Administrative scrivener
Administrative Scrivener (行政書士, Gyōsei shoshi) is a legal profession in Japan which files government licenses and permits, drafts documents, and provides legal advice around such interactions. They are also known as Immigration Lawyers, Gyosei-shoshi Lawyers or Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists, although they are not allowed by the law to represent their clients in the judicial procedures in and outside of the court of law.
Occupation
Administrative Scriveners prepare legal documents such as filings with the national and local government, which do not include the court of law. Administrative Scrivener are found in a variety of roles. Many specialize in
Administrative Scriveners may also give advice on the preparation of such documents, one of the few exceptions to the
The work of an Administrative Scrivener bears certain minor overlaps with that of Attorney at Law or Scrivener in American or Common Law jurisdictions, excluding important elements such as the authority to represent their clients in the legal disputes.[1] Beside attorneys-at-law, prosecutors, justices and judicial scriveners, they form an important part of the legal landscape in Japan.
South Korea has a similar occupation known as Haeng-jeong-sa (Hangul: 행정사, Hanja: 行政士).
Purpose
The 1997 amendment to the Administrative Scrivener Law has clarified the purpose of the qualification and monopoly.
1. This law determines the system of Administrative Scriveners. Such will allow greater precision in the work, (the scrivener) facilitates the smooth execution of administrative procedures. In all, the aim is to provide convenience to the citizenry.
Qualification
Reasons for Revocation of the Registration
The registration of Administrative Scriveners can be revoked lawfully if the person belongs to the following.
- Underage persons,
- protected persons,
- undischarged bankrupts,
- convicted persons within three years of their conviction,
- dismissed civil servants within three years of dismissal,
- persons having received disciplinary removal under section 6 of the law within three years of such action,
- persons barred from work under section 14 within three years of such action,
- and persons having their names removed from the Bar Association for disciplinary reasons within three years of their removal.
Registration
Administrative Scrivener must maintain a membership in the Administrative Scrivener Association ( 行政書士会, gyōsei shoshi kai ) for the prefecture in which they work. The membership will cost approximately 300,000 yen. Member are also expected thereafter to pay 60,000 yen annually. There exists slight differences in the various prefectures and administrative districts pertaining to the cost.
If it is not done, one will not be allowed to perform work naturally, besides not being allowed to present him or herself as an administrative Scrivener. Nonetheless, in actuality, there is an increasing trend of members not paying their dues. As disciplinary action, after a request from the prefectural leaders, names of scriveners who do not pay will be released on the website of the Japan Federation of Gyoseishoshi Lawyers, with effect from 20 April 2011. The problem has begun to surface as such. As of March 2009, there are 39,846 registrants with 156 corporate bodies.
Duty to declare
The administrative Scrivener must record his name and impress his professional seal on documents that he prepares (under Execution Procedures of the Administrative Scrivener Law, section 9, subsection 2).
National Qualification Examinations for Administrative Scriveners
All in general are qualified to take the exam. The exam is customarily held throughout the nation on the second Sunday of each November. The prefectural authority designates the civil body, The Corporate Person of the Administrative Scrivener Examinations and Research Centre as its sole executor.
Subjects tested include laws relating to the work of a scrivener such as Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Administrative Law, Companies Law and basic legal knowledge. The aptitude of a person to do such work, such as general knowledge in politics, economics and society, knowledge pertaining to the safe transmission of Information, protection of personal information and comprehension of written passages. The syllabi of each exam is based on the current law as of the first of April every year. To pass, one must gain more than 60% of the total score, 50% in legal subjects and 40% in general knowledge subjects. The passing mark may be adjusted depending on the difficulty of the questions.
See also
References
- ^ The Article 72 of the Attorney Act