Finding a good lawyer is essential when you are in trouble. But it may be difficult to find a right person yourself. There is no review site like GURUNAVI.
Instead you’ll find tons of websites advertising how excellent they are.
Price and quality of service varies significantly from person to person. And for non-Japanese residents, communication skills in multiple languages are also important. But unfortunately, there is no way to know the quality of service before hiring them.
Word of mouth is still considered as the best way. But if your friends also do not know who to consult with, it may be good idea to use consultation service available in your city as below. They usually offer legal support at reasonable cost and may arrange an interpreter for you.
Consultation Service Available in Tokyo
Shinjuku Legal Counseling Center (Day) & Kamata Legal Counseling Center (Night) provide legal counseling on issues related to foreign residents and other international matters. This center is operated by three bar associations (Tokyo Bar Association, Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association, Daini Tokyo Bar Association.).
Shinjuku Legal Counseling Center
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday except holidays: from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Wednesdays except holidays: from 10:00am to 12:00
Kamata Legal Counseling Center
Wednesday and Friday except holidays: from 5pm to 8pm
You need to make an appointment in advance.
Please call 0570-055-289 from 0:30pm to 4:30pm Mondays to Fridays (except holidays).
You can make Reservations in English, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Spanish.
Consultation Fee
¥5,000 for a 30 minute consultation session (excluding consumption tax)
Overtime charge: ¥2,500 for every 15 minutes (excluding consumption tax)
For details, please visit the website of Legal Counseling Centers for Foreigners.
Consultation Service Available in Osaka
If you want to ask for a legal advice from lawyers in Osaka, Osaka Bar Association, The Legal Consultation Center offers consultation service for foreign nationals on every Friday excluding holidays.
The consultation fees are reasonable as follows:
(1) For those who earn income above the certain level
⇒⇒5500 yen for 30 mins
(2) For those who earn income not exceeding the level
⇒⇒Free of Charge
For reservation, please call 06-6364-1248
For more details, please visit the website of Osaka Bar Association.
English Speaking Lawyer in Japan
Although abovementioned legal support can arrange a interpreter, it’s better to hire lawyers who can communicate with you without such assistence.
If you want to consult with English Speaking Lawyer about business matters or civil disputes, Atsuro Tsujino (Attorney at Law of Ashita no Shishi Legal Office) can offer consultation services for non-Japanese residents in English.
