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Unit of study_

LAWS5144: Japanese Law

2025 unit information

This unit aims to develop the general skills of comparative lawyers, to effectively and critically assess contemporary developments in the legal system of the second-largest economy in our region. After an overview of comparative law techniques, Japanese legal history and its contemporary legal system, classes explore civil and criminal justice, politics and constitutionalism, government and law, gender and law, lawyers and the courts in Japan, as well as dispute resolution, pop culture, contracts, consumers and law. The unit then some examines business law topics in socio-economic context in more detail, after an introduction to the Japanese economy and international trade policy. Topics include investment and finance law, tax law, labour law and corporate governance.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Sydney Law School

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
None
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
? 
LAWS3076 or LAWS3444
Assumed knowledge:
? 
None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate introductory knowledge about the overall legal system and some major areas of law in Japan
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of various theoretical frameworks useful to understand these and other aspects of Japanese law (and, potentially, other legal systems)
  • LO3. demonstrate sensitivity to practical applications and implications
  • LO4. demonstrate skills in independent research and writing concisely.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Intensive February 2024
Block mode Kyoto/Tokyo
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Intensive February 2025
Block mode Kyoto/Tokyo
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Intensive March 2020
Block mode Kyoto/Tokyo
Outline unavailable
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Intensive February 2023
Block mode Kyoto/Tokyo

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.

Important enrolment information

Departmental permission requirements

If you see the ‘Departmental Permission’ tag below a session, it means you need faculty or school approval to enrol. This may be because it’s an advanced unit, clinical placement, offshore unit, internship or there are limited places available.

You will be prompted to apply for departmental permission when you select this unit in Sydney Student.

Read our information on departmental permission.