Job Description

**Please note that this application form is only for the position of English language legal editor at Nishimura & Asahi’s Tokyo office.**

Mandatory Requirements

1. Law degree (JD/LLB, LLM) earned in the English language

2. Native English proficiency with excellent writing skills

Note: True native level proficiency is mandatory. Applicants with less than true native level English skills, or whose materials contain any grammatical or spelling errors, will not be considered.

3. Minimum one year commitment

To apply for this position, you must fulfill all three of the requirements above. If you do not fulfill all three requirements, please do not apply for this position.

Visa Sponsorship: Available

Nishimura & Asahi, one of Japan’s largest law firms, seeks true native-level English speakers with law degrees (earned in the English language) for the position of English-language legal editor.

This is a full-time, evening shift, in-office position based in Tokyo (working hours: Monday to Friday, 15:00 to 23:00). This is not a remote or freelance position.

A law degree is mandatory, and preference will be given to candidates with editing and/or legal experience, especially those who have practiced as lawyers. While Japanese language ability is not required, some Japanese language proficiency will be helpful.

The position requires the ability to convey ideas and information effectively and concisely, in clear and professional written English, without the use of AI. Applicants that pass the initial screening will be invited to submit writing samples and complete a series of editing assignments. Applicants whose initial submissions are deemed unsuitable, contain errors, or appear to be written with the assistance of generative AI, will not be contacted.

Successful candidates will join a professional staff that includes more than 500 Japanese attorneys, 40 foreign attorneys, and 8 editors, and will be expected to start work relatively soon (pending completion of the visa process, where appropriate).

After satisfactory performance during a 90-day training and probationary period, the term of employment is one year, and may be renewed by mutual agreement. The basic salary includes a certain amount of overtime allowance. Editors may take up to 16 business days of paid holiday per year (granted to new hires on a pro-rated basis).

The costs of health insurance, welfare pension insurance, employment insurance, and any other insurance required by law or the firm’s working rules will be shared by the successful applicant and the firm.

*Please do not attempt to apply for this position through avenues other than this job listing.*

Please upload a CV, cover letter (maximum 1,000 words), and a writing sample, all of which must be written by you personally, without the use of AI, using the *Apply* button.

Resumes or CVs not accompanied by a cover letter and writing sample will not be considered. Candidates who do not fulfill all three of the mandatory requirements stated above, or whose materials contain errors or appear to have been created using AI, will not be considered.

Please note that submissions will be reviewed carefully, and only select candidates will be invited for further assessment, the details of which will be provided at the time an invitation is sent. Submitted documents will not be returned