Toraben Net (Disability Rights Lawyer Network)

Toraben Net is a network of lawyers dedicated to protecting the rights of people with disabilities in Japan. One of its most valuable services is a free legal consultation offered through LINE, available to people with disabilities, their family members, and those who support them. For families facing a legal question but unsure where to begin, it provides an easy and approachable first step without the need to visit a law office or make a phone call.

The LINE consultation was created to make legal advice more accessible. Meeting with a lawyer in person is not always practical, and for some people, speaking on the phone can be difficult or stressful. Since April 2020, Toraben Net has provided ongoing legal consultations through LINE, giving people another way to seek advice in a format that is familiar and comfortable.

Because the service uses LINE, an app widely used throughout Japan, getting started is simple. Families can send a message when they are ready, making it easier to ask about concerns they may have been putting off. The consultations focus on disability-related legal issues, making the service particularly useful for families navigating education, welfare, guardianship, discrimination, accessibility, benefits, or other legal matters connected to disability.

Toraben Net provides its consultations online through LINE rather than from a single office, allowing people across Japan to access the service. The website and consultations are available in Japanese only, so foreign residents who are not comfortable communicating in Japanese may wish to ask a bilingual family member or supporter for assistance. Browser translation can also help users understand the website and learn how to access the service.