Free/Low Cost Legal Advice

The Tokyo Bar Association offers free or low-cost legal advice in English (as well as in Japanese).

The consultations can cover subjects such as Japanese visas, citizenship, international marriage or divorce, business, labor disputes and other civil and criminal topics.

Note that the U.S. government assumes no responsibility for the ability or integrity of the attorneys and/or the advice you receive. This information is provided simply as an option for legal advice that you may wish to evaluate.

Costs

The Bar Association charges Y5000 for up to 30 minutes of consultation. After 30 minutes, the fee is an additional Y2500 for each 15 minute block of time.

Free consulations are available only on Thursdays to those who can show proof of financial need.

Scheduling

Registration for a consultation is available on a first-come, first-served basis from 9:30 until 3 pm. Advance reservations can be made only in Japanese, by calling 03-3581-1511.

The consultations themselves are offered on a fee-basis Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday between 1pm and 4pm.

Free consultations are offered only on Thursdays (you will need proof of financial need).

Location

The Legal Consuling Center is located at the The Bar Association Building, 1F, 1-1-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Telephone inquiries in Japanese only at 03-3581-1511.

Follow this link for a map to the Center.

The nearest subway station is Kasumigaseki.

If you use the Marunounchi Line, take Exit B-1-B (1 minute walk)

For the Hibiya Line, use Exit A-1 (2 minutes).

For the Chiyoda Line, use Exit C-1 (3 minutes).

Other Options

A list of attorneys who speak English, broken down by location and speciciality, is available here.

Additional resources, including online sources of advice and organizations that may be able to assist with work-related or visa matters, is available elsewhere on this site.

Follow this link for more general information from the Tokyo Bar Association.

For more information, including our phone and FAX number, please contact the office serving your part of Japan.

The U.S. Embassy and our Consulates are closed on both U.S. and Japanese holidays.

This is an official source of U.S. Government information on the Web. Inclusion of Non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents.


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