Name: FUENTES SANCHEZ, Maria Ester
Country of Origin: Chile
Graduation Date: March 2020
Current Job: Privacy Expert at the Information Security & Privacy Department, Rakuten Group, Inc.
Of all the countries in the world, why did you choose to pursue your advanced degree in Japan ?
I was curious about Asian legal regimes and their recent development in business and regulated areas. The western legal systems (e.g., US, EU, UK) were very familiar to me, but I wanted to challenge myself learning from the Asian region. In that regard, Japan is a mature and stable economy that is also a hub for business, international trade, and investments in Asia. Furthermore, I wanted to experience and learn more about the rich culture of Japan, which has always been a society with values of my personal admiration.
Why Waseda LL.M.?
The Waseda LL.M. was the perfect opportunity to deepen and broaden my legal knowledge by studying in one of the top universities in Japan with international prestige. Its multidisciplinary curriculum focused on Asian systems and their integration in a globalized economy perfectly matched my interests because of Japan’s and the Asia-Pacific region’s relevance for the global economy.
How was job hunting in Japan? How did you find your current job?
I started my job hunting during my studies at Waseda. I attended job-hunting activities that the LL.M. organized for us with prestigious law firms and companies in Japan. In addition, my master thesis guiding professor enabled me to interview officials from the Japan Fair Trade Commission, that later gave me the opportunity to do an internship there. After my graduation, I gathered information asking many questions and contacting the network that I built during my time at Waseda. I got in touch with job hunters and some LL.M. professors kindly wrote recommendation letters for me. I never lost my faith and did not give up, and then one day on LinkedIn I found a position at Rakuten, and when I saw the job description, I knew it was the position I was looking for. I got an offer after passing all the selection process stages.
Rewards and challenges of the Japanese job market and the job-hunting process
When I think of the challenges that I faced during my job hunting, I would say that the most difficult to overcome was the language barrier. In general, legal positions require a high level of Japanese proficiency, which I did not have. Also, the selection system in Japan seems to be focused on welcoming new graduates (from post graduate studies).The system follows very strict and pre-determined procedures, which are unfamiliar to foreign nationals. However, in this process I realized that my focus should be on my strengths and what makes me different, i.e. what I can contribute to the Japanese market. Then, I started to search for legal positions in the digital industries with an international focus, and I found the perfect place to continue my legal career in Japan.
As a Waseda LL.M., what was your overall impression of job hunting in Japan ?
It is not easy, and the system is not well prepared to receive foreign students. However, there are opportunities in different companies and areas that need specialized English-speaking professionals with multicultural backgrounds.
Message to current and prospective LL.M.students
Be persistent. Do not give up. Be clear and conscious about your abilities, experience, what you can contribute, and what you want to achieve working in Japan. You will find the perfect place for you.
FUENTES SANCHEZ, Maria Ester, Class of 2019
Thank you, Maria Ester, for the comment!
If you are interested in applying to the Waseda LL.M. program, please refer to our addmissions page.
Graduate School of Law, Waseda University
