BOW would like to introduce a free legal consultation service that foreigners in Japan can use. The legal consultation service with a lawyer is called Houterasu（法テラス）, where foreigners can get answers to questions related to issues that require legal intervention in Japan in Japanese and many other languages.
Please refer to the article below to learn more about this service!
■ What is Houterasu (法テラス）?
Houterasu provides information on legal systems and procedures that can help you solve your problem, as well as appropriate consultation services. Free legal consultations are possible because Houterasu provides civil legal aid services. Civil legal aid services are services that allow people who are financially unable to receive support from a lawyer at no cost when they encounter legal troubles. In addition to providing free legal consultations, they assist such as paying lawyer fees in advance.
■What kind of advice can you get?
You can get advice on civil, domestic, and administrative matters such as debt, divorce, labor issues, inheritance, and wills. Please note that this service is not available for consultations related to criminal cases.
For example, in the case of domestic violence, in addition to protection orders, filing a report of victimization, and divorce, you can get a wide range of advice necessary to prevent harm, whether civil or criminal.
■Conditions can be consulted by a lawyer free of charge fee:
・Free legal consultations are available for those who are financially struggling.
*When you make a reservation, Houterasu will ask you about your income (average monthly income) and assets (cash and savings).
*Please check here for details: https://www.houterasu.or.jp/.../goriyounonagare.html...
・Each consultation is 30 minutes long.
・You can consult up to three times for free for the same problem.
・As a rule, you must make a reservation in advance for a consultation.
■Can you contact the Legal Support Center in a foreign language?
If you cannot speak Japanese, they can assist you in your native language.
Contact details are as follows.
Phone number: 0570-078-377 (050-3754-5430 from IP phones and prepaid mobile phones)
Hours: 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays
Languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Nepalese, Thai, Indonesian
■Conclusion
Not everyone can use the free legal consultation service, so please consider whether your income is sufficient to qualify for free consultation with a lawyer at Houterasu (法テラス）. Please refer to the Q&A section of the Houterasu (法テラス） site here to better understand the conditions, procedures, and methods before consulting with a lawyer at Houterasu (https://www.houterasu.or.jp/site/faq/) and the page designated for foreigners in different languages such as Vietnamese, Chinese, English, etc. (https://www.houterasu.or.jp/site/foreign-nationals/)
Living in Japan, in addition to the common principles in life, understanding and complying with Japanese law is also indispensable. Therefore, if you encounter legal problems that you do not have enough knowledge to solve, take advantage of Houterasu's legal consulting service to have the most appropriate and correct solutions.
