THE SPECIAL MEASURES LAW CONCERNING
THE HANDLING OF LEGAL BUSINESS BY FOREIGN LAWYERS
(The Foreign Lawyers Law)

Chapter III. Qualification to Become a Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi

Section 2. Designation of the Law of a Specified Foreign Country.

(Designation)

Article 16.

1. In cases where a person who has obtained the approval comes under one of the following items, the Minister of Justice may designate the law of a specified foreign country for him or her:
   • (1) when such person is qualified to become a foreign lawyer of the specified foreign country.
   • (2) when such person has the same level of learning concerning the law of a specified foreign country as a person who is qualified to become a foreign lawyer of that country and has five or more years of practice experience in regard to the handling of legal business concerning such law.
2. The provisions of Paragraph 4 of Article 10 and Article 11 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the designation provided for in the preceding paragraph.

(Application for designation)

Article 17.

1. In cases where a person who has obtained the approval wants the designation under Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as "designation") to be made for him or her, he or she shall submit a written application for designation to the Minister of Justice.
2. The written application for designation mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be accompanied by a document verifying that he or she comes under one of the conditions set forth in each item of Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article and other documents as stipulated by the Ministry of Justice Ordinance.
3. A person who wants the designation to be made for him or her shall pay a fee, in the amount which shall be stipulated by the Cabinet Order taking actual expenses into consideration.

(Lapse of designation)

Article 18. In cases where the approval loses its effect or is rescinded, the designation shall lose its effect. It shall also lose its effect in cases where the person who has had the designation made for him or her does not make the request provided for in Paragraph 1 of Article 33 within six months from the day following the date of the public notice under Paragraph 1 of Article 11 which applies mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 16.

(Reports, etc.)

Article 19.

1. The Minister of Justice may, when he or she deems it necessary, require that the person who has had the designation made for him or her should submit reports or data on the matters concerning the conditions set forth in each item of Paragraph 1 of Article 16.
2. The provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 13 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the handling of the business concerning designation.

(Rescission of designation)

Article 20.

1. The Minister of Justice shall, when a person who has had the designation made for him or her has lost the qualification mentioned in Item (1) of Paragraph 1 of Article 16, rescind the designation.
2. The Minister of Justice may, when a person who has had the designation made for him or her comes under any one of the following items, rescind the designation:
   • (1) when it is found that he or she has made a false statement regarding an important matter or omitted the statement of an important fact in the written application for designation under Paragraph 1 of Article 17 or in a document attached thereto under Paragraph 2 of the same Article.
   • (2) when he or she has failed to submit reports or data under Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article or submitted a false report or data.
3. The provisions of Paragraph 4 of Article 10 and Article 11 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the rescission of designation provided for in the preceding two paragraphs.