On June 15, 2006, the Board of Governors of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) approved the establishment of the Center for Promotion of Legal Practice chaired by the JFBA President. Its establishment was one of commitments of the JFBA President Hirayama during his presidential campaign. As Japan is going to drastically increase the number of attorneys, the Center aims to continuously and comprehensively plan and take actions with strategy to expand the fields in which attorneys would provide legal services in order to promote the improvement of access to justice.

Working period of the Center has been set for 2 years. Under its Headquarter consisting of maximum 140 members including the President, the Vice Presidents, and the Governors, the Acting Chairperson of the Headquarter presides its Operation Committee which steers concrete activities of the Center.

JFBA committees concerning attorneys’ practices had discussed research plans and recommendations to support legal practices of JFBA members. Intending to realize and implement such plans and recommendations during Mr. Hirayama’s presidency, various project teams are going to be set up under the Operation Committee.

Currently, project teams dealing with the following issues are planned to be set up.

1. Employment of attorneys
2. Measures to resolve concentration of attorneys in large cities and develop activities of medium and small size bar associations
3. Systems to provide attorneys’ information and referral services
4. Improvement and enhancement of the training system
5. Validation of the appropriate number of attorneys meeting social needs
6. Lobbying for legislation (lowering stamp fees for civil litigation)
7. Promotion to national bodies such as the Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) for boosting demand for attorneys
8. Development of new practice fields for attorneys
9. Request for improvement in judicial budget including increase in fees of court-appointed attorneys