Japan has a wide range of national qualifications that authorize holders to provide specialized services in various fields, including law, accounting, and real estate. Notable examples include attorneys and certified public accountants, as well as judicial scriveners, Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists (CAPLS), tax accountants, and patent attorneys, among many others. Because the titles of these professions all end with the character for “practitioner” (shi 士), they are collectively referred to as “shi-gyō” (licensed professionals). 

 

The scope of practice of each licensed professional is clearly defined by law; however, those who are not specialists in the field, or who are unfamiliar with Japan’s legal system, often find it difficult to distinguish between them. 

 

This article provides a concise overview of the differences in scope of practice among attorneys, judicial scriveners, and CAPLS — the three licensed legal professionals in Japan that are most commonly confused with one another. 

 

Attorneys 

An attorney is a professional authorized to handle all legal matters comprehensively. Their work covers a broad range of activities, from the prevention to the resolution of disputes, including representation in court proceedings, legal consultations, drafting of contracts, and settlement negotiations. 

 

In particular, litigation representation is in principle the exclusive domain of attorneys; ordinary judicial scriveners and CAPLS are not permitted to perform such work (for exceptions, see “Certified Judicial Scriveners” below). Furthermore, only attorneys are permitted to act as defense counsel in criminal cases. 

 

In addition, providing legal consultations and advice that involve legal evaluation or judgment is, to a certain extent, restricted to attorneys when performed as a professional service. As a result, the scope of consulting services that judicial scriveners and CAPLS may provide is limited to matters incidental to their respective legally authorized areas of practice. 

 

On the other hand, because attorneys hold a qualification that covers “all legal matters,” it is recognized under legal interpretation and case law that attorneys may also engage in work that falls within the exclusive practice areas of judicial scriveners or CAPLS. Moreover, upon completing the requisite registration, attorneys may also perform the work of patent attorneys, such as filing patent applications, as well as the work of tax accountants, such as tax consultations and filings. 

 

Judicial Scriveners 

A judicial scrivener is a professional specializing in registration procedures. 

 

Their primary duties include acting as agent for real property and commercial registration applications and handling deposit procedures, encompassing the preparation of documents to be submitted to the Legal Affairs Bureau and the management of related procedures. In addition, the preparation of documents to be submitted to courts, asset management and adult guardianship services, and assistance with wills and inheritance procedures also fall within the scope of a judicial scrivener’s practice. 

 

Furthermore, upon obtaining the qualification of “Certified Judicial Scrivener,” one is permitted to perform litigation representation and related consulting services, but only for civil cases before summary courts where the value of the claim does not exceed 1.4 million yen. 

 

Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists (CAPLS) 

A CAPLS is a professional specializing in the preparation of applications to be submitted to government authorities. 

 

The administrative procedures handled by CAPLS cover a wide range, including obtaining construction business licenses and restaurant business licenses required for starting a business, as well as applications for residence status for foreign nationals. The preparation of documents relating to rights and obligations — such as various contracts and agreements on division of inherited assets — various drawings prepared on the basis of on-site surveys, and documents serving as evidence of facts, such as financial statements, also fall within the scope of their practice. 

 

In addition, upon obtaining the qualification of “Specially Certified CAPLS,” one may also engage in representation in administrative appeal proceedings and related work. 

 

Division of Roles and Collaboration Among the Three Professions 

Typical examples of overlapping practice areas between judicial scriveners and CAPLS include non-contentious document preparation work such as the preparation of inheritance-related documents (e.g., agreements on division of inherited assets), assistance with the preparation of wills, preparation of articles of incorporation upon company formation, and drafting of various contracts. 

 

However, because CAPLS are not permitted to handle registration procedures, it is common in practice for the CAPLS to handle document preparation while only the registration application is entrusted to a judicial scrivener. Conversely, where a license or permit is required upon company formation, there are also cases where a judicial scrivener entrusts the application procedure to a CAPLS. 

 

Furthermore, where legal judgment is required, or where the parties are in disagreement, an attorney — who is responsible for dispute resolution and legal consultation — may also become involved. 

 

As described above, depending on the nature of the matter, it is common for multiple licensed professionals to be involved, each contributing their respective expertise in a coordinated manner. There are also professionals who are registered under both judicial scrivener and CAPLS qualifications, enabling them to provide one-stop services. 

Consulting the appropriate professional according to one’s purpose and circumstances can significantly reduce the overall burden of navigating the relevant procedures. 

 

(References) 

Japan Federation of Bar Associations, “Learn About Attorneys” (accessed April 2, 2026, https://www.nichibenren.or.jp/legal_info.html) 

Japan Federation of Shiho-shoshi Lawyer’s Associations, “Services of Judicial Scriveners” (accessed April 2, 2026, https://www.shiho-shoshi.or.jp/about/business.html) 

Japan Federation of Administrative Scrivener’s Associations, “Services of Administrative Scriveners” (accessed April 2, 2026, https://www.gyosei.or.jp/info/service)