Training for the legal profession at the legal training and research centre in Tokyo

The Legal Training and Research Institute occupies new, imposingly grand and spacious premises in the north-western suburbs of Tokyo. The Institute ,an agency of the Supreme Court of Japan, has three main functions:to train those who want to join the legal profession as judges, prosecutors or attorneys; to provide continuing education for judges; and to give judges the opportunity of formally discussing various issues and for them to conduct legal research. The main theme of this article is about instruction to become a member of the legal profession. Certain features of this training,especially the relationship between study at the Institute and practical "field" experience ( sometimes colloquially called "the big sandwich") may perhaps merit consideration in this country , where the future of professional legal education is once again under discussion.