Procedures for civil legal aid and points of attention

• Financial ability not exceeding the certain threshold (Condition 1)

Income and family members (Criteria A), and cash and bank deposits (Criteria B) will be considered.

• The case in question should be compatible with the purpose of civil legal support (Condition 3)

An applicant who satisfies all the requirements can make an appointment for pro bono legal consultation.
・Legal consultation is provided in Japanese.
・If you do not understand Japanese, you need to arrange an interpreter (a friend may act as interpreter), to accompany you when you receive the legal consultation.
・If you cannot find an interpreter, the JLSC can provide a specialized consulting service for foreigners at its office and interpreter arrangement service, subject to the circumstances and availability of each office.
・You need to make an appointment before visiting the consultation site. Please come to the consultation site on time.
・If you are late, you may not be able to receive consultation.
・Please inform us in advance of cancelling the appointment.

As a result of consultation, an applicant who wishes to use the JLSC's loan program for fees and expenses for retaining attorneys-at-law and judicial scriveners (representation aid / documentation aid) needs to receive an examination.

An applicant needs to satisfy all of Conditions 1 (including real property and securities), 2 and 3.

・Document evidencing financial ability
・Residence records and residence card
・Documents related to the case
Documents required for examination（PDF：11KB）

Upon granting a decision to commence aid, the JLSC determines the fees for attorneys-at-law and judicial scriveners (retainer fees, expenses, etc.) according to its standards.
The fees will be paid by the JLSC to the attorneys-at-law, etc. on your behalf and you are generally requested to make repayment to the JLSC in monthly installments of 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen.

・This aid is provided by way of a non-interest-bearing loan that needs to be repaid to the JLSC on a monthly basis.
・Please inform the JLSC in case of any change to your contact information, such as address and mobile phone number.
・You are required to make the repayment even if you go back to your home country. The JLSC may decide not to provide you with any further assistance if you return home before the conclusion of the case.
Click here for details. (Fees and expenses)

In addition to the retainer fees and expenses determined upon the decision to commence aid, depending on the outcome of the case, the JLSC will examine and decide the amount of attorney-at-law and judicial scrivener remunerations, interpretation fees, etc. to be borne by you, and the method of payment, according to the JLSC's standards.

・If you receive payment from the opposing party to the case, you may be asked to pay the fees directly instead of the JLSC making the payment for you.
・If any interpretation or translation becomes necessary in relation to the case handling, the JLSC pays the fees on your behalf and you are liable to make the repayment to the JLSC. (You may be required to directly pay any expenses exceeding the maximum limit of loan.)
・No additional loans are available for interpretation and translation service fees incurred before the decision to grant the aid, so you are requested to pay these fees directly to the relevant service providers.
・In case of repayment in installments, as a general rule, you are required to complete the full repayment within three years from the date of conclusion of the aid.