“This is definitely the best recruiter team in Tokyo. Paul, Tim, James, Yamakawa san, Suzuki san, everyone is very professional and helpful. They understand the employer and candidate’s needs very well. l I really enjoyed working with them. My friend recommended them to me and I feel very comfortable introducing them to any of my friends.”
With legal & compliance search experience of more than 20 years, and the largest team in Japan, no one knows Japan's legal market better than us. We are a specialized team working together and we want to get to know the real you - not just your resume - and provide genuine, personalized service to help develop your career.
Our Areas of Expertise
Private Practice (Bengoshi, Attorneys, Support Professionals)
The Tokyo private practice market continues to change. International firms are more specialized than a decade ago, and under increased pressure from home offices to be profitable. Local firms are feeling the stress of growing costs, and a shrinking domestic market forcing them to become more profit-focused and business savvy. As a result the Japanese legal market has reached a point of maturity where only the best-run practices and sharpest minds that serve the ever-changing needs of their clients with increased efficiency will survive.
Just Legal has had more success in and has more knowledge of Tokyo’s private practice world than anyone else and we are best served to guide you through the market. Please contact:
Compliance, Regulatory and Corporate Governance
This ever-growing field is becoming the cornerstone of financial and corporate viability. Compliance overseas everything these days and regulatory restrictions are unlikely to be relaxed any time soon.
The market is experiencing a constant shortage of qualified candidates, and therefore compliance professionals who seeking a change should consult with a market expert who can add value to their search.
To understand the market today through the longest serving compliance recruitment team in Japan please contact:
In-house Corporate – Bengoshi and Foreign Qualified Lawyers
In-house searches for multinationals and Japanese corporates continue to keep us busy, with companies across a range of industries still looking to increase the size of their legal departments, including many companies hiring in-house counsel for the first time.
Our track record in placing lawyers – Japanese and foreign-qualified – in-house is extensive and growing, and we have close to over a decade of success across every industry -- technology, manufacturing, life sciences, retail, and professional services.
As the largest legal recruitment team in Japan, our size enables us to present numerous options to individuals and multiple relevant and ready candidates for mission critical roles after and more effectively than anyone else in the market.
The size of our team enables us to present numerous options to job seekers. To maximize your in-house career, contact:
In-house Financial Services (Banking & Finance, Insurance, Funds, Real Estate Finance, more)
While the banking and finance market has decreased in size over the past decade, it remains an important one, and when a bank or financial institution needs to hire a lawyer they come to us for our knowledge of the market and the best professionals in it.
No one knows the Tokyo in-house banking and finance market better than we do, and many of our finance searches are exclusive to Just Legal. As a lawyer, having Just Legal represent you often means that you have access to opportunities that no other agent does.
If you have the skills, personality and experience to work in banking and finance in Tokyo, do yourself a favor and contact us, and let us help you find the right place to excel in your career. Contact:
How we work
Direct Connections
We have direct access to CEOs and heads of HR and Legal across multiple industries.
Long-Term Relations
We will be here to help and advise you at every step of your career.
Honest Consulting
We will give you straightforward advice to advance your position and avoid pitfalls.
Market Insight
We draw on superior industry experience and familiarity with specific companies and managers.
Latest Career Advice from Justy
Advice on legal career moves from Justy, our "Legal Beagle" advisor
Be Prepared For Your Job Search 
04/04/2017
Dear Justy I’m having a dilemma and I need some advice. I’m looking for a new job and I want to work with a recruiter because they have good market information but I don’t know h... read more
Avoiding Word of Mouth
31/01/2017
Dear Justy I need some advice. I am an associate at an international law firm in Tokyo and have been for some years. Things aren’t terrible for me right now, and I’m not looking ... read more
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By Seattle Walker
“I have been working as a foreign lawyer in Tokyo for over eight years, during which time I have met over a dozen legal recruiters serving the Japanese market. James Graham, Paul Cochrane and the Just Legal team have by far the best understanding of the Japanese legal market and the unique needs of employers and candidates in such market. While many Tokyo legal recruiters do little more than act as a post box for resumes/job descriptions, the Just Legal team is able to tap into its extensive network and unparalleled knowledge of the Japanese legal market to find the right lawyer for the right role. If you are looking to use a legal recruiter in Japan, they should be at the top of your list.”
By Akasaka Attorney
“This is definitely the best recruiter team in Tokyo. Paul, Tim, James, Yamakawa san, Suzuki san, everyone is very professional and helpful. They understand the employer and candidate’s needs very well. l I really enjoyed working with them. My friend recommended them to me and I feel very comfortable introducing them to any of my friends.”
By Seattle Walker
“I have been working as a foreign lawyer in Tokyo for over eight years, during which time I have met over a dozen legal recruiters serving the Japanese market. James Graham, Paul Cochrane and the Just Legal team have by far the best understanding of the Japanese legal market and the unique needs of employers and candidates in such market. While many Tokyo legal recruiters do little more than act as a post box for resumes/job descriptions, the Just Legal team is able to tap into its extensive network and unparalleled knowledge of the Japanese legal market to find the right lawyer for the right role. If you are looking to use a legal recruiter in Japan, they should be at the top of your list.”
By Akasaka Attorney
Call or email us now to find out how we can help your career.