Speaking on a recent episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Nathaniel Rowe, a special counsel at K&L Gates, underscored the dynamic nature of practising law in the Land of the Rising Sun and highlighted the exhilarating opportunities and the formidable challenges he encountered working in this unique foreign jurisdiction.

Entering the legal profession after graduating is already challenging, but for Rowe, it meant diving headfirst into a daunting world of uncertainty as a newly graduated lawyer trying to navigate and practise law in Tokyo.

“I think, on day one, it was absolutely terrifying as a newly qualified Australian lawyer, not really knowing which way is up or down, and then being put in that context in Tokyo, working for serious clients on serious matters, taking instructions in Japanese, oftentimes negotiating in Japanese.

“If there’s a way to make your early days in law doubly or triply, more difficult or perplexing, then by all means, go to Tokyo and have a shot learning the ropes there,” Rowe said.

Despite these evident challenges he had to navigate when he first started working in Japan’s legal world, Rowe emphasised how he found the experience incredibly stimulating and rewarding.

“There were challenges and difficulties, but again, [it was an] incredibly stimulating environment, exciting environment, particularly if you’ve got the language and cultural skills, as I did,” he said.

Rowe stressed the 24-7 legal culture in Tokyo, which operates around the clock to cater to the needs and meet the demands of a global city engaging with individuals worldwide.

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“Everything is a heightened or elevated experience, and Tokyo being a global city and their Japanese clients investing globally, it really is that 24-7 culture,” he said.

While the concept of continuous work can be strenuous for legal professionals, Rowe pointed out a recent shift towards a more balanced work culture in Toyko, driven by health and sustainability concerns. Nonetheless, he emphasised that practitioners still face constant challenges that simulate them in this dynamic legal environment.

“I know [that] in recent times that’s been pared back or pulled back a bit for obvious health reasons and sustainability reasons, but that really is the nature and the allure of practising in Tokyo, that it’s always on. There’s always something that’s going to stretch you, there’s always work that’s going to challenge you,” he said.

One significant reward Rowe discovered in practising law in Tokyo is his ability to collaborate not only with local and international colleagues but also with counterparts across multiple foreign jurisdictions.

“Working not just with Japanese colleagues and international colleagues in Japan, but oftentimes your counterparts in multiple foreign jurisdictions. You get across bodies of laws and regulations in all manner of jurisdictions, and having that adaptability and flexibility and that mindset to grapple with that complexity is an allure,” he said.

For those inspired to practise law outside of Australia, Rowe underscored the significance of considering Japan as a viable location for legal practice outside of Australia, highlighting the country’s potential over more conventional options.

“Japan, as opposed to those more orthodox pathways to the UK and maybe to a lesser degree the US, is obviously there, but I think Japan is a viable alternative, particularly now in the current global environment, in the current context of Australia-Japan relations.

“Japan is a nice, stable, secure, extremely fascinating and interesting option for any lawyer aspiring to work in that space,” he said.

The transcript of this podcast episode was slightly edited for publishing purposes. To listen to the full conversation with Nathaniel Rowe, click below:

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