Sorimachi
The new law school concept has taken off. Tohoku University is
deliberating the merits of a six-year curriculum. What type of curriculum
should the new graduate programs have in order to realize the reforms
demanded?
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Tezuka
Six years ago, the two-year general education program was dropped from
the four-year program, supposedly to concentrate on more specific or
professional training for all four years. However, the teaching team
remained unchanged. I would not criticize the staff for keeping their jobs,
but they did not meet the newly required standards. Our advocacy of a new
law school concept requires a full four years of training with carefully
designed practical courses offered from the first year.
Even English courses must meet these new criteria. We have no objection to
teaching Shakespeare as a matter of general culture, but those who are
going to practice law and economics need to be able to use computer language
and the Internet where English competency is required. Economists also need
this, definitely.
Sorimachi
In the law establishing new professional graduate schools, it is
stipulated that the number of faculty members be twice the standard number
in graduate schools, with a sufficient number of the faculty having
practical professional experience to meet the standards set for training
professionals. What teaching structure for new law school faculty members
do you envision?
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Tezuka
We must teach both theory and practice and that ineluctably demands
participation by practitioners as members of the teaching staffs and that,
in turn, necessitates doubling the faculty. We expect the collaboration
of international law firms, the courts and the Justice Ministry in providing
capable individuals to contribute to graduate school education in their
respective fields.
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