LAWYERS & FEES
*Find Legal Help Japan introduces lawyers free
of charge and does not take referral fees from
lawyers.
About lawyers
I've been working for the Tokyo Bar Association for more than 15 years now and worked with hundreds of lawyers/counselors/
Immigration Lawyers (Visa specialists).
Unlike most countries, in Japan lawyers do all kinds of cases, so you do not really look for a specialist but more for a lawyer with more experience in a certain field, who is good, listens, understands you, and makes time for you. If you don't know a lawyer, I will help you find one and translate for you.
If you know a lawyer but he or she doesn't speak your language I will come and translate.
*In Japan, lawyers are paid by the person who hires them, regardless of who wins or loses the case.
So you will have to pay your own lawyer even if you win the case.
About lawyers’ fees
1st meeting with lawyer with Houterasu (Japan Legal Support Center) system is free.
1st meeting with lawyer without Houterasu (Japan Legal Support Center) can be free or cost five or ten thousand yen for 30 minutes + taxes.
After the first meeting, usually you will understand if you need a lawyer or not and if you do decide to hire one, then, if your income is less than a fixed amount you can try to apply to Hoterasu to get the lowest fees and pay back the lawyer (and the interpreter) little by little monthly, and if it's without using the Hoterasu system, then it depends on the lawyer.
Usually there is a retainer fee (from 100.000 yen up for civil cases to 300.000 up for criminal cases) that is the first payment so the lawyer begins to work for you and then at the end there is an additional charge known as the Contingency or Success fee because you give that money to the lawyer only if you obtain what you wanted or if the outcome can be considered a success. Also, depending on the type of case, if there is compensation/money involved, a percentage of the money you receive has to be paid to the lawyer.
Immigration lawyers
(Visa specialist)
You can apply on your own for the visa or the renewal or change of status, but asking a professional give you more chances to get it if you do have any doubt that your visa application could be rejected.
First consultation is often free and the fee for the visa procedures are between 50.000 to 150.000 yen or more based on if you are applying for a renew of your actual status or for a permanent visa.
