Bar Association - Bengo Shikai

Considering the mission and duties of lawyers, in order to maintain their dignity and to improve and advance the work of lawyers, it is a corporation that is established in principle for each district court's jurisdiction (Articles 31, 32, and 89 of the Lawyers Act). A person who is registered in the list of lawyers automatically becomes a member of the bar association to which he or she is joining, and when he or she is re-registered, he or she will leave the bar association to which he or she belongs (Article 36 of the Lawyers Act). The law office must be established within the district of the bar association to which the lawyer belongs (Article 20 of the Lawyers Act). In addition, a bar association may mediate disputes concerning the work of a lawyer at the request of the lawyer, the parties involved, or other related parties (Article 41 of the Lawyers Act), and also has the authority to discipline lawyers affiliated with it (Article 56 of the Lawyers Act). In addition, bar associations within the jurisdiction of the same high court may establish a federation of bar associations to jointly carry out specific matters, by establishing rules and receiving the approval of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (Article 44 of the Lawyers Act). The Japan Federation of Bar Associations is a corporation whose members are lawyers and bar associations (Articles 45 and 47 of the same Act).

In addition, with the enforcement of the "Law on Special Measures Concerning the Handling of Legal Affairs by Foreign Lawyers" (Law No. 66 of 1986), foreign legal consultants are now regulated in the same way as Japanese lawyers, and are required to join local bar associations and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and to be subject to their guidance and supervision.

[Takeyoshi Uchida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

弁護士の使命および職務にかんがみ、その品位を保持し、弁護士事務の改善進歩を図るため、弁護士の指導、連絡および監督に関する事務を行うことを目的とする法人で、原則として地方裁判所の管轄区域ごとに設立される（弁護士法31条・32条・89条）。弁護士名簿に登録された者は当然に入会しようとする弁護士会の会員となり、登録替えを受けた場合には、これによって旧所属弁護士会を退会する（同法36条）。その法律事務所は、その弁護士の所属弁護士会の地域内に設けなければならない（同法20条）。また、弁護士会は、弁護士の職務に関する紛議につき、弁護士または当事者その他関係人の請求により調停をすることができる（同法41条）し、所属弁護士の懲戒を行う権限をも有する（同法56条）。また、同じ高等裁判所の管轄区域内の弁護士会は、共同して特定の事項を行うため、規約を定め、日本弁護士連合会の承認を受けて、弁護士会連合会を設けることができる（同法44条）。なお、日本弁護士連合会は、弁護士および弁護士会を会員とする法人である（同法45条・47条）。

　なお、「外国弁護士による法律事務の取扱いに関する特別措置法」（昭和61年法律66号）の施行に伴い、外国法事務弁護士は、わが国の弁護士に準じて規律されることになり、各地の弁護士会および日本弁護士連合会に入会し、その指導・監督に服することとなった。

［内田武吉］

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