Abstract
The number of lawyers in Japan has increased dramatically in the recent 10 years. In addition, the issue of poor legal access in rural areas has significantly improved. The judicial reform was not only a governmental reform from the top-down, but also movements from the bottom-up with self-reform by lawyers.
In dealing with the issue of improving legal access, it was revealed that users seldom voice their own requests. As such, lawyers of Bar Funded Law Offices (Himawari Fund Law Offices) and staff attorneys of The Japan Legal Support Center (The JLSC) who were dealing with the issue pursued collaboration with local governments.
However, now, the numbers of users of these services have increased manifold and their demands have also diversified. Lawyers have yet to fully respond to these demands.
In order to expand legal access, we need to develop activities such as pro bono in addition to government-funded legal aid, which will still play a pivotal role. We need to expand and develop The JLSC, nurture and strengthen the volunteer sector, and also have the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and each of the Bar Associations proactively deal with the issue. Also, we should receive useful input from scholars studying the issue.
