative law, which makes this course valuable to bothforeign as well as Japanese students. The participants are requested to readthe materials indicated by the teachers before attending the class. Students
are expected to learn how laws function in Japanese societies, as well as thebasic structure of the judicial system in Japan.
Introduction to Legal English 2
By: Professor Keith Carpenter
Theme & Objective of the course: The aim of the course will be to develop
Student’s English language ability to: 1. Listen to and understand both nativeand non-native speakers' of English talking about legal matters in situations such as meetings,
discussions, lectures and presentations; 2. Speak about legal matters in a variety of situations
such as advising, negotiating, summarising, explaining complicatedlegal issues to both lawyers and non-lawyers; 3. Read andunderstand legal texts such as contracts, statutes, case reports,
law journal articles, law text books and legal correspondence; 4.
Write about legal matters in different ways such as email, lettersand notes/memos.
International Arbitration 1 (Theory)
By: Professor James Claxton
Theme & Objective of the course: This course introduces students tothe practiceof international arbitration and advocacy in arbitral proceedings.
Students act as lawyers in successive steps in a mock case and thereby gain practicalexperience with arbitration procedure, written advocacy, and oral advocacy. Prior coursework
in international arbitration is useful but not necessary. By the end of the course, students shouldhave a good understanding both of international arbitration procedure and the work ofinternational arbitration lawyers.
International Arbitration 2 (Practice)
By: Professor James Claxton
Theme & Objective of the course: This course surveys the theory, law, and practice ofinternational investment arbitration. By the end of the course, students should have a good
general understanding of the subject and especially of the work of lawyers practicing in thisarea.
International Arbitration Institutions in Asia (A)By: Professor James Claxton
Theme & Objective of the course: This seminar provides an overview of work of leadinginternational arbitration institutions in Asia including HKIAC, SIAC, CIETAC, KLRCA and JCAA. The
structure, rules, and operations of these institutions are considered and compared. Participating
students gain insight into the role of the institutions, arbitration procedure, and trends ininternational arbitration in Asia.

2KOBE UNIVERSITYSEVENTH ISSUE :: OCTOBER 2015

Continued from page 2

Strategic International Business Consulting
By: Professor Akira Saito (main instructor) & Mr Jeff Leong (guestlecturer)

PracticeTheme & Objective of the course: Using Malaysia's legal
corporate practice as its base the aim of the course will be toequip students who wish to enter into corporate legal practicewith the basic knowledge of the types of transactions that takes
place in the business world including the attributes required of agood business lawyer. Since Malaysia is also known as a pot of
melting cultures; the class will also touch on Malaysia's businessand local culture. Students who are considering an internship inMalaysia will find this class beneficial for their future referenceWTO Moot Workshop
By: Professor Fujio Kawashima
Theme & Objective of the course: In this workshop, participants
prepare for the ELSA Moot Court Competition (EMC2) 2015 andactually participate in it (the EMC2 is a simulated hearing of theWorld Trade Organization dispute settlement system. For moredetails, visit http://elsamootcourt.elsa.org/about/about-emc2/).
It provides participants with the opportunity to obtain practicalexperience of trade litigations in English for students who wish tobe active in international litigations. Its final goal is thatparticipants understand: How the WTO dispute settlement
procedures proceed; How the panels and the Appellate Body
interpret the WTO agreements and how disputing members
should develop legal arguments which would be persuasive tothem.

Common Law

A: Part of English Law that isderived from custom andjuridical precedent rather thanstatutes; B: System of law
predominant in the European
continent historically influenced
by that of ancient Rome; or C:
System of law concerned withthe punishment of offenders

2 Impeach
A: An exceptionally good or
attractive person or thing; B:
Summon by telephone; or C:call into question the integrity
or validity of (a practise)

Answers:

Legal1(1) A – e.g. Malaysia’s legal
system is based on thecommon law system.

PresentationWorkshop
1:
Corporate
By: Assistant Professor Cindy Cheong

Test your vocabulary! Pick thecorrect answer:(2) C – e.g. there is no desire to
impeach the privileges of theHouse of Commons

Theme & Objective of the course: This course is designed not
only for future lawyers but also for students who would like to bebusinesspersons, dealing with the strategy of using corporate
law for expanding businesses to overseas countries. Thecontents not only cover the legal aspect but also commercialinterest. Also, the skills of negotiation and cross-culturalcommunication will be explained based on practicalexperience. Mr Jeff Leong, who has been working mainly in theM&A field, and other legal corporate-related practices in Asia
will be presenting the lecture. He is also the former chairpersonof the Business Law Section of LAWASIA (The Law Society of Asiaand the Pacific).

Please refer to Page 4 forthe application details on
the GMAP in Law Course3Application for the GMAP in Law
CourseStudents wishing to apply for the GMAP in Law Course,
may find the details for the course and application
procedures on the Kobe University Graduate School ofLaw & Faculty of Law website at
http://www.law.kobeu.ac.jp/kobe_univ_global/english/admission/graduate.html.
Admission requirements include the submission of yourtest score for an English proficiency test (e.g. TOEIC,TOEFL, IELTS etc.); a research plan of 1,500 words; andan interview (via Skype for foreign students).
Foreign students
programme!

arewelcome toKOBE UNIVERSITY :: KOBE LL.M / GMAP in Law

applyfor

thisTOLES(Test of Legal English Skills)
We are pleased to announce
that Kobe University has been
appointed as an official TOLES
test centre. The Graduate
School of Law provides Legal
English courses so students will
have the opportunity to takeexams on campus and obtain
the internationally recognised
TOLES legal English certificate.
For more information on TOLES
please see the TOLES website
at www.toleslegal.com or feel
free to contact Professor Keith
Carpenteratkeith@people.kobe-u.ac.jp

SEVENTH ISSUE :: OCTOBER 2015

Disclaimer: All content published herein belong to their appropriate authors and/or owners and the University takes no responsibility for
any losses, injuries and/or damages arising from the display and/or use of such content.

For further information on theGMAP in Law Course kindly
contact the following person:

Professor Dai Tamada
tamada@port.kobe-u.ac.jp
Tel: +81-78-803-2507
Graduate School of Law, 2-1
Rokko-dai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe
City, 657-8501, JAPANwww.law.kobe-u.ac.jp

GMAP in Law’s Academic Staff Professor Dai Tamada (Director): Public International
Law and International Investment Law Professor Akira Saito (Co – Director): International
Commercial Law and Arbitration
 Professor Shunichiro Nakano: Private InternationalLaw
 Professor Keith Carpenter: Legal English, LegalPractice, and Financial Law
 Professor James Claxton: International Arbitration
 Professor Fujio Kawashima: International Economic
Law
For any queries or if you would like to contribute tothis Newsletter, please feel free to contact Cindy
Cheong at:
cindy.cheong@phoenix.kobe-u.ac.jp
Tel: +81-78-803 – 6709
Graduate School of Law, 2-1 Rokko-dai-cho, Nadaku, Kobe City, 657-8501, JAPAN