Translation guide
In Japanese, the term for 'law school' depends on context. The most common modern equivalent is 法科大学院 (hōka daigakuin), which refers to professional graduate law schools established in 2004. For undergraduate law education, 法学部 (hōgakubu) is used. Older or more general terms like 法律学校 (hōritsu gakkō) exist but are less common today.
Referring to a postgraduate professional school that grants a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree, typically after an undergraduate degree.
This is the standard term for the graduate-level law schools introduced in Japan in 2004, modeled after American law schools. It is a professional school (専門職大学院) that offers a three-year (or two-year for those with a law background) program leading to a Juris Doctor (法務博士) degree.
彼は法科大学院を卒業して、弁護士になった。
He graduated from law school and became a lawyer.
法科大学院の入学試験はとても難しい。
The law school entrance exam is very difficult.
A direct loanword from English, commonly used in casual conversation or in the names of some institutions. It can refer to both Japanese and foreign law schools.
アメリカのロースクールに留学したい。
I want to study abroad at an American law school.
Referring to the undergraduate division of a university where law is studied, typically leading to a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree.
This is the standard term for a university's faculty or department of law at the undergraduate level. In Japan, law is typically studied as a four-year undergraduate program.
彼女は東京大学の法学部で学んでいる。
She is studying at the University of Tokyo's law faculty.
法学部の学生は法律の基礎を学ぶ。
Law faculty students learn the basics of law.
Refers specifically to a law department within a faculty, often used when law is part of a broader faculty like law and politics.
法学部法律学科に所属しています。
I belong to the Department of Law in the Faculty of Law.
Referring to a law school in a historical context or in a general sense, not specifically the modern graduate system.
An older term for a law school, often used for institutions before the modern university system. It can also refer to private or specialized law schools.
明治時代に多くの法律学校が設立された。
Many law schools were established in the Meiji era.
法科大学院 is a graduate professional school (akin to a U.S. law school), while 法学部 is an undergraduate faculty. In Japan, one typically completes a 法学部 before entering a 法科大学院, though it is not strictly required. When translating 'law school' for a general audience, consider whether the context is graduate or undergraduate.
日本では、法学部を卒業した後、法科大学院に進む人が多い。
In Japan, many people go on to law school after graduating from the law faculty.
The literal translation '法律の学校' (hōritsu no gakkō) is not idiomatic and should be avoided. Use the appropriate term based on context.