Find the keys to resolving the many problems
of our modern world.
Learn to Apply Computer Technology and Law to
Cutting-Edge Fields in the Program in Current Legal Studies
That’s the concept behind the Program in Current Legal Studies. We cultivate practical problem-solving abilities applicable to legal issues facing a wide range of fields and the ability to gather and process information in our rapidly-changing modern world.
Traditionally, jurisprudence focuses on the study of the Constitution, civil law, penal codes, and other areas of fundamental law. The importance of these fundamental laws is not to be downplayed, but the fact is that society does not actually operate with these fundamental laws alone. Rather, laws with which we confront the real world are the numerous laws newly created for particular situations. However, in the study of traditional jurisprudence, most curricula conclude a 4-year study of fundamental law, and there are many that do not get to the study of the most recent laws, which are often utilized in the real world.
Thus, in this program, we construct a curriculum that focuses on the study of law that our graduates apply to cutting-edge fields facing the real world.
Jurisprudence Courses for Cutting-Edge Fields
Courses in Current Legal Studies
Study a wide range of laws to protect consumers in vulnerable situations.
Graduates are mainly active on behalf of consumers. Relationships between consumers and businesses are agreements in terms of the law. The fundamental regulations relating to agreements are established by “civil law” and the basic principle of civil law is fairness to all parties. From a civil law standpoint, all parties to an agreement are equal citizens, and the law must treat all citizens fairly. Therefore, even when disputes arise between the interested parties over an agreement, civil law cannot favor either side. However, in real-world transactions, consumers and businesses are by no means on equal footing. Businesses are professionals in their fields, with strengths and weaknesses in their goods and services and knowledge of the details of the agreements involved. In contrast, consumers are laypeople in almost all cases. If the law treated both parties fairly, the consumer would be at a disadvantage in most cases. Thus, a wide array of laws has been created in order to protect consumers, many of whom are vulnerable in real-world transactions, from unfair transactions. This is an area of laws called consumer laws.
This legal knowledge is not only useful in protecting one’s interests as a consumer, but is also useful in dealing with consumers as clients in real-world business activities and in protecting citizen-consumers from a government administration standpoint.
Courses in Environmental Law
Study social and international regulations for protecting the global environment.
People from all walks of life are now demanding environmental protections. All human activities put some sort of burden on the natural environment. Nature possesses the ability to recover from a certain degree of this burden, but if this burden goes beyond nature’s ability to recover, it will cause irrecoverable environmental destruction, and this damage will be passed down to future generations. Government, industry, and citizens have worked on a variety of laws to protect the environment from their respective standpoints. In addition, the cooperation of all nations through treaties and international accords has been essential in order to deal with environmental problems, which have reached a global scale in recent years. The study of foreign and domestic legal systems for this type of environmental protection is an area of environmental law. In addition, it is vital to possess a scientific understanding of the mechanisms of the natural environment in order to conceive of a legal system to protect the environment. Effective policies cannot be fashioned without an accurate understanding of what kind of materials we emit, through what processes, and what impact they exert on the natural environment. This program therefore offers “Environmental Science,” which teaches students about the scientific mechanisms of the impact of human activity, as well as the mechanisms of the natural environment.
Courses in Corporate Law
Students study a wide range of laws, international treaties, and international laws which establish the regulations of corporate activities which support the economy.
Numerous graduates go into industry and play a part in their economic activities. Corporate activities play an important role in supporting Japan’s economy, and appropriate regulations are vital in order to ensure the fairness of these activities. If businesses act in deviation from these regulations, this could take a serious toll on innumerable employees, shareholders, clients, and consumers. Conversely, if corporate activities are regulated too strictly, our economic health, which supports our way of life, is compromised. Regulation of corporate activities is expected to play a role in corporate economic activities. In addition, international business occupies a large portion of the activities of modern businesses. In order to conduct international business seamlessly, it is vital to possess a basic understanding of international business regulations and the laws of the client’s country. Regulations, both foreign and domestic, created to ensure both fair and active business activities in the present era are called corporate law.
Courses in the Fundamentals of Law
Opening the way to Law School (for those with prior experience in the study of law).
In order to study the cutting-edge fields of law, a general understanding of the fundamentals of law, such as constitutions, civil law, and penal codes, is essential. Along with a curriculum replete with courses of these fundamentals of the law, the systematic study of traditional jurisprudence is fulfilled through a recognition of most introductory law classes as a course of study in this program. Through this, it is possible to gain future employment as a legal professional, such as a judge, attorney, or public prosecutor by entering law school as having prior experience in the study of law. The legal knowledge in cutting-edge fields obtained in this course of study will be extremely helpful in the work involved when working as a legal specialist.
Applications of Computer Network Technology
Internet technology is utilized in order to study the most recent laws. Rapid changes and developments characterize laws in these cutting edge-fields.
Statute books and reference books written last year may be already be too out of date to use in the study of the most recent developments. Thus, internet technology is utilized in order to study the cutting edge of legal matters. We can study newly-created laws, rulings just handed down by the previous day’s courts, legislative bills under deliberation in the Diet, and the latest subjects under negotiation in international conferences, using internet technology without going anywhere. These skills are also indispensable for finding essential information on the internet. In addition, there is a great deal of information on the net, mixed in with lies and false information. We must be able to recognize true and beneficial information in this deluge. Thus, we study concrete methods of effective utilization of information obtained from the internet in our studies in this course.
With a wealth of related materials,
we help students obtain their credential.
Obtaining a credential is the best way for students to demonstrate to society the practical knowledge and computer skills they have learned in our department. Our department works with other departments at Meiji Gakuin University to assist students in obtaining a credential.
Preparatory Course for Obtaining a Credential, Offered by the Office in Charge of Preparing Students for the National Exam
Basic Course (for freshmen and sophomores)
This course covers the basics of constitutional law, civil law (civil provisions, real estate theory, general debt theory, mortgages, particulars regarding debt, family inheritance), and criminal law. All of these are important subjects for the main civil service exams and certification exams. They are useful in laying a foundation for anyone who aspires to obtain any credential. Introducing questions from past civil service exams, classes are conducted with a focus on preparing for exams, which differs from the regular curriculum offered by the Faculty of Law.
Exam Prep Courses (for civil service exam, or exam for students already in law school)
This is an advanced course for students who have completed studying the basics of constitutional law, civil law and administrative law. In addition to workshops, practical instruction is provided using questions from level-2 law exams for the purpose of testing students who hope to get accepted to law school, through means for testing students already in law school.
Civil Service Courses
Courses are offered in general education, numerical processing, accounting, and economics, for students taking the civil service exam. Students in the output course receive practical instruction using questions in different subjects from past exams.
Prep Courses to Prepare Students for Exams for Various Credentials
These courses, which may be taken while students are enrolled at the university, are geared for a variety of purposes, including corporate job-hunting and obtaining popular credentials to enable a person to set up his or her own practice.
Courses offered in 2004 included a judicial scrivener course, an administrative scrivener course, a real estate and building course, and a certified social insurance labor consultant course.
Science-related Credentials
Following are other credentials related to the curriculum in our department:
Consumer Law-related Credentials
Consumer Affairs Advisory Specialist
The exam for this credential is conducted by the National Consumer Information Center, an independent administrative agency sanctioned by the prime minister. It certifies that the credential holder has the knowledge and skills required of a special advisor of the National Consumer Information Center or other consumer affairs advisory centers in local areas.
Consumer Affairs Advisor
The exam for this credential is conducted by the Japan Industrial Association, an incorporated foundation. This credential certifies that the holder is capable of serving in a liaison capacity to reflect the mood of consumers to corporate management, as well as to provide pertinent advice to consumers. This credential is mainly required of people at corporations who are involved in consumer services or who work in an advisory capacity.
Corporate Practice Law-related Credentials
Law-related Tests in Practical Business
These tests are conducted by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They certify that a person has the legal knowledge required for actual business. The tests range from levels 1 to 3, depending on a person’s level.
Environmental Law-related Credentials
Biotop Management
These tests are conducted by the Ecosystem Conservation Society – Japan, an incorporated foundation. They certify that a person has the knowledge and skills required to efficiently promote business to conserve ecosystems in nature. These tests are divided into two categories – planning and concrete practice – with levels 1 and 2 for each category.
Information Processing-related Credentials
Basic System Administrator
These national credentials are sanctioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. They certify that the holder possesses certain knowledge and skills in information technology required of a networker, and that he or she is capable of intra-corporate networking and computerization of business activities.
Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) Exam
This exam, conducted by Microsoft Corporation, is to certify that a person has the skills required to operate the software that comes with the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Although it is not an official government qualification, since Microsoft products are widely used by corporations it is helpful in demonstrating one’s business skills which require the use of a personal computer.
|
