Course Section | Columbia Law School

Section Description Provided by Instructor

This course provides a critical introduction to the institutions and actors that comprise the Japanese legal system. Topics covered include the legal profession, formal and informal dispute resolution mechanisms, employment law, corporate law and governance, and economic regulation. Major theoretical debates about the role of law in Japan are examined in connection with each substantive topic. Throughout the course, law is placed within the context of Japanese social, political, and economic institutions. During the last several weeks of the semester, Visiting Professors from the University of Tokyo lead the class on topics related to their individual fields of expertise.

All class materials and instruction are in English; Japanese language ability and knowledge of Japan, while helpful, are not prerequisites. The grade for the course is based on a proctored examination, a short paper, and class performance. Class participation is required of all students.