LAW - 869 U.S.-Japanese Comparative Legal Systems

(2 hrs.)

Japan is the second largest economy in the world, a crucial provider of international assistance globally, an important U.S. strategic ally, and a country with legal traditions dating back thousands of years. For these and other reasons, the student will learn in this course that Japan is an important and deeply interesting legal jurisdiction for study. The course will begin with an overview of comparative law and provide an analytic basis for comparing U.S. and Japanese law. The course will proceed with a review of the historical background of modern Japanese law and provide an understanding of the historical role of law in Japanese society. The course will review major comparative areas of civil and criminal law and through frequent outside speakers provide insights into current legal reforms and issues, such as reform of the legal profession, adoption of a jury system for criminal trials, enforcement against organized crime and money laundering, mergers and other corporate practice issues. The student will take away important insights on why understanding Japanese law remains crucial in international business, foreign affairs, and the comparative law of Asia. J. Miller Spring