The Faculty of Law has a history and tradition that date back 120 years, to the founding of Chuo University as the Igirisu Horitsu Gakko, and it has produced many talented graduates to serve not only in law circles but also in government service, politics, and the business world. While carrying on its longstanding traditions, the Faculty is constantly reforming and making changes to the contents and methodology of education in order to respond to the needs of university education and a changing society.

Foreign language teaching that is conducted at different levels based on the abilities of the students, support for study abroad programs, courses to help students develop a more international outlook, and other programs are being implemented in all of the departments to meet the need for more educational contents and methodologies that respond to increasing globalization. Courses are offered to foster skills that will be of use at the Chuo Law School or any other future path pursued by the students. Among the courses provided are a wide range of seminars that are limited to small groups, as well as training of such skills as how to write essays, discern problems and find solutions to them, and take part in discussions. Most importantly, the courses aim to motivate and draw out the “can do” desire from each and every student.

Note:
The numbers indicated above include students admitted to the No. 2 Division (evening program). Admissions to the No. 2 Division ceased in 2000.



Since the time of its founding, Chuo University has played an important part in making the study of law as accessible as possible, with an off-campus system of lecture notes being mailed out to students who are unable to attend lectures because they live too far away. The Correspondence Division, Faculty of Law, inherited this tradition. Ever since courses began in 1948, and the Division’s systemization under the Ministry of Education university correspondence education standards in 1949, it has occupied a central place in the legal field. At present, nearly 7,000 students of all ages and from many walks of life are enrolled at the Division throughout Japan.

To meet the diverse goals of these students, required courses are avoided as much as possible and nearly all of the law-related subjects are available as electives. Students study through the correspondence classes, in which they send in their reports; the in-school classes, where they receive lectures directly from the teaching staff; and the audio-visual classes. The in-school classes are offered in (1) summer school programs, (2) short-term programs, and (3) year-round programs. The audio-visual classes make use of various types of audio-visual systems and consist of (1) audio-visual courses conducted in real-time and (2) audio-visual lessons that are available on demand. Credits are earned for the courses by taking these three types of classes and passing examinations. The number of subjects being offered in the on-demand media classes, which are conducted over the Internet, is seeing a steady increase every year.