Name: Hyewon Han
Country of Origin: USA
Graduation Date: March, 2022
Current Job: Legal & External Affairs’ Global Graduate at BATJ (British American Tobacco Japan)
Of all the countries in the world, why did you choose to pursue your advanced degree in Japan?
My family have been based in Tokyo since I started high school, and Japan has always been ‘home’ for me since then. I completed my bachelor’s degree in June 2020 during the peak COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, and with a lot of uncertainties all over the world, I decided to come back home to Japan. I always wanted to pursue further education in law, whether that is going to a law school in the US or pursuing an LL.M degree, and with the COVID-19 situation, I decided to pursue an LL.M degree safely in Japan.
Why Waseda LL.M.?
Waseda University was already an option I considered for my undergraduate studies when I was a high school student in Tokyo, so once I discovered that Waseda offers a great LL.M. programme in English, it was an easy decision for me. However, to be sure of my decision, I looked into other Japanese universities that offer English LL.M programmes like Keio University and Kobe University. Considering that my priorities for the programme were 1) having a Master’s thesis as a requirement to complete the programme, 2) offering numerous introductory classes in various fields of law as I never studied law before, 3) good balance between Japanese and foreign professors, 4) location (Tokyo), and 5) having some of job hunting support for international students, Waseda University’s LL.M was the best choice for me.
How was job hunting in Japan? How did you find your current job?
The moment I decided to accept my offer for the LL.M. programme at Waseda in October, I updated my LinkedIn profile and began job searching in the legal field, from paralegal to legal research positions. While looking for full-time positions starting in April 2022 after I graduate, I proactively looked for legal internships and part-time jobs where I could get a taste of the ‘real-world experience’ before committing to a full-time position. I worked as an intern for the Legal and External Affairs team at the BATJ for two months before starting my studies as a Waseda student. To gain further exposure to the legal world besides my studies, I took the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant under Professor Rademacher. Through numerous exciting projects, I gained the necessary legal research skills and knowledge I utilise today at work. Upon completing the LL.M programme, I went back to BATJ as a full-time employee and currently living the busy shakaijin life!
Rewards and challenged of the Japanese Job market and the job-hunting process
Although I can list endless aspects of the Japanese job market and process that can be considered somewhat negative or tiresome to foreigners who are not used to the culture, from the importance of understanding the ‘job-searching cycle’ to Japanese business manners, Japan is a country with unique and strong economic power that has a lot of ‘hidden’ opportunities. Acknowledging that I have different skillsets and experiences that make me unique in comparison to other people in the job market, I put a lot of emphasis on creative ways to find a job that suits me.
As a Waseda LL.M., what was your overall impression of job hunting in Japan ?
As I was fortunate to enjoy the internship experience I had before I began studying and received an offer to come back as a full-time employee, I overall had a good job hunting experience. It was also interesting to receive a couple of messages and emails from Japanese and foreign companies regarding legal job opportunities at their organisation that match my skillsets.
Message to current and prospective LL.M. students
If you are considering or currently looking for a job in Japan, start NOW by utilising all the tools, from LinkedIn, talking to professors to receive advice to contacting designated job hunting supporters at the university. Not just an LL.M degree itself but pursuing a Master’s degree in Japan is less of a common thing in comparison to European and American countries, and even if you don’t speak fluent Japanese now, don’t let that stop you from looking for a role that suits your unique language skills, legal knowledge and international experience!
Hyewon Han2021 Class of 2021
Thank you, Hyewon, for the comment!
If you are interested in applying to the Waseda LL.M. program, please refer to our admissions page.
Graduate School of Law, Waseda University
