JATLAW is the legal chapter of the Japan Association of Translators (JAT). It was founded by experienced lawyer-linguists and legal translators in early 2010.
Although Japan’s need for expert legal translation is rising, it has been difficult for translators wishing to enter the field to find appropriate training without committing to postgraduate translation studies outside Japan.
The JATLAW vision is to provide regular high-quality training seminars in specific fields of law. These seminars, taught by veteran lawyer-linguists from academia and private practice, introduce core concepts and terminology in both Japanese and English, and facilitate discussion of translation issues, resources and opportunities particular to that field. The seminars are followed by a networking opportunity. They are held in Tokyo, but so far as is possible, have also been uploaded onto the JAT site in digital format. A short presentation on what JATLAW offers legal translators is available here.
JATLAW wishes to thank the Japan Legal Information Institute, based at Nagoya University Graduate School of Law, for its generous support of the JATLAW seminars.
The Roppongi Bar Association and the Foreign Women Lawyers’Association also offer presentations from time to time that are open to laypersons and may be helpful as training or networking opportunities.
JATLAW is open to proposals for collaboration with like-minded individuals and groups and seminar topic requests. Contact JATLAW here.