About the JFBA

 
(As of January 1, 2010)
1. Formal name  
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations
(Nihon Bengoshi Rengokai)

2. Date of establishment
September 1, 1949

3. Objective
As a source of protection of fundamental human rights and of realization of social justice (Article 2, Articles of Association) to maintain the roll of attorneys (Article 8, Practicing Attorney Law, the "Law"), and in view of the purpose and duties of attorneys, to govern matters relating to the guidance, liaison and supervision of all attorneys and bar associations in order to maintain their dignity and improve and advance the work of attorneys. (Article 45, Paragraph 2 of the Law)

4. Address
1 - 3 Kasumigaseki 1 - chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0013, Japan
Tel : 03(3580)9841 Fax : 03(3580)2866

5. Categories of membership and their number
Local Bar Associations 52  
Member Attorneys 28,812 (incl. 4,663 female members-16.18%)
Quasi-members 1 (incl. 1 Quasi-members in Okinawa)
Special Members in Okinawa 11  
Gaikokuho-jimu-bengoshi 325  
Legal Profession Corporation 395  
(1) In accordance with Article 47 of the Law, practicing attorneys and bar associations shall automatically become members of the JFBA.
(2) A bar association shall be established in the district of jurisdiction of each district court (Article 32 of the Law). However, there are three bar associations in Tokyo as exception (Article 89, paragraph 1 of the Law).
(3) An attorney becomes a member of the JFBA at the same time with registrating at the local bar association.

6. Organization
(1) Legislative Body
General Meeting (consists of all members, held annually)
House of Delegates (consists of 649 delegates appointed by the local bar associations, held annually)
Board of Governors (consists of the President and 13 Vice Presidents and 71 Governors, held monthly)
Board of Executive Governors (consists of President, Vice Presidents, and Executive Governors elected from among the Governors, held monthly)
(2) Executive Body-Officers
1 President (elected by all members directly, 2-year term)
13 Vice Presidents (elected by House of Delegates, 1-year term)
71 Governors (elected by House of Delegates, 1-year term)
Executive Governors (elected from among the Governors, 1-year term)
(3) Auditing body
5 Auditors (elected by House of Delegates, 1-year term)

*Committees and their number
(1) Committees established by Practicing Attorney Law (4)
Qualifications Screening Board (Article 51)
Disciplinary Actions Committee (Article 65)
Discipline Maintenance Committee (Article 70)
Complainants' Grievance Panel (Article 71)
(2) Committees established by Special Measures Law concerning the Handling of Legal Business by Foreign Lawyers (3)
The Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi Registration Screening Board (Article 38)
The Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi Disciplinary Actions Committee (Article 56)
The Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi Discipline Maintenance Committee (Article 58)
(3) Standing Committees established by the Article of Association of the JFBA (5)
(4) Special Committees established by resolution of Board of Governors (approx. 74)

*Secretariat
Secretary General 1 (an attorney)
Deputy Secretary Generals 6 (5 attorneys and an officer)
Administrative Staff 151  
Staff Attorneys 65  

7. Financial Basis of the Federation
To persist in the principle of autonomy by attorneys, the Federation meets its expenses by revenue obtained mostly from membership dues without subsidy from the state.

(1) Membership dues 14,000 per month
  Special membership dues 3,100 per month (Fund for Juvenile and Criminal Cases)  
    1,400 per month (Fund for Correcting Local Shortages of Attorneys)  
(2) Total budget for 2009 4,534,357,200yen

8. Major Regular Meetings
*General Meeting - held every May to deliberate the resolution of budgets and the approval of financial statements, revision of the Articles of Association and approval of basic annual policies. It also bestows official recognition on those members who have practised law for more than fifty years.

*Conventions on Protection of Human Rights - held every October to promote research and study on human rights and to discuss a diverse range of subjects.

*Judicial Symposium - held biennially to further develop democratic values within the judicial system and to conduct research on various problems related to the judicial system.

*Symposium on Legal Practice Reform - held biennially to study and research the expansion and development of new legal practice areas.

9. Periodical publications
"Jiyu to Seigi" (Liberty & Justice) [Monthly]
"Nichibenren Shimbun" (The Federation's Newsletter) [Monthly]
"Nichibenren News" (Fax News) [As required]

10. Federation of Bar Associations (Bengoshikai Rengokai)
Local Bar Associations in a district of jurisdiction of each high court established 8 Federations of Bar Associations in all to cope with specific issues together.

11. Affiliated organizations
JFBA Traffic Accident Consultation Center
Japan Attorneys National Pension Fund
Japan Law Foundation
Japan Intellectual Property Arbitration Center