Legal Intern – International Practice

Legal Intern – International Practice at Baker McKenzie Tokyo

Baker McKenzie's Tokyo office in Minato-ku offers a legal internship programme for law students interested in international legal practice. As the world's largest international law firm by headcount, Baker McKenzie provides interns with a uniquely global perspective unavailable at domestic Japanese firms.

Programme Overview

The Baker McKenzie Tokyo internship runs for 4-6 weeks during the summer months (June-September), longer than most domestic Japanese firm programmes. The extended duration reflects Baker McKenzie's international model and allows interns to make substantive contributions to live matters across practice areas.

What You Will Experience

Interns will work in a truly bilingual (English/Japanese) environment alongside lawyers qualified in Japan, the US, the UK, and other jurisdictions. You will be involved in cross-border M&A under the Companies Act (会社法), international arbitration under the Arbitration Act (仲裁法), IP licensing, and employment law matters under the Labour Standards Act (労働基準法). The office handles matters across all of Baker McKenzie's global practice groups.

The programme includes exposure to Baker McKenzie's global network through virtual sessions with other offices, cross-border matter participation, and professional development workshops on international legal careers. Interns have the opportunity to work on matters involving multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.

Programme Details

• Duration: 4-6 weeks (June-September, flexible start dates)
• Compensation: Paid internship with competitive stipend
• Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo
• Bilingual (English/Japanese) work environment

• Conduct legal research in English and Japanese on cross-border matters
• Draft bilingual memoranda, correspondence, and contract summaries
• Assist on international arbitration and cross-border litigation matters
• Support due diligence and document review on cross-border M&A transactions
• Attend virtual sessions with Baker McKenzie offices worldwide
• Participate in professional development workshops on international legal careers
• Complete a research project on a comparative law topic

• Enrolled in a hōka daigakuin (法科大学院) or foreign LL.M. programme
• Strong English proficiency required (this is a bilingual internship)
• Interest in international legal practice and cross-border transactions
• Prior study abroad or international experience preferred
• Strong academic record in Japanese or international law
• Available for 4-6 weeks during the summer period
• Open to candidates from foreign law schools with interest in Japanese law