Scholarship program for legal apprentices continues another year

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Scholarship program for legal apprentices continues another year

Living expenses for legal apprentices who pass the national bar examination will likely be provided by the government as it always has been.

Pressed by an upsurge in public demand, the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the Komei Party on November 18 at a meeting of secretaries general agreed to postpone the government's plan to abolish the scholarship program. However, the postponement will last only one year and be taken over by a loan program, according to their agreement.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Inoue Satoshi issued the following comment on the continuation of the scholarship program for legal apprentices:

"This agreement is a result of public demand and the movement of young students who are aspiring to become legal professionals and socially responsible citizens. They argued that, ‘only the rich will be able to become judicial servants' and ‘we want a judiciary that will protect civil rights.' Their determination has moved politics.

The JCP opposed the government decision to abolish the grant six years ago on the grounds that the ‘beneficiaries-pay principle' should not be introduced in nurturing legal professionals who will play a public role. Today, many of those who want to become legal professionals have to borrow money to go on to postgraduate law school. There is a broad concern that only the rich can become judicial servants although graduates with varied class backgrounds should be accepted into the judiciary. Those who have expressed such concern called for the continuation of the scholarship program and expanded their movement. The JCP worked together with the people concerned.

If this agreement is materialized, the scholarship program will be maintained for one more year. We will make continuous efforts to maintain the program indefinitely."

Legal apprentices have received about a 200,000 yen monthly stipend in order to cover their living expenses. During the training period, they are prohibited from having part-time jobs. However, the government revised the law in 2004, in order to abolish the grant to legal apprentices in November 2010 and introduce a loan program instead. Under the new loan program, the Supreme Court lends a maximum of 280,000 yen a month to legal trainees who have financial difficulties. Borrowers are required to pay back the loan within 10 years after starting their judicial careers.

-Akahata, November 19, 2010