Article 1(1)An attorney is entrusted with the mission of protecting fundamental human rights and achieving social justice.

(2)An attorney shall, in keeping with the mission specified set forth in the preceding paragraph, perform his/her duties in good faith and endeavor to maintain the social order and to improve the legal system.

Article 2An attorney shall strive to remain highly cultured and have an upright character and shall be well-versed in laws, regulations and legal practices.

Article 3(1)The duties of an attorney, upon the request of the party or the concerned parties, or upon the entrustment of public agency, shall be to engage in acts relating to lawsuits, non-contentious cases, and objections, request for re-examination, appeals, and other petitions against administrative agencies and other general legal services.

(2)An attorney may, without any further qualification, provide the services of a patent attorney and/or a tax attorney.

Article 4A person who has completed the legal apprentice training course shall be qualified to become an attorney.

Article 5Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, a person who has met any of the requirements set forth in either of the following items and who is certified by the Minister of Justice as having thereinafter completed a training course for attorney services, as designated by the Minister of Justice and implemented by a juridical person as specified in an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, shall be qualified to become an attorney.

Article 5-2(1)A person who wishes to become qualified as an attorney as set forth in the preceding Article shall submit to the Minister of Justice a written application for certification containing his/her name, the date he/she acquired the qualification to become a legal apprentice or passed the examination set forth in Article 18, paragraph (3) of the Public Prosecutor's Office Act, the period during which the positions set forth in item (i) or (iii) of the preceding Article were served or the period during which the duties set forth in item (ii) of said Article were discharged, as well as the details of such duties, and such other matters as are specified in an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(2)The following documents must be attached to the written application for certification prescribed in the preceding paragraph: a document verifying the acquisition of the qualification to become a legal apprentice or the passing of the examination set forth in Article 18, paragraph (3) of the Public Prosecutor's Office Act; documents verifying the period during which the positions set forth in items (i) or (iii) of the preceding Article were served or the period during which the duties set forth in item (ii) of said Article were discharged, as well as the details of such duties; and other documents specified in an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(3)A person submitting an application in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) shall pay a fee in an amount stipulated by Cabinet Order in consideration of actual expenses.

Article 5-3(1)If the Minister of Justice confirms that a person submitting an application in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as the "Applicant" in this Chapter) falls under any item of Article 5, the Minister shall assign the Applicant the training course set forth in said Article (hereinafter simply referred to as the "Training Course" in this Article) and give written notice to the Applicant of such assignment.

(2)When an Applicant completes all Training Course programs, the juridical person implementing the Training Course shall, without delay, provide a written report to the Minister of Justice regarding the Applicant's training status in the Training Course (including an opinion of whether or not the Minister of Justice may certify that the Applicant has completed all Training Course programs), pursuant to the provision of an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(3)When the Minister of Justice confirms that the Applicant has completed all Training Course programs based on the report set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister shall issue the certification set forth in Article 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as "Certification") with respect to the Applicant.

(4)When the Minister of Justice issues a Certification or makes a disposition of rejection with respect to an application submitted in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the Minister shall give written notice to the Applicant to that effect.

Article 5-4(1)The Minister of Justice shall not issue the designation of a Training Course in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 unless the Minister confirms that the contents of the Training Course are appropriate and sufficient for the acquisition of the abilities necessary to engage in attorney services.

(2)The juridical person implementing the Training Course may state an opinion to the Minister of Justice regarding the designation of the Training Course as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

(3)The Minister of Justice may, to the extent necessary to ensure the proper and sound implementation of the Training Course set forth in Article 5, require the juridical person implementing the Training Course to submit necessary reports or materials on the Training Course, and may state any necessary opinions.

Article 5-5If the Minister of Justice finds it necessary for the administration of affairs relating to Certifications, the Minister may request an Applicant to submit necessary materials, or make inquiries to public offices, public or private organizations or other related parties and request them to report on necessary matters.

Article 5-6In addition to what is provided for in this Act, necessary matters concerning certification procedures shall be prescribed by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

Article 6Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 4, a person who has served as Justices of the Supreme Court shall be qualified to become an attorney.

Article 7Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 4, 5 or 6, no person specified below shall be qualified to be an attorney:

Article 8To become an attorney, a person must have his/her name registered in the roll of attorneys held by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 9To become an attorney, a person shall make a registration request with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations through the bar association to which he/she intends to be admitted anew.

Article 10(1)For an attorney to transfer the bar association to which he/she belongs, he/she shall make a request with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations to transfer his/her registration through the bar association to which he/she intends to be admitted anew.

(2)If an attorney makes a request to transfer his/her registration, he/she shall make report to such effect to the bar association to which he/she belongs.

Article 11If an attorney intends to cease his/her practice, he/she shall make a request to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations to rescind his/her registration through the bar association of which he/she belongs.

Article 12(1)If there is a likelihood that an applicant may harm the bar association's order or reputation, or an applicant falls under one of the following items and there is a likelihood that he/she may be unfit to practice law, the bar association may refuse to transmit his/her request for registration or transfer of registration, pursuant to a resolution of its Qualifications Screening Board:

(2)The preceding paragraph shall apply to an applicant who, in the one year prior to his/her request for registration or transfer of registration, was a full-time public officer in the district of the applicable bar association, and who may be particularly likely to be unfit to practice law within that district.

(3)If a bar association refuses to transmit a request pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, it shall promptly give written notice to the person who has requested registration or requested for transfer of registration of that fact and the reasons therefore.

(4)If three months after receiving the request for registration or transfer of registration, a bar association has failed to transmit the request to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, it shall be deemed that the transmittal of such a request was denied, and the person who made the request may request for examination pursuant to the Administrative Appeal Act (Act No. 160 of 1962).

Article 12-2(1)If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations is to rule on a request for investigation pursuant to the Administrative Appeal Act (including the request for examination pursuant to paragraph (4) of the preceding Article) regarding a refusal to transmit a request for registration or transfer of registration pursuant to the preceding Article, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall act on the basis of the resolution of its Qualifications Screening Board.

(2)If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations finds grounds for the request for examination set forth in the preceding paragraph, it shall order the bar association to transmit the request for registration or transfer of registration.

Article 13(1)If an attorney has made false statements regarding the matters set forth in paragraph (1), items (i) or (ii), or in paragraph (2) of Article 12, or there is a likelihood that the attorney may be unfit to practice law because of a mental or physical disability, the bar association may, upon the resolution of its Qualifications Screening Board, request that the Japan Federation of Bar Associations rescind the attorney's registration.

(2)If a bar association requests rescission as set forth in the preceding paragraph, it shall promptly give written notice to the attorney of that fact and the reasons therefore.

Article 14(1)A person against whom a registration rescission has been requested pursuant to the preceding Article may file an objection with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations within a period of sixty days commencing on the date following the date notice of such rescission was received.

(2)If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations receives an objection as set forth in the preceding paragraph, it shall, based on the resolution of its Qualifications Screening Board, either refer the request for rescission of registration back to the bar association if it finds that there are grounds for such objection, or reject the objection if its finds it to be groundless.

(3)If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations makes the disposition set forth in the preceding paragraph, it shall promptly give written notice to the person who has filed the objection of that fact and the reasons therefore.

Article 15(1)When a bar association transmits a request for registration or transfer of registration to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, and the Federation finds it proper to refuse such request for the reasons set forth in Article 12, paragraphs (1) and (2), it may refuse such registration or transfer of registration based upon the resolution of its Qualifications Screening Board.

(2)If the Japan Federation of Bar Associations refuses registration or transfer of registration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, it shall promptly give written notice to the person who has requested the registration or transfer of registration and to the bar association which transmitted the request, of that fact and the reasons therefor.

Article 16(1)A person whose request for examination of a refusal to transmit his/her request for registration or transfer of registration in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 was dismissed or rejected, or whose filing of an objection in accordance with the provisions of Article 14, paragraph (1) was rejected, or whose request for registration or transfer of registration was refused in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article, may institute a lawsuit for the rescission of such decision in the Tokyo High Court.

(2)If, three months after receiving a request for examination of the refusal to transmit the request for registration or transfer of registration in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 or the filing of objection in accordance with the provisions of Article 14, paragraph (1), the Japan Federation of Bar Associations has not made a ruling or a disposition as set forth in Article 14, paragraph (2), or if it has not effected the registration or transfer of registration in the roll of attorneys within three months of receiving the transmission of a request for registration or transfer of registration, it shall be deemed that the request for review or the filing of the objection has been rejected or the request for registration or transfer of registration has been refused, and the person who made such a request for review or filed such an objection or made such a request for registration or transfer of registration may institute a lawsuit pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

(3)With regard to the refusal to transmit the request for registration or transfer of registration, a lawsuit for the rescission of such refusal may be instituted only against the ruling thereon of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 17The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall rescind the registration of an attorney from its roll of attorneys under the following circumstances:

Article 18If a bar association finds grounds to rescind the registration of an attorney from its roll of attorneys, it shall promptly report that fact to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 19The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall promptly give notice of an attorney's registration, transfer of registration, or rescission of registration from the roll of attorneys to the bar association to which the attorney belongs, and publicize such registration, transfer of registration, or rescission of registration in the Official Gazette.

Article 20(1)The office of an attorney shall be called a "law office".

(2)A law office shall be established within the district of the bar association to which the attorney belongs.

(3)An attorney may not establish two or more law offices under any name whatsoever; provided, however, that he/she is not prohibited from practicing at the law office of another attorney.

Article 21An attorney must immediately notify the applicable bar association to which he/she belongs and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations when he/she establishes or relocates his/her law office.

Article 22An attorney shall observe the articles of association of the bar association to which he/she belongs and of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 23Unless otherwise provided by law, an attorney or a former attorney shall have the right and bear the duty to maintain the confidentiality of any facts which he/she may have learned in the course of performing his/her duties.

Article 23-2(1)An attorney may request the bar association to which he/she belongs to make inquiries to public offices or public or private organizations for information necessary for a case to which he/she has been retained. The bar association may refuse the request if it finds such request to be inappropriate.

(2)A bar association may, pursuant to the request set forth in the preceding paragraph, request public offices or public or private organizations to provide necessary information.

Article 24An attorney shall not refuse, without due reason, to undertake matters entrusted by the government or public agencies in accordance with laws and regulations, or to undertake matters designated by the bar association to which he/she belongs or by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in accordance with the provisions of their articles of association.

Article 25An attorney shall not undertake the cases specified below; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply for the cases specified in items (iii) and (ix), if the client of a case that has already been undertaken by the attorney consents:

Article 26An attorney shall not, in connection with any case that he/she has undertaken, receive, demand, or promise to receive any profit from the other party.

Article 27An attorney shall not undertake any cases referred by a person who is in violation of any of the provisions of Articles 72 to 74 (inclusive), or allow such a person to utilize his/her name.

Article 28An attorney shall not obtain any rights that are in dispute.

Article 29When an attorney decides not to undertake a case, he/she shall promptly give notice to the client of that fact.

Article 30(1)If any of the following items applies to an attorney, he/she shall give prior notification to the bar association to which he/she belongs of the matters set forth in the respective item.

(2)A bar association shall prepare a Roll of Attorneys at Law Engaged in Profit-Making Businesses, listing, for each attorney who has made notification in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the matters as set forth in each item of that paragraph, and keep the register at the office of the bar association for public inspection.

(3)A person who has made notification in accordance with paragraph (1) hereof shall, without delay, notify the bar association to which he/she belongs should any changes to the notified matters occur. The same shall apply if a person has made a notification regarding a business, and such business is discontinued or such person ceases to serve as a Director, etc. or an employee.

(4)When a notification is made in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph, the bar association shall immediately modify or delete the matters set forth in the Roll of Attorneys at Law Engaged in Profit-Making Businesses.

Article 30-2(1)An attorney may establish a juridical person to perform the duties set forth in Article 3 (hereinafter referred to as "Legal Professional Corporation") in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

(2)The provisions of Article 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis to Legal Professional Corporations.

Article 30-3A Legal Professional Corporation shall include the words "legal professional corporation" in its name.

Article 30-4(1)The members of a Legal Professional Corporation shall be attorneys.

(2)The persons specified below shall not be eligible to be members of a Legal Profession Corporation.

Article 30-5In addition to the practices set forth in Article 3, a Legal Professional Corporation may, by making provisions in its articles of incorporation, engage in all or part of any businesses that an attorney may practice in accordance with laws and regulations, as designated by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

Article 30-6(1)For the matters set forth below, a Legal Professional Corporation shall assign matters it undertakes from its clients to attorneys who are its members or employees ("Members, etc."). In such a case, the Legal Professional Corporation shall allow the client to appoint its representative, defense counsel, attendant, or assistant in court from among the Legal Professional Corporation's Members, etc.

(2)A Legal Professional Corporation shall not be relieved of liability to the client for damages incurred in connection with the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, unless it proves that the Members, etc. used due care in the execution of the practice of law.

Article 30-7(1)All Legal Professional Corporations shall be registered in accordance with Cabinet Order.

(2)Matters required to be registered as provided in the preceding paragraph may not be duly asserted against a third party until after they are so registered.

Article 30-8(1)In order to establish a Legal Professional Corporation, the attorneys who are to become members thereof shall adopt articles of incorporation.

(2)The provisions of Article 30, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act (Act No. 86 of 2005) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the articles of incorporation of a Legal Professional Corporation.

(3)The articles of incorporation of a Legal Profession Corporation shall state, at a minimum, the following.

Article 30-9A Legal Professional Corporation shall be formed upon registration of its establishment in the location of its principal law office.

Article 30-10A Legal Professional Corporation shall, within two weeks from the date of its establishment, give notification of such establishment to the bar association to which it belongs and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, together with a certified copy of registration and a copy of its articles of incorporation.

Article 30-11(1)A Legal Professional Corporation may change its articles of incorporation by an agreement of all its members, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.

(2)A Legal Professional Corporation shall, within two weeks from the date of an amendment to its articles of incorporation, notify the bar association to which it belongs and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations of such amendment.

Article 30-12The members of a Legal Professional Corporation shall have the right and bear the obligation to execute all of its practices unless otherwise provided for in its articles of incorporation.

Article 30-13(1)Each member of a Legal Professional Corporation who executes its practice shall represent such Legal Professional Corporation.

(2)The provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not preclude a Legal Professional Corporation from specifying certain members who are to execute its practice as its representatives, in accordance with its articles of incorporation or pursuant to the consent of all its members.

(3)A member who represents a Legal Professional Corporation shall have the authority to conduct all judicial and non-judicial activities regarding the practice of the Legal Professional Corporation.

(4)The Legal Profession Corporation may not duly assert the restrictions imposed on the authority set forth in the preceding paragraph against a third party acting in good faith.

Article 30-14(1)A Legal Professional Corporation may designate a member to be in charge of a specific case.

(2)If designation is made for a case pursuant to the preceding paragraph ("Designated Case"), only the designated member ("Designated Member") shall have the right and bear the obligation to perform the matters related to the Designated Case.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, only the Designated Member shall represent the Legal Professional Corporation with respect to the Designated Case.

(4)If a Legal Professional Corporation designates a case pursuant to paragraph (1), it shall give written notice to such effect to the client of the Designated Case.

(5)A client may request that the Legal Professional Corporation clarify, within a reasonable period of time as specified by the client, whether or not the Legal Professional Corporation will, pursuant to paragraph (1), designate a case it has been requested to undertake. In such an event, if the Legal Professional Corporation fails to give notice within such period as set forth in the preceding paragraph, it may not make such designation thereinafter; provided, however, that the Legal Professional Corporation shall not be precluded from making such designation with the consent of the client.

(6)If the Designated Member becomes unavailable before completion of the work undertaken for the Designated Case, the Legal Professional Corporation shall make a new designation. Failing such designation, the Legal Professional Corporation shall be deemed to have designated all of its members to handle the Designated Case.

(7)When a Legal Professional Corporation that has only one member is requested to undertake a case, the Legal Professional Corporation shall be deemed to have designated that member to handle the case.

Article 30-15(1)If a Legal Professional Corporation is unable to fully satisfy its obligations with its assets, each member shall be jointly and severally liable for such liabilities.

(2)If the results of a compulsory execution against a Legal Professional Corporation's assets are inadequate, the preceding paragraph shall also apply.

(3)The provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not apply if a member proves that the Legal Professional Corporation has sufficient resources and that a compulsory execution can be easily achieved.

(4)If a case has been designated pursuant to paragraph (1) of the preceding Article and notice has been given pursuant to paragraph (4) of said Article (including cases in which such designation shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to paragraph (6) or (7) of said Article), and the Legal Professional Corporation is unable to satisfy its obligations owed to the client with respect to the Designated Case with only its assets, then, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), the Designated Member (here and hereinafter in this Article, including all former Designated Members) shall be jointly and severally liable for such obligations; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a Designated Member who has resigned from the Legal Professional Corporation and proves that such obligations were incurred for reasons which occurred after his/her resignation.

(5)If, in the situation set forth in the preceding paragraph, the results of a compulsory execution against a Legal Professional Corporation's assets based on a client's claims with respect to a Designated Case are inadequate, the preceding paragraph shall also apply, except where a Designated Member proves that the Legal Professional Corporation has sufficient resources and that a compulsory execution can be easily achieved.

(6)If, in the situation set forth in paragraph (4), a member who is not a Designated Member has been involved in a Designated Case, whether before or after such a designation is made, he/she shall assume liability equal to that which the Designated Member assumed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, unless he/she is able to prove that he/she used due care when he/she involved in the case. The same shall also apply after he/she resigns from the Legal Professional Corporation.

(7)The provisions of Article 612 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the resignation of a member of a Legal Professional Corporation; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the obligations of a Legal Professional Corporation owed to a client with respect to a Designated Case as set forth in paragraph (4).

Article 30-16Any person whose conduct misleads others to believe that he/she is a member shall bear the same liability as a member with respect to any party who entered into a transaction with the Legal Professional Corporation as a result of being misled.

Article 30-17A Legal Professional Corporation shall assign to each of its law offices, on a permanent basis, a member who belongs to the bar association of the district in which the law office is located (here and hereinafter in this Article, if there are two or more bar associations in that district, the member must belong to the bar association to which the Legal Professional Corporation belongs); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to secondary offices if the bar association of the district in which such secondary law office is located decides not to require such an assignment after taking into consideration the distribution of attorneys in the vicinity of said secondary office and other factors.

Article 30-18A Legal Professional Corporation shall not undertake a case that falls under any of the following; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply in the case set forth in item (iii) below if the client of a case already undertaken by the Legal Professional Corporation consents.

Article 30-19(1)A member of a Legal Professional Corporation shall not become a member of another Legal Professional Corporation.

(2)No member of a Legal Professional Corporation shall, without the approval of the other members, perform any undertaking within the scope of the Legal Professional Corporation's practice for his/her own or a third party's benefit; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply when he/she handles matters entrusted by a government or a public agency pursuant to laws and regulations.

(3)If a member violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph and performs any undertaking within the scope of the Legal Professional Corporation's practice for his/her own or a third party's benefit, the amount of profit earned by that member or third party shall be presumed to be the amount of damages incurred by the Legal Professional Corporation.

Article 30-20(1)The Members, etc. of a Legal Professional Corporation shall not accept, demand, or promise to accept, any profit from the other party in connection with a case that the Legal Professional Corporation has undertaken.

(2)The Members, etc. of a Legal Professional Corporation shall not, in connection with any case that the Legal Professional Corporation has undertaken, cause the Legal Professional Corporation to accept, demand, or promise to accept any profit from the other party in connection with a case that the Legal Professional Corporation has undertaken.

Article 30-21The provisions of Article 20, paragraphs (1) and (2), Articles 21, 22, 23-2, 24, and 27 through 29 shall apply mutatis mutandis to Legal Professional Corporations.

Article 30-22A member of a Legal Professional Corporation shall resign from the Legal Professional Corporation for the following reasons:

Article 30-23(1)A Legal Professional Corporation shall be dissolved for any of the following reasons:

(2)If a Legal Professional Corporation is dissolved for any reason other than those set forth in items (iii) and (vi) of the preceding paragraph, it shall provide notification thereof to the bar association to which it belongs and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations within two weeks from the date of dissolution.

Article 30-24If and to the extent that a Legal Professional Corporation falls under item (vii) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article due to the death of a member, the liquidator may, with the consent of the heir to that member (or, if a person is appointed to exercise the rights of that member pursuant to Article 608, paragraph (5) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis in Article 675 of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis in Article 30-30, paragraph (2), then with the consent of such person), continue the Legal Professional Corporation by admitting a new member into the Legal Professional Corporation.

Article 30-25(1)The provisions of Article 824, Article 826, Article 868, paragraph (1), Article 870 (only with regard to item (xiii), the main text of Article 871, Article 872 (only with regard to item (iv)), the main text of Article 873, Article 875, Article 876, Article 904 and Article 937, paragraph (1) (only with regard to item (iii) (b)) of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the order to dissolve Legal Professional Corporations. The provisions of Article 825, Article 868, paragraph (1), Article 870 (only with regard to item (ii)), Article 871, Article 872 (only with regard to items (i) and (iv)), Article 873, Article 874 (only with regard to items (ii) and (iii)), Article 875, Article 876, Article 905 and Article 906 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the preservation of the Legal Professional Corporation's assets when a petition is made pursuant to Article 824, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis in this item. In such a case, "principal office (principal office and registered branch offices where matters listed in each item of Article 930, paragraph (2) are registered by the resolutions set forth in item (i) (g))" as used in Article 937, paragraph (1) shall be read as "principal office and secondary office."

(2)The provisions of Article 833, paragraph (2), Article 834 (only with regard to item (xxi), Article 835, paragraph (1), Article 837, Article 838, Article 846, Article 937, paragraph (1) (only regard to item (i) (i)) of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an action for dissolution of Legal Professional Corporations. In such case, "principal office (principal office and registered branch offices where matters listed in each item of Article 930, paragraph (2) are registered by the resolutions set forth in item (i) (g))" as used in Article 937, paragraph (1) shall be read as "principal office and secondary office."

(3)If the Minister of Justice intends to seek an order for dissolution under Article 824, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to the paragraph (1), the Minister shall first ask for the opinion of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 30-26(1)The liquidator of a Legal Professional Corporation shall be an attorney.

(2)Upon completion of liquidation, the liquidator shall, upon registration of the completion of liquidation, promptly give notification thereof to the bar association to which the Legal Professional Corporation belonged and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, together with a certified copy of the registration.

Article 30-27(1)A Legal Professional Corporation may merge with another Legal Professional Corporation with the consent of all members.

(2)A merger between Legal Professional Corporations shall take effect upon registration by the Legal Professional Corporation surviving the merger or newly created through the merger at the location of its principal law office.

(3)A Legal Professional Corporation that merges shall, within two weeks from the date of the merger, give notification thereof to the bar association to which it belongs and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, together with a certified copy of the register (and a copy of the articles of incorporation if a new Legal Professional Corporation is created through a merger).

(4)The Legal Professional Corporation surviving the merger or newly created through the merger shall succeed to all rights and obligations of the Legal Professional Corporation which is dissolved by the merger.

Article 30-28(1)A creditor of a Legal Profession Corporations that is merging may lodge an objection against the merger of the Legal Professional Corporation.

(2)Each Legal Profession Corporation that is merging shall give public notice in the Official Gazette (kanpou) and notify each known creditor individually of the following matters; provided, however that the period set forth in item (iii) below cannot be less than one month:

(3)Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, individual notifications will not be required if the Legal Professional Corporation to merge or to be merged, in accordance with its articles of incorporation, to which the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 939 of the Companies Act applies mutatis mutandis to paragraph (6) below, gives public notice in the manner set forth in items (ii) or (iii) of Article 939, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act, as well as in the Official Gazette (kanpou).

(4)A creditor shall be deemed to have approved the merger unless it objects to the merger within the period set forth in paragraph (2), item (iii).

(5)If a creditor objects within the period set forth in paragraph (2), item (iii), the Legal Professional Corporation to merge or to be merged shall repay the obligations to the creditor, provide sufficient security or entrust sufficient properties to a trust company (this refers to a trust company or a financial institution approved pursuant to Article 1, paragraph (1) of the Act on Concurrent Operation, etc. of Trust Business by Financial Institutions (Act No. 43 of 1943)) for the purpose of causing the creditor to accept repayment; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply if there is no likelihood that the merger will harm the creditor.

(6)The provisions of Article 939, paragraph (1) (only with regard to items (ii) and (iii)) and paragraph (3), Article 940, paragraph (1) (only with regard to item (iii)) and paragraph (3), Article 941, Article 946, Article 947, Article 951, paragraph (2), Article 953 and Article 955 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the public notice by a Legal Professional Corporation pursuant to the paragraph (2). In such case, "method of public notice" as used in Article 939, paragraphs (1) and (3) shall be read as "method of public notice of merger" and "trade name" as used in Article 946, paragraph (3) shall be read as "name."

Article 30-29The provisions of Article 828, paragraph (1) (only with regard to items (vii) and (viii)) and paragraph (2) (only with regard to items (vii) and (viii)), Article 834 (only with regard to items (vii) and (viii)), Article 835, paragraph (1), Article 836, paragraphs (2) and (3), Articles 837 through 839, Article 843 (excluding paragraph (1), items (iii) and (iv) and the proviso to paragraph (2)) and Article 846 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a petition to invalidate a merger of Legal Professional Corporation. The provisions of Article 868, paragraph (5), Article 870 (only with regard to item (xv)), the main text of Article 871, Article 872 (only with regard to item (iv)), the main text of Article 873, Article 875 and Article 876 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a petition set forth in Article 843, paragraph (4) of the Companies Act applied mutatis mutandis in this Article.

Article 30-30(1)The provisions of Article 50 of the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896) and Article 600, Articles 614 through 619, Article 621 and Article 622 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to Legal Professional Corporations. The provisions of Articles 55 of the Civil Code and Article 581, Article 582, Article 585, paragraphs (1) and (4), Article 586, Article 593, Article 595, Article 596, Article 601, Article 605, Article 606, Article 609, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 611 (excluding the proviso to paragraph (1)) and Article 613 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a member of Legal Professional Corporations. The provisions of Articles 859 through 862 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an expulsion of a member of a Legal Professional Corporation or an action for nullifying the authority to execute activities for, or to represent, the Legal Professional Corporation. In such cases, "trade name" as used in Article 613 shall be read as "name" and "Article 594, paragraph (1) (including a case of mutatis mutandis application in Article 598, paragraph (2))" as used in Article 859, item (ii) shall be read as "Attorney Act (Act No. 205 of 1949) Article 30-19, paragraph (1) or (2)."

(2)The provisions of Article 82 of the Civil Code and Article 35, paragraph (2), Article 40 of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedures Act (Act No. 14 of 1898), Companies Act Article 644 (excluding item (iii)), Articles 645 through 649, Article 650, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 651, paragraphs (1) and (2) (excluding portions relating to reference to Article 594), Article 652, Article 653, Articles 655 through 659, Articles 662 through 664, Articles 666 through 673, Article 675, Article 863, Article 864, Article 868, paragraph (1), Article 869, Article 870 (only with regard to items (ii) and (iii)), Article 871, Article 872 (only with regard to item (iv)), Article 874 (only with regard to items (i) and (iv)), Article 875 and Article 876 shall apply mutatis mutandis to dissolution and liquidation of Legal Professional Corporations. In such a case, "Article 641, item (v)" as used in Article 644, item (i) shall be read as "Attorney Act Article 30-23, paragraph (1), item (iii)" and "Article 641, item (iv) or (vii)" as used in Article 647, paragraph (3) shall be read as "Attorney Act Article 30-23, paragraph (1), items (v) through (vii)" and "Article 641, items (i) through (iii)" as used in Article 668, paragraph (1) and Article 669 shall be read as "Attorney Act Article 30-23, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii)" and "Article 939, paragraph (1)" as used in Article 670, paragraph (3) shall be read as "Article 939, paragraph (1) as referred to in Attorney Act Article 30-28, paragraph (6)" and "Article 580" as used in Article 673, paragraph (1) shall be read as "Attorney Act Article 30-15."

(3)The provisions of Article 828, paragraph (1) (only with regard to item (i)) and paragraph (2) (only with regard to item (i)), Article 834 (only with regard to item (i)), Article 835, paragraph (1), Articles 837 through 839 and Article 846 of the Companies Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a petition to invalidate the incorporation of a Legal Professional Corporation.

(4)A court overseeing the dissolution and liquidation of a Legal Professional Corporation may ask for the opinion of, or request an investigation by, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

(5)The Japan Federation of Bar Associations may state its opinion to the court referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(6)For the purposes of Article 16 of the Bankruptcy Act (Act No. 75 of 2004), a Legal Professional Corporation shall be deemed to be a general partnership company.

Article 31(1)The purpose of a bar association, in view of the mission and duties of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations, is to manage matters relating to the guidance, liaison, and supervision of its members in order to maintain their integrity and improve and advance their work.

(2)A bar association shall be a juridical person.

Article 32A bar association shall be established in the jurisdictional district of each district court.

Article 33(1)A bar association shall formulate its articles of association with the approval of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

(2)The following matters shall be stipulated in the articles of association of a bar association:

(3)Any amendment in the matters stipulated in the preceding paragraph shall be subject to the approval of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 34(1)A bar association shall be formed upon the registration in its location of its establishment.

(2)The following matters shall be included in the registration of establishment of a bar association:

(3)If a bar association is dissolved, it shall register its dissolution within two weeks.

(4)If there are any changes to the matters specified in paragraph (2) of this Article, such changes shall be registered within two weeks.

(5)Matters that must be registered by a bar association cannot be duly asserted against a third party until after such matters have been registered.

(6)Any matter concerning the registration procedures of a bar association that is not prescribed in this Act, shall be stipulated by Cabinet Order.

Article 35(1)The representative of a bar association shall be its president.

(2)If the president is unable to perform his/her duties or the position is vacant, the vice-president shall perform the duties of the president as provided in this Act and in the articles of association of the bar association.

(3)In the application of criminal penalties pursuant to the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907) or other laws, the president and vice-presidents shall be deemed to be officials engaging in public duties pursuant to the provisions of laws and regulations,.

Article 36(1)A person who is registered or whose registration has been transferred on the roll of attorneys shall, as a matter of course, become a member of the bar association to which he/she intends to be admitted, and by changing his/her registration, he/she shall thereby resign from his/her former bar association.

(2)A person whose registration has been rescinded upon a request as set forth in Article 11 shall as a matter of course resign from the bar association to which he/she belongs.

Article 36-2(1)A Legal Professional Corporation shall, upon its establishment, become a member of the bar association of the district in which its principal law office is located (if there are two or more bar associations in that district, the one that is specified in the Legal Professional Corporation's articles of incorporation).

(2)A Legal Professional Corporation that establishes a new law office or relocates its existing law office outside the district of the bar association to which it belongs shall, upon registration thereof at the location of such new or relocated law office, become a member of the bar association of the district in which such law office is located (if there are two or more bar associations in that district, then the one that is specified in its articles of incorporation).

(3)A Legal Professional Corporation that no longer has a law office in the district of the bar association to which it belongs due to relocation or closing shall, upon registration of relocation or closing of the former location of that office, withdraw from the association.

(4)A Legal Professional Corporation may transfer its bar association to which he/she belongs by modifying its articles of incorporation accordingly, provided that there are two or more bar associations in the district in which its law office is located.

(5)A Legal Professional Corporation may not belong to more than one bar associations in the same district.

(6)A Legal Professional Corporation that is admitted to a member of a new bar association pursuant to paragraph (2) or (4) shall, within two weeks from the date of admission, give notification thereof to said bar association and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, together with a certified copy of the register and a copy of its articles of incorporation.

(7)Any Legal Professional Corporation that withdraws from a bar association pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) shall, within two weeks from the date of such withdrawal, give notification thereof to said bar association and to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 37(1)A bar association shall hold an ordinary general meeting every year.

(2)A bar association may convene an extraordinary general meeting when it deems necessary.

Article 38A bar association shall report to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations on resolutions adopted at its general meeting, on its officers' taking office and on their retirement.

Article 39Any amendment of its articles of association, budgets and settlement of accounts shall be approved by a resolution adopted at its general meeting.

Article 40If a resolution adopted at the general meeting of a bar association adversely affects the public interest, violates the provisions of any laws or regulations or the articles of association of the bar association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the latter may rescind such resolution.

Article 41A bar association may, upon request of an attorney, a Legal Professional Corporation, the party in question, or other concerned parties, mediate any dispute regarding the duties of an attorney or the activities of a Legal Professional Corporation.

Article 42(1)A bar association shall reply to inquiries and requests for consultation from the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

(2)A bar association may make its proposals or reply to a request for consultation, to government or public agencies regarding the professional affairs of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations, and other judicial affairs.

Article 43(1)If the jurisdictional district of a district court is changed and consequently it becomes necessary for a bar association within such district to merge or dissolve, said bar association shall merge or dissolve by means of a resolution adopted at its general meeting.

(2)The bar association surviving the merger or newly created through the merger shall succeed to all rights and obligations of the bar association which is extinguished by the merger.

(3)The provisions of Article 30-28 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a merger of bar associations. In such case, "articles of incorporation" as used in paragraph (3) shall be read as "articles of association" and "Article 939, paragraphs (1) and (3)" as used in paragraph (6) shall be read as ""articles of incorporation" as used in Article 939, paragraph (1) shall be read as "articles of association" and the same paragraph and paragraph (3) of the same Article."

(4)The provisions of Articles 73 through 76, 78 through 80, and 82 of the Civil Code and Article 27 of the Act for Enforcement of the Civil Code (Act No. 11 of 1898) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the dissolution of bar associations.

(5)Where there is a merger of bar associations, attorneys who were members of the bar association which was dissolved on account of said merger shall automatically become members of the bar association which survives the merger or is newly established as a result of the merger.

(6)The provisions of Article 10, paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis in the case specified in the preceding paragraph.

Article 43-2Chapters II and III of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993) shall not apply to an action taken by a bar association pursuant to this Act.

Article 44Bar associations situated in an area within the jurisdictional district of the same high court may, in order to jointly perform certain matters, formulate rules and establish a federation of bar associations with the approval of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 45(1)All bar associations in Japan shall together establish the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

(2)The purpose of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be, in view of the mission and duties of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations, to manage matters relating to the guidance, liaison, and supervision of attorneys, Legal Professional Corporations, and bar associations, in order to maintain the dignity and improve and advance the work of attorneys and Legal Professional Corporations.

(3)The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be a juridical person.

Article 46(1)The Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall formulate its articles of association.

(2)The following matters shall be stipulated in the articles of association of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 47Attorneys, Legal Professional Corporations, and bar associations shall as a matter of course become members of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 48The Japan Federation of Bar Associations may request that government and public agencies investigate necessary matters relating to its functions concerning the guidance, liaison, and supervision of attorneys, Legal Professional Corporations, and bar associations.

Article 49The Supreme Court may, if it deems necessary, demand that the Japan Federation of Bar Associations report on its affairs, or request that it investigate matters regarding attorneys, Legal Professional Corporations, or bar associations.

Article 49-2Chapters II and III of the Administrative Procedure Act shall not apply to an action taken by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations pursuant to this Act.

Article 49-3No complaint under the Administrative Appeal Act can be filed against the dispositions made by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in accordance with this Act.

Article 50The provisions of Article 34, 35, 37, 39 and Article 42, paragraph (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Article 51(1)Each bar association and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall respectively establish a Qualifications Screening Board.

(2)A Qualifications Screening Board shall, upon request by the bar association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in which it is established, conduct necessary examinations regarding requests for registration or transfer and rescission thereof.

Article 52(1)A Qualifications Screening Board shall be composed of a president and several board members.

(2)The president of the bar association or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in which a Qualifications Screening Board is established shall become the ex-officio president of said Board.

(3)The president of the Qualifications Screening Board shall appoint board members from among attorneys, judges, public prosecutors and academic experts; provided, however, that appointment of board members who are judges or prosecutors to the Qualifications Screening Board of a bar association shall be based upon the recommendations respectively of the High Court, the District Court, the superintendent public prosecutor of the High Public Prosecutors Office, or the chief public prosecutor of the District Public Prosecutors Office, located within the same jurisdiction, and the other members shall be appointed based on a resolution adopted at a general meeting of the bar association. The appointment of members who are judges or prosecutors to the Qualifications Screening Board of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be based on the recommendations of the Supreme Court or the Prosecutor-General, and the other members shall be appointed based on a resolution adopted at a general meeting of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

(4)The term of office of board members shall be two years; provided, however, that the term of office of substituting board member shall be the remaining term of office of the member they replace.

Article 53(1)Each Qualifications Screening Board shall have several reserve members.

(2)The provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to reserve members.

(3)If a board member is unable to perform his/her duties or there is a vacancy, the president shall appoint a person to act in place of such member or fill the vacancy from among such reserve members having the same qualifications.

Article 54(1)The president shall supervise all affairs of the Board.

(2)In the application of criminal punishments stipulated pursuant to the Penal Code or other laws, the president, board members and reserve board members shall be deemed to be officials engaging in public duties pursuant to the provisions of laws and regulations.

Article 55(1)The Qualifications Screening Board may, when necessary for screening, request the party in question, concerned parties, government and public agencies or others to submit statements, explanations or information.

(2)If the Qualifications Screening Board makes a resolution refusing a request for registration, a request for transfer of registration or the transmittal thereof, or approves a request for rescission of registration as specified in Article 13, it shall provide notice of that fact to the party in question and give him/her an opportunity to submit statements and information.

Article 72No person other than an attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation may, for the purpose of obtaining compensation, engage in the business of providing legal advice or representation, handling arbitration matters, aiding in conciliation, or providing other legal services in connection with any lawsuits, non-contentious cases, or objections, requesting for re-examination, appeals and other petitions against administrative agencies, etc., or other general legal services, or acting as an intermediary in such matters; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply if otherwise specified in this Act or other laws.

Article 73No person shall engage in the business of obtaining the rights of others by assignment and enforcing such rights through lawsuits, mediation, conciliation or any other method.

Article 74(1)No person who is not an attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation shall use for itself the indication or description of "attorney" or "law office."

(2)No person who is not an attorney or a Legal Professional Corporation shall, for profit, use a designation or reference indicating that he/she or it handles legal consultations or provides other legal services.

(3)No person who is not a Legal Professional Corporation shall use "legal professional corporation" or any other similar name in its name.

Article 75(1)A person without the required qualifications to be an attorney who has his/her name registered in the roll of attorneys by filing a false statement with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations shall be punished with a term of imprisonment with work of up to two years or by a fine of up to one million yen.

(2)The preceding paragraph shall also apply to a person who obtained from the Minister of Justice the Certification set forth in Article 5 by making a false statement on an application made pursuant to the provisions of Article 5-2, paragraph (1), regarding the period of having assumed a position set forth in Article 5, item (i) or (iii), the period of having discharged the duties set forth in item (ii) of said Article, the details regarding the duties of said item, or any other material matters.

(3)Any attempt to commit the crimes specified in the preceding two paragraphs shall be punishable.

Article 76Any person who violates the provisions of Article 26 or Article 30-20 shall be punished with imprisonment at labor at a term of up to three years.

Article 77A person who falls under any of the following items shall be punished with imprisonment at labor at a term of up to of two years or a fine of up to three million yen:

Article 77-2Any person who violates the provisions of Article 74 shall be punished by a fine of up to one million yen.

Article 77-3Any person who, in violation of the provisions of Article 955, paragraph (1) of the Companies Act as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 30-28, paragraph (6) (including cases of mutatis mutandis application in Article 43, paragraph (3)), does not make entry of or record those matters stipulated by Ministry of Justice ordinance regarding the electronic public notice investigations prescribed in the same paragraph in the investigation record books, etc., prescribed in the same paragraph, or who makes a false entry or recording, or who does not retain such investigation record books, etc., shall be punished by a fine of up to three hundred thousand yen.

Article 78(1)If Members, etc. of a Legal Professional Corporation violate the following provisions in connection with the legal practice of said corporation, such member shall be punished, and in addition, said Legal Professional Corporation shall be punished by the imposition of a fine as set forth below:

(2)If a representative of a juridical person or the agent, employee, or other worker of a juridical or natural person violates the provisions of Article 77, item (iii) or (iv), Article 77-2 or the preceding Article in connection with the business of said juridical or natural person, such persons in violation shall be punished, and in addition said juridical or natural person shall be punished by the imposition of a fine as stipulated in this article.

Article 79Any person who falls under any of the following items shall be punished by an administrative fine of up to one million yen:

Article 79-2A member or a liquidator of a Legal Professional Corporation who falls under any of the following items shall be punished by an administrative fine of up to three hundred thousand yen: