- Pro Bono
- Community
- DE&I
Mock Trial Court Held by the Rotary Club of Tokyo Yamanote for Elementary and Junior High School Students (2024)
- Nishimura & Asahi's legal education project
Event overview
In June 2024, the Rotary Club of Tokyo Yamanote hosted its career experience event for elementary and junior high school students in residential care facilities, which it has been holding since June 2023. At this event, the team of lawyers who belong to the club set up a mock trial booth with the assistance of the firm’s pro-bono legal education team. Participating members shared the club’s goal of offering fair and equal educational opportunities and helping children explore diverse future career prospects.
Overview of the mock trial
This year, a mock trial was facilitated around the case of Kumao-kun, a character who reappeared from the prior year event. In the scenario, Kumao-kun was suspected of stealing and eating 10 pieces of bread from his workplace, a bakery. He was suing the store manager for unfairly deducting the cost of the bread from his wages. The trial was conducted in a manner that would closely resemble a real civil lawsuit.
Students visiting the booth could choose to play the role of either the plaintiff’s attorney or the judge, and actively participated in the proceedings of the case and in the questioning of the defendant. On the plaintiff’s side, students used "help cards" as hints to advance their line of questioning, gradually building their case against the defendant, who was played by a member of the firm. On the judges side, student used a “judge's guide”, to lead the trial, evaluating the questioning and evidence to arrive at a judgment through careful deliberation.
The mock trial was designed to make the often-complex world of law relatable by showing how it can resolve real-world problems. It provided an interactive and approachable introduction to legal principles through a story that the young students could understand.
Mock trial participants
Kota Hoshina Attorney-at-law
Since the event was aimed at elementary and junior high school students, we prepared a scenario in which the students were asked to focus on the issues of proof and fact finding rather than trying to think about the relevant legal issues. Given the broad age range of participants, I was initially concerned about holding everyone’s interest. During witness questioning however, the students engaged actively, even beyond the prepared questions, using their imaginations to challenge and explore a range of possibilities. It was encouraging to hear them say that they enjoyed it, which made the event feel truly meaningful.
While the legal profession may seem unrelatable, sparking young people’s interest in law ultimately contributes to securing rights and encouraging diverse talent in the legal field. I hope to continue supporting events like this make the law more approachable for everyone.
Asumi Kawachiya Attorney-at-law
I am very interested in the education of children, who will be our future leaders, and was thrilled to be able to participate in this event from the standpoint of a lawyer.
I was initially concerned about whether the mock trial would run smoothly because the work of judges and lawyers is not very familiar to children and I thought it might be difficult for them to understand. However, once the court session began, the students listened intently to the arguments of the plaintiff, Kumao-kun, and the defendant, Kirin-san, while they carefully analyzed the video of the evidence, and actively asked questions such as "I want to know more about this" and "Isn’t this part a bit strange?".
In today's world, where the importance of so-called "non-routine tasks" is increasing, such as tasks that resolve issues based on expertise and abstract thinking, and tasks that create and provide value through sophisticated interpersonal communication, the ability to listen to people, problem solve, and provide the necessary support are powerful skills. We hope that this event inspired the students to consider a career in the legal field where these skills are valued.
Haruka Sugimoto Attorney-at-law
It was more than six months ago when we began preparing for the mock trial. As I imagined the faces of the children I had never met, I wondered what kind of trial would pique their interest. We aimed for a balanced approach that combined realism with accessibility.
As the day of the mock trial approached, there were days when I questioned whether we were on the right track, but seeing the students’ faces on the day of the event—with expressions ranging from intense focus to delighted amusement—was reassuring. They read out difficult legal terms as best they could, giggled at the evidence mimicking social media posts, and stared intently at the security camera footage looking for clues.
I think it took a lot of courage for the children to have their own ideas and put those ideas into words and communicate them in the face of a predetermined unanswered question called a trial, but I think they did a great job.
I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who participated.
Yurara Hirayama Attorney-at-law
"Law is the best! The best!" A child playing the role of attorney joyfully shouted out, right after the judge declared the trial closed.
I participated in the trial as the defendant. During the questioning, the students who played the plaintiff and the judge asked me about the most critical points, and I was overwhelmed by their vivid imaginations and sense of justice.
I was pleased to see how many of the students took an active role in the trial, and that they seemed to have learned a lot about the importance of fighting for your client and the challenges of conducting a fair trial.
When I was a high school student, I participated in a mock trial organized by a lawyer, and it was a key moment that inspired me to pursue law. While interacting with the children, it reminded me of my admiration for the legal profession at that time, and it continues to motivate me in my daily work.
Mai Imanishi DE&I Promotion Officer, Cross Functional Transformation
Attracted by the event's philosophy of providing fair educational opportunities, I participated in this pro bono activity for the first time in the hope of broadening the range of students’ interests by supporting on these immersive activities.
On the day of the event, I acted as the defendant. I was sincerely impressed by the questions, which were rooted in imaginative and unique perspectives. Watching the participants enjoy the mock trial and debating with each other was very rewarding. Through this event, I hope that the students came to see the legal field as an interesting and worthwhile career. Moving forward, I want to continue assisting with pro bono activities to support these goals.
Project MembersParticipants
Mariko advises life sciences and technology companies regarding comprehensive matters including regulatory matters, compliance, M&A and licensing throughout the R&D stage to distribution, based on her extensive experience serving as part of the management team of global pharmaceutical companies. She is also actively engaged in pro bono matters and in Diversity & inclusion promotional activities, as well as Business and Human Rights and ESG. She takes a leadership role as a core member of our firm’s D&I Promotion.