1.
faculty of law; law department; undergraduate law school
The department or faculty within a university that offers undergraduate programs in law and legal studies. In Japan, law is typically studied at the undergraduate level, unlike the US system where law school is a postgraduate program.
法学部に入学した。
I enrolled in the faculty of law.
彼女は東京大学法学部の出身だ。
She is a graduate of the University of Tokyo's law faculty.
法学部では憲法や民法などの基礎科目を学ぶ。
In the law faculty, you study foundational subjects such as constitutional law and civil law.
Combines 法学 (legal studies, jurisprudence) and 部 (department, faculty). One of the most prestigious university faculties in Japan.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 法学部卒業: law faculty graduate
- 法学部の学生: law student
- 法学部に進む: to go into law
- 法学部出身: from the law faculty
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
In Japan, legal studies are an undergraduate discipline — students enter 法学部 directly from high school, unlike the American system where law school follows a bachelor's degree. Many 法学部 graduates go into government service, politics, or business rather than practicing law. To become a lawyer (弁護士), additional postgraduate study at a 法科大学院 (law school) and passing the bar exam are required.
RELATED 〜学部 COMPOUNDS:
- 経済学部: faculty of economics
- 文学部: faculty of literature/humanities
- 理学部: faculty of science
- 工学部: faculty of engineering
- 医学部: faculty of medicine