The Faculty of Law wishes to embody Soka University founder Daisaku Ikeda’s “founding spirit,” with the following three school guidelines:
 

1. Stand on the side of the people, and realize justice with actions that increase the ability of the legal mind.
2. Work tirelessly for the realization of peace and human rights.
3. Have the educational goal of fostering creative leaders for a new legal culture based on humanism.

As a result, we are able to produce graduates striving for the happiness of the people and realizing a peace-oriented society in the legal community, government, politics, international and business communities, Soka University has also become number one in Japan for producing the most number of graduates that have high levels of education who have become lawyers since World War II (1945). Also, there are graduates currently serving as civil servants and working in local government offices as government officials and diplomats.

In the Faculty of Law, we would like to foster students who will contribute to the society, teaching them the educational philosophy of the law. In order to realize these goals, in 2007, the curriculum was enhanced with addition of several new courses to attract a wider audience of students: Legal Profession, Business Law, and Peace and Public Policy.
 

1. Student(s) who possess solid logical thinking and communication skills.
2. Student(s) who are actively thinking about society and one’s own future.
3. Student(s) who are able to use the knowledge of the law and political science in society as a civil servant, politician, or business professional in the future.
4. Student(s) who have learned a second language can use their skills internationally for the future.

The Faculty of Law curriculum has been organized in a four-layer structure: Basic Introductory Course, Specialized Development Course, Small Group Concentration Course, and Practical Career Course.

【Basic Introductory Course】
In the Basic Introductory Course, beginning in the first semester, students partake in basic debate exercises for the whole year. The first year allows students to acquire abilities that all lawyers must posses, including strength in analysis, logic, organization, expression, and persuasion, Also in the “Introduction to Law Course,” the faculty have adopted an omnibus format, where students are able to gain interest and understanding while studying each field of law and political science within a short period.

【Specialized Development Course】
A Specialized Development Course, can be taken after the second year. At the same time, second year students can select one course among the following: Legal Profession, Business Law, and Peace and Public Policy, depending on their intentions upon graduation. To meet the requirements for graduation, students must complete the required courses. The amount of required completed credits has been lowered, and duplication of courses is allowed, creating a more flexible system for students. As a result, students have the freedom to take multiple courses and need not worry about credits. The Legal Profession course is well-equipped for students aiming to attend graduate school in law, with an enhanced specialization of seminar courses in positive law such as “Criminal Justice,” “Civil Justice,” and “Legal Public Law.” The Business Law program focuses on intellectual property, labor, tax, and Social Security. The Peace and Public Policy program includes International Law, Political Science, Peace Studies or Environmental Law and Public Policy which are compulsory subjects.

【Small Group Concentration Course】
Small Group Concentration course is a specialized seminar, beginning from the 3rd year. In the seminar, students can work together with the teacher and other seminar students in an effort to maximize one’s ability through the exchanges between one another. In particular, during the third year, students writing two reports each year have become common for all seminars. By writing academic reports, students are able to enhance their expertise in research and written communication. Seminars become an elective course in the 4th year, but students are required to stay in the same seminar so that students can further enhance their knowledge after two years participating in the small group course.

【Practical Career Course】
In the Practical Career course, “Law Qualification A” and “Law Qualification B” have been added. Students who would like to acquire certification for the Level 3 Law Test to become a home construction, administrative notary, or financial planner, can qualify to take the course as a unit during their first year. There are students who currently attend the university that have received the administrative notary certificate. In addition, internships in the field have been given credit recognition, and “Law Internships” have become a popular course for students.

As mentioned above, the curriculum in Faculty of Law has been expanding so students are able to study a wide range of politics and law. These subjects are taught by professors who exhibit strenuous efforts to make academic research more attractive and fulfilling for students.

Soka University’s Faculty of Law aims to foster capable people and establish a curriculum centered on the ideals that “Law is for the Common People” and “Law is for Peace and Human Rights.” Upon graduation, Faculty of Law students will have obtained the following characteristics and skills:
 

1. Systematic comprehension of the fundamental aspects of the study of law and politics.
2. Personal discovery of the problems within society through analysis and discussion, and acquiring the abilities to create solutions.
3. Development of a deep sense of human rights and the ability to cooperate and communicate well with others.
4. Attainment of a global perspective and the ability to take appropriate action for the sake of creating a more peaceful world.