Meet Our Team
Our firm has a diverse roster of members, including foreign-licensed attorneys with a comprehensive understanding of international law, and paralegals proficient in English and various other languages.
On this page, you will find exclusive interviews with some of our team members, offering insights into their expertise and experiences.
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Chinese Lawyer
Having moved to Japan to pursue her law degree and legal licensure in China, she served as an intern at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE for approximately a year, concurrent with her law school studies in Tokyo.
Prior to qualifying as an attorney in China, she studied Japanese and law at a university in China. Her past experiences and keen intellectual curiosity enabled her to effectively manage not only cross-border cases between Japan and China, but also domestic IT cases in Japan.
We welcome foreign students studying in Japanese graduate schools
We are looking for foreign nationals not only for positions as lawyers and law clerks, but also for interns.
We especially welcome interns who are studying at Japanese graduate schools after having been admitted as lawyers abroad. Naturally, we will give priority to their studies and ask them to come to work during their free time, and we will be flexible in adjusting their shifts.
We ask them to support projects related to their home countries or projects in Japan.
For example, we have had the following cases. A Japanese IT company, whose shareholders are capitalists from a certain country, was about to enter into a contract with a company located in that country. The contract itself was purely a Japanese domestic legal service, as the governing law and language were both Japanese. However, the shareholder objected to a clause that appeared in the agreement that was based on a provision of Japanese law. The reason was that there were differences in the law between Japan and that country, and the provisions seemed unreasonable from the perspective of the shareholders in that country. We asked an intern from that country to be present to explain the situation to the shareholder. It just so happened that at the time, we had an intern who had qualified as a lawyer in that country and was interning at our firm while studying at a graduate school in Japan. The intern’s explanation convinced the shareholder and we were able to proceed smoothly with the negotiations to conclude the agreement.
The intern was an expert in the law of his home country, had a certain knowledge of Japanese law, and had experience in business in his home country, etc. He was a valuable asset to us.
The intern also told us that it was a valuable experience for him to learn how the different laws between Japan and his own country can cause such problems.
My Work Experience at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE
“Currently, I balance my law school studies with an internship at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE, where I work two to three days a week.
The work schedule at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE is incredibly flexible. I typically work on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, but adjustments are readily accommodated to fit my academic commitments and personal life. For example, on days when I have morning engagements, I can start work at 1:00 PM, or, if I have evening plans, I can wrap up by 6:00 PM.
Initially, I had reservations about applying as a foreigner, but my apprehensions were unfounded. MONOLITH LAW OFFICE employs numerous professionals like myself who hold legal qualifications from countries other than Japan. Furthermore, several Japanese staff members at Monolith are proficient in English. Although communicating intricate nuances in specialized legal discussions can occasionally be challenging, I’ve never felt hindered during day-to-day or basic work-related conversations.
Another aspect that makes working here comfortable is the dress code, or lack thereof, for interns. There’s no requirement to wear suits, and interns have the freedom to dress as they please. This casual approach contributes to a relaxed working environment.”
I Get to Do the Work I Love
“In my role, I manage cross-border projects between Japan and China along with IT-related ventures in Japan.
Before joining MONOLITH LAW OFFICE, I aspired to work not only on Sino-Japanese cross-border initiatives but also domestic Japanese projects. MONOLITH LAW OFFICE provided me with the opportunity to do just that, and for this, I am deeply grateful.”
Collaborative Work Environment
“One of the key characteristics of MONOLITH LAW OFFICE is its collaborative environment. As far as I know, many law firms in China operate on a team-based structure, and they seldom interact with cases outside their team. Conversely, at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE, all matters are managed in a system that encourages sharing amongst all members unless a special need arises. If a member is struggling with their workload, others step in to help. This collaborative atmosphere suits me perfectly and I find working here thoroughly enjoyable.
I often refer to other lawyers’ logs, for instance, when I am uncertain about phrasing in an email to a Japanese client. My experience at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE has significantly complemented my studies.”
Kosuke Takahashi
He completed his undergraduate studies at Osaka University, majoring in Foreign Languages, and subsequently pursued his legal education at Keio University Law School, where he obtained his qualification as a Japanese attorney. He subsequently joined MONOLITH LAW OFFICE, specializing in various legal aspects of information technology, particularly in the realm of Internet-related matters.
Throughout his career, he has actively engaged in international affairs, including collaborating with foreign attorneys to assist in the establishment of IT-related companies in foreign jurisdictions. This international involvement has allowed him to navigate the complexities of cross-border legal matters with expertise and efficiency.
Leveraging my College Studies in English for International Legal Affairs
“During my college years, I dedicated my focus to the study of English, although I had yet to solidify my career aspirations. It was only when I pursued law school and became a lawyer that my professional path began to take shape. Initially, I undertook typical legal work prevalent in Japan, such as handling traffic accident cases.
However, my journey took an unexpected turn when I found myself involved in legal matters pertaining to the Internet. As my interest in specialized legal work grew, a friend of mine extended an invitation to join MONOLITH LAW OFFICE. Embracing the opportunity, I embarked on this new chapter.
Today, I lead a team consisting of an American lawyer, a Chinese paralegal, and others, enabling us to handle international cases. Back when I was in law school, I never envisioned a future where I could utilize the English skills I honed during my college years in such a practical and meaningful way.”
Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Characteristics of MONOLITH LAW OFFICE
“One of the distinguishing factors that sets MONOLITH LAW OFFICE apart is its organizational structure and the startup-like mindset embedded within the firm.
When I initially joined the firm, I may not have been an IT specialist per se. However, the office boasts a diverse team of attorneys and paralegals, along with comprehensive manuals that cover various aspects of IT-related legal work. This collective knowledge and expertise are shared across the entire office, enabling us to undertake specialized tasks without solely relying on individual knowledge.
Within this office, each team member brings their unique strengths to the table and can collaborate, leveraging the shared knowledge throughout the firm to work on areas outside their specific expertise. To illustrate, I recently collaborated with an intern who held a lawyer qualification in Taiwan to prepare an IT-related contract involving a Taiwanese company as the contracting party. Although he may not have been an IT specialist, his contribution in providing manuals and relevant information on IT was invaluable to the entire firm. Similarly, I also offered IT advice when needed. Moreover, his knowledge of Taiwanese law proved beneficial not only to me but to other members of the firm as well. Through this collaborative effort, we were able to produce highly accurate contracts involving Taiwanese companies.
The dynamic teamwork and knowledge exchange within MONOLITH LAW OFFICE empower us to tackle diverse and complex legal matters with precision and efficiency.”
Start-up Mindset: Characteristics of MONOLITH LAW OFFICE
“The global team within MONOLITH LAW OFFICE originated as a new project driven by the growing demand for cross-border legal services among our clients. This project was initiated by capitalizing on the distinct personalities and individual strengths of our team members at that particular point in time.
In order to effectively address the needs of clients and potential clients, the project emphasizes the utilization of each team member’s unique skills and abilities. Over time, MONOLITH LAW OFFICE has expanded its team, surpassing its initial size. Although it has evolved into a larger firm, it has managed to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit of a start-up company.
Looking ahead, as we welcome more lawyers, paralegals, and interns from various countries into our office, we are confident that with their support, we will gradually grow as an organization and handle cases of greater scale. We eagerly anticipate the future as we continue to embrace the start-up mindset that drives innovation and growth within MONOLITH LAW OFFICE.”
A Bilingual Paralegal
Our paralegal at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE is bilingual, proficient in both English and Japanese. Despite lacking a legal background initially, his high intellectual curiosity and standards led him to pursue a career in a law firm. He began with simple translations, but gradually honed his skills to handle specialized legal document translations. His aptitude for flexible work methods greatly contributes to his role in our public relations department.
Before the interview: We seek a broad range of paralegal expertise
Our team at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE thrives on diversity, comprising different types of paralegals, such as:
- Paralegals familiar with non-Japanese laws who are presently honing their Japanese language skills.
- Bilingual individuals proficient in Japanese and English, who, despite lacking a legal background, harbor an enthusiasm for law firm operations.
- Individuals fluent in Japanese possessing expertise in non-legal fields, such as engineering or statistical analysis.
By synergizing the diverse talents of these paralegals with our lawyers who are equipped with Japanese and international legal credentials, we at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE deliver sophisticated solutions to meet our clients’ demands.
Navigating Translations/Interpretations at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE
“In my role at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE, I’ve come to appreciate that information is crucial in translation and interpretation work. Upon arrival each day, my first task is to understand the nature of the assignment at hand. I review the chat, gather necessary information, and initiate the translation process. If any aspect of the task is unclear, I consult with an attorney before proceeding. This careful attention to understanding is critical as inaccurate translation, due to a lack of detailed comprehension, can lead to extensive revisions and significant errors.
My primary responsibilities include Japanese to English and English to Japanese translations of contracts drafted by attorneys, as well as those that clients request me to review. I also handle interviews for foreign hires, meetings with overseas entities, and provide simultaneous interpretation during meetings for our client, a foreign SaaS company.”
A Vibrant and Innovative Workplace
“I also handle public relations tasks at MONOLITH LAW OFFICE. Despite lacking a law background, my aptitude for communication was recognized and appreciated by the firm. Thus, I was assigned to the role where I could utilize my skills effectively, taking charge of public relations.
From my observation, many Japanese law firms are small operations consisting only of lawyers and their secretaries. However, MONOLITH LAW OFFICE is distinct in its employment of individuals in creative roles such as public relations and engineering. This unique aspect makes it a rewarding experience to be part of such a diverse work environment.”
The “Project Automation” Team
In July of 2024, our interns led and launched the “project automation” team.The team works on to streamline internal operations by utilizing advanced AI technology to automate various tasks. The goal is to make everyday tasks smoother and improve overall productivity.
The team consists of six interns, spearheaded by Sarah Ismael, who started law school in the U.S. this September. We held a roundtable discussion with the project team members, as well as one of our Attorney Tatsuta, who initiated the project, and our IT engineer Niwa, who is supporting the team.
‘We Wanted to Create a Knowledge Database’
— How did this project come about?
Tatsuta: It all started when I began experimenting with ways to create a knowledge database. I thought it might also be useful to have such a database internally, and, I had a conversation with Sarah about this.
She was very enthusiastic about taking on the challenge, and within about a week, she had completed what I asked her to do. Before I knew it, she had automated various tasks in the office even before the team was formally established.Ismael: Interns are often assigned various daily tasks, and I realized that automating these tasks could save a lot of time, which was the initial spark that led me to pursue automation.
No Prior Knowledge or Experience – A Team of Motivated and Curious Interns
— Automating tasks might seem to require specific skills, but AI seems to make it easier without needing much programming knowledge. What’s your take on that?
Ismael: No prior knowledge is necessary to be in the project. I had no programming experience and had never written a line of code before, so I started from zero.
I think the key is to be curious and persistent. When there’s a program error, you need to figure out where the error is and correct it. It’s a process of trial and error over and over again.
— How did other team members come on board?
Ismael: They just kind of joined in haha. It seems what I was doing caught the attention of Sugai and Imaizumi, and they thought it looked interesting. Before I knew it, we had formed a team.
As the team grew, everyone started taking on specific roles, like communicating with others to gauge internal needs and managing task progress, or conducting research on using AI.
Sugai: I got involved when Sarah asked me to do some research on AI. I wasn’t good with computers, and I didn’t really do much programming at first. But after watching her write codes using AI, I thought I’d give it a shot. Surprisingly, it was easier than I expected and fun, which made me toI start writing codes as well.
Imaizumi: Watching Taichi (Sugai) write codes made me think it looked fun. Even though I didn’t have any prior knowledge, I started writing codes by asking AI for help. Over time, I began to understand the meaning of the codes, which was really fascinating.
— Niwa, as an IT engineer, what has impressed you about watching the interns who had no programming experience?
Niwa: I was honestly surprised at how fast the interns, without specialized knowledge, were able to execute the project using strong research skills and effective use of AI. They’ve been great at translating requests into specific code by leveraging AI.
Of course, some problems arise due to their lack of technical knowledge, but that’s where I step in to provide support. I think the combination of the interns’ drive and my technical expertise has helped the project function smoothly.
Enhancing Communication and Language Skills through Prompt Engineering
— What challenges have you encountered in this project?
Yoshioka: When we get a request for automation, the first challenge is understanding what’s needed and putting that into words for AI to grasp. On top of that, I also have to communicate the task to other team members. If I don’t fully understand what I’m trying to create at the outset, I might get incorrect information from the AI, so filtering that out can be difficult.
Sugai: If I don’t explain my ideas well and provide detailed instructions, the AI doesn’t always grasp them and fails to operate in the expected way.. I have to work hard to articulate my vision and give the AI clear and concise instructions. This process is challenging but also enjoyable.
More: Figuring out how detailed to be when giving information to AI can be tough, but when the AI understands you well, it’s really satisfying.
Imaizumi: When using tools like Claude, which have limits on interactions with AI, there’s pressure to write prompts that are simple yet clear within a limited number of tries.
Tatsuta: The key skill in this project is something called “prompt engineering,” where you write the right command to get AI to output the desired code. This skill is helpful not only in programming but also in drafting legal documents and giving instructions to people, as it sharpens your sense of “what expressions communicate most effectively.”
Enjoying Efficiency Improvements with AI
— What brings you the most satisfaction in this project?
Ismael: It’s the sense of accomplishment when we complete a project. I love the feeling of achieving something I initially knew nothing about, like programming or AI.
Tatsuta:It’s like we’re collaborating with AI, and it makes the whole process more enjoyable haha.
Ismael: Yes! A lot of people are afraid of AI lately, but I don’t think that’s necessary. By using AI to improve efficiency, we can broaden our horizons. There’s also work to enhance AI accuracy, and I think if you can be someone who helps build AI, that’s a powerful position.
At first, I didn’t understand the AI’s suggestions and just followed them, but now I analyze them and offer my own alternatives to the AI. Although it doesn’t always go smoothly, we as humans know more about the task being automated, so I stand my ground when I disagree with the AI haha.
Tatsuta: In the end, I think having fun with it is key. The joy of seeing a previously tedious task become automated, combined with the futuristic vibe of working with AI, is something I find very appealing. Watching them enjoy it makes me want to join in too!
Connecting Office Tools Smoothly for Further Efficiency
— What’s the next project you’re planning?
Yoshioka: So far, we’ve automated some of the interns’ daily routine tasks by linking various tools using codes. Moving forward, we aim to take on two major initiatives: automating the creation of document templates within the office using tools like GraphRAG and making the data within the office tools more easily searchable using natural language. These are ambitious, innovative projects, and with AI technology developing rapidly, we plan to keep up the pace to avoid being left behind.
Teramachi: I’m researching and comparing new tools for the office. There are many tools that can help us achieve what we want, so I’m examining the fine technical differences to determine which ones are best for our goals. For example, there’s a need to better track the activity levels of lawyers to ensure efficient operations, so we’re considering measurement tools for that purpose. We’re also looking into tools to manage tasks for administrative staff. These will improve operations and benefit the firm, so we’re aiming to make this project a success.
Ismael: Interns tend to rotate in and out, but I hope the automation team continues to grow and the projects keep succeeding, even with new members in the future.
Te Chun Li
Joined Monolith in May 2024. Leveraging prior experience as a lawyer in Taiwan, Li specializes in cross-border transactions and legal research. He contributes to strengthening global connections by bridging differences in language and culture.
Career Transition: From Taiwan to Japan
Living abroad has always been a dream of mine—immersing myself in different cultures and gaining a broader perspective on life and work.In 2022, while feeling overworked in Taiwan, I found an opportunity to pause my career and pursue growth in a new environment. I was accepted into the LL.M. in Asian Economic Integration and Law program at Waseda University, which promised not only academic development but also personal growth. This led me to make the decision to move to Japan.
Before coming to Japan, I had spent five years practicing law in Taiwan. By that point, I had gained considerable experience and was at a pivotal stage in my career. I realized, however, that I wanted to explore new opportunities that would allow me to grow both personally and professionally. Recognizing this, I decided it was the right time to step away from a stable career and pursue my long-held aspiration of living and studying abroad. Japan, with its unique language, legal system, and culture, seemed like the perfect environment to challenge myself.
Starting a Legal Career in Japan through an Internship
While studying at Waseda University, I learned about an internship opening at Monolith. Seeing it as a valuable chance to apply my legal expertise in Japan while gaining practical experience, I applied for the position. The internship offered me an opportunity to engage in meaningful legal tasks from the outset, such as assisting with cross-border matters and legal research. This experience solidified my decision to join Monolith full-time after completing the internship.
The supportive work environment at Monolith gave me the confidence to build my career here. The invaluable exposure to international legal issues further reinforced my choice to remain with the firm.
Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers in Japan
One of the biggest challenges of working in Japan has been the language barrier. While most discussions at Monolith are conducted in Japanese, I often handle client communications in English or Mandarin. This multilingual approach has allowed me to contribute effectively to cross-border cases while continuing to refine my Japanese skills.
Monolith’s supportive environment has enabled me to contribute by utilizing my English and Mandarin skills while continuing to enhance my Japanese proficiency for internal communications. This flexibility has eased my transition into the firm and allowed me to deliver high-quality work.
A Collaborative Work Culture
The work environment at Monolith differs significantly from my previous experiences in Taiwan, where lawyers typically work in isolated offices with limited collaboration. At Monolith, the open workspace fosters communication and strengthens relationships among colleagues. This collaborative and dynamic atmosphere has greatly contributed to my ability to integrate into the team.
Many foreign professionals in Japan often feel isolated in the workplace. However, my experience has been the opposite. My colleagues at Monolith have consistently supported me, helping me feel integrated into the team and making my transition smoother both professionally and socially.
Leveraging Research Skills and an International Perspective
As part of the cross-border team at Monolith, my responsibilities include building relationships with foreign law firms, supporting clients expanding internationally, and conducting research on foreign legal systems. For instance, I help clients navigate new markets by providing tailored legal opinions and facilitate communication between foreign clients and Japanese attorneys, ensuring mutual understanding of legal requirements.
Monolith’s emphasis on flexibility and results has shaped my approach to work, enabling me to adapt quickly and contribute effectively. My experience with Taiwan’s legal system has also helped me identify similarities with other systems, allowing me to gather relevant information efficiently.
Additionally, my Mandarin skills have been instrumental in bridging communication gaps in cases involving Mandarin-speaking clients. Staying updated on evolving laws and technologies has also been essential for my professional growth.
Welcoming Diverse Talents
Monolith values candidates with diverse skill sets, adaptability, and a proactive attitude. While knowledge of Japanese law is crucial for attorney roles, foreign associates are valued for their ability to communicate effectively and adapt to new challenges, even with limited Japanese proficiency. The firm’s flexible work environment emphasizes responsibility, timely communication, and collaboration.
Monolith is ideal for those who thrive in a dynamic, inclusive workplace where employees are trusted to deliver results and contribute meaningfully, regardless of their background or level of Japanese proficiency.