January 21, 2016
More than half of Japanese Dietmembers (362) have expressed their support for the reinstatement of the grant program for legal apprentices, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) announced at a press conference on January 20.
At present, many legal trainees who passed the national bar examination are covering their living expenses during the 13-month training period by using the government loan program because they are prohibited from having part-time jobs. This loan program began in November 2011 in replacement of the scholarship program providing a stipend to legal trainees to be applied to their living costs.
At the press conference, JFBA Vice President Matsuba Tomoyuki pointed out, “After the loan program started, the number of people aspiring to become legal professionals has decreased due to heavy financial burdens, and the number of people who passed the exam but gave up receiving legal training has increased.” Matsuba said that encouraged by support from the majority of lawmakers in both Houses of the Diet, his organization will work hard to achieve the reinstatement of the grant program.
At the press conference, groups of young lawyers and citizens working to bring back the grant system to legal apprentices were in attendance.
Lawyer Hattori Saki who completed the training in December 2015 said, “When I passed the national bar exam, I was burdened with a seven million yen debt. During the legal training period, the amount of my debt increased to 10 million yen. I really want the government to restore the grant program.”
All Japanese Communist Party parliamentarians endorsed the JFBA’s demand to reinstate the grant to legal apprentices.
Past related articles:
> JCP Dietmembers join legal trainees’ petition for reinstatement of scholarship program [October 15, 2014]
> Legal trainees call for reinstatement of scholarship program [January 31, 2013]
> Japan bar association in rally demands continuation of scholarship program for legal trainees [January 31, 2013]
At present, many legal trainees who passed the national bar examination are covering their living expenses during the 13-month training period by using the government loan program because they are prohibited from having part-time jobs. This loan program began in November 2011 in replacement of the scholarship program providing a stipend to legal trainees to be applied to their living costs.
At the press conference, JFBA Vice President Matsuba Tomoyuki pointed out, “After the loan program started, the number of people aspiring to become legal professionals has decreased due to heavy financial burdens, and the number of people who passed the exam but gave up receiving legal training has increased.” Matsuba said that encouraged by support from the majority of lawmakers in both Houses of the Diet, his organization will work hard to achieve the reinstatement of the grant program.
At the press conference, groups of young lawyers and citizens working to bring back the grant system to legal apprentices were in attendance.
Lawyer Hattori Saki who completed the training in December 2015 said, “When I passed the national bar exam, I was burdened with a seven million yen debt. During the legal training period, the amount of my debt increased to 10 million yen. I really want the government to restore the grant program.”
All Japanese Communist Party parliamentarians endorsed the JFBA’s demand to reinstate the grant to legal apprentices.
Past related articles:
> JCP Dietmembers join legal trainees’ petition for reinstatement of scholarship program [October 15, 2014]
> Legal trainees call for reinstatement of scholarship program [January 31, 2013]
> Japan bar association in rally demands continuation of scholarship program for legal trainees [January 31, 2013]
