Julie
LL.M. (Master of Laws)
Joined in 2015
Business Law
Legal Department
Compliance Supervisory Department
What are your current responsibilities?
I am concurrently working in the Business Law Group and the Planning Group within the Legal Department. In the Business Law Group, we provide answers from a legal perspective to numerous requests from people in charge of Rakuten’s various services. This includes consultations regarding the launch of new services, responding to arbitrations and lawsuits, reviewing contracts, daily legal consultations, and checking promotional campaigns. We also provide legal advice to our clients. Depending on the issue, we may have to check with outside lawyers or government agencies. It is also important to communicate with overseas group companies when coordination with the Rakuten Group as a whole is necessary. My duties in the Planning Group include handling revised laws, running legal seminars for internal use and taking on interns. All of these roles require not only specialized legal knowledge, but also a deep understanding of business and strong communication skills.
What do you find challenging and exciting about your job?
The most rewarding moment is when we work as one team with each division, including overseas branches, to solve a problem. For example, when we have to respond to a lawsuit, we work with an outside lawyer to have the relevant division confirm the facts.
Then, we explore legal solutions, including business perspectives, to determine the policies the company should follow. Working together with the team in the field to solve the problem is a challenge for me, but when the problem is solved, I feel a great sense of accomplishment together with my team members. In global issues that require cooperation with overseas attorneys, I sometimes struggle with differences in language, laws and customs, but I feel that this is an extremely valuable experience and one of the most exciting aspects of being a corporate lawyer at Rakuten.
Where do you feel you have improved since joining Rakuten?
The Planning Group is responsible for ensuring that all of the many projects we are involved in are carried out in a timely and smooth manner. When designing a project, I consider the purpose of the project itself, how to proceed, the overall schedule and the approval process. First, I look at the whole picture and repeatedly consult with my supervisor to identify areas that need adjusting. While creatively designing the project, I will collaborate with others to ensure the project keeps moving forward. The good thing about the legal department is that we are given free range to design our own projects. I have acquired not only the ability to solve professional legal problems, but also the ability to drive projects, which is an essential skill for a businessperson.
What does your typical workday look like?
In order to be a trusted member of the legal department, I am constantly conducting legal research to provide accurate advice, which requires a very high level of concentration on a daily basis. I strongly feel that it is only with the understanding and support of the company and my colleagues that I am able to perform at a high level within the limited work time I have. My child attends the company’s daycare center, Rakuten Golden Kids, which gives me great peace of mind.
SCHEDULE
- 08:30
- Arrive at work, check the to-do list I prepared the day before, and start work. I try to find ways to work efficiently with the limited time I have.
- 09:30
- Legal information sharing and consultation meeting. I can discuss assigned issues with members of the legal team, which is helpful in resolving them.
- 10:00
- Drafting of contracts and other documents. Since every word is important and there is no room for typos, I tend to work on them in the morning when I am more focused.
- 11:00
- Lunchtime for my child at Rakuten Golden Kids (the company’s daycare center).My lunch afterwards.
- 14:00
- Meeting with the client (business department). Share the new issues of services.
- 15:00
- Meeting with an external lawyer. Discussion of legal issues that pose challenges for new services.
- 17:00
- Leave the office. I pick up my child and go home.
*This article is based on information provided at the time of the interview.
RECRUITING INFORMATION
Business Positions
For those who want to deepen their understanding of the entire Rakuten Group and aim for versatile career development.
- Comprehensive Business Specialty Hiring Track
- Corporate Specialty Hiring Track
- FinTech Specialty Hiring Track
- Design Specialty Hiring Track
- Marketing Specialty Hiring Track
- Comprehensive Business Specialty Hiring Track
- Corporate Specialty Hiring Track
- FinTech Specialty Hiring Track
- Design Specialty Hiring Track
- Marketing Specialty Hiring Track
Engineer Positions
For those who aspire to become world-class engineers.
- Applications Engineer
- Infrastructure Engineer
- Data Scientist / Researcher
- Security Engineer
- Information Security / Privacy Governance Specialist
- Technology Management
- Product Management
- Development Support（Q&A, etc.)
- Applications Engineer
- Infrastructure Engineer
- Data Scientist / Researcher
- Security Engineer
- Information Security / Privacy Governance Specialist
- Technology Management
- Product Management
- Development Support（Q&A, etc.)