BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HE ACHIEVED
Shio directs JICA’s Law and Justice Division,
THOSE GOALS.
responsible for a gamut of legal aid projects.
Then, after he finished his LL.M., he rolled up
They range from helping write new legislation
his sleeves and dug in after landing a dream job
to improving policies at prosecutors’ offices and
within his field. Shio heads a division of the Japan
ministries of justice. The division also aims to
International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The
improve access to justice systems in developing
1,800-employee government agency is Japan’s
countries, and it supports legal assistance to
equivalent of the U.S. Agency for International
the poor.
Development (USAID). Like USAID, JICA works with countries on every continent supporting critical improvement projects such as building
GRADUATE STUDIES LINK TO GLOBAL PROJECTS
bridges, schools, roads, ports–and judicial
Earlier this year, UW Law professor and SID
systems.
program director Anita Ramasastry introduced her former student at a 20th anniversary
“I am head of a division which handles rule of
celebration for the graduate program. “I am so
law systems,” he said in an interview. “I have
pleased that he was able to join us from Japan,”
many opportunities to work with professionals
she said. “He has had a remarkable career. He
from different organizations, legal professionals
was such a wonderful student when he was here.
from Japan and also from abroad. In those daily
We are so pleased that he has gone forth and
activities, what I learned (at UW Law) is very useful.”
works in the field.”
Shio has directed a number of Japan’s technical
Before UW, Shio worked in Vietnam for a
China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Indonesia, East Timor, the Philippines and other Asian and African countries. Last year, he led JICA’s mission to Myanmar to establish a new technical assistance project with the Attorney General’s Office and the Supreme Court. “What I learned in SID really helps me in what I do,” Shio said. “It gave me confidence when I discuss international law with my colleagues.”
from the University of Tokyo, but he wanted to understand the legal system in the United States. His Japanese legal education was grounded in theory, he said, but it did not focus on actual cases. Legal experts from various international aid agencies advised him to attend graduate
MAKE IT MEMORABLE
“I remember these classes,” he said, especially
After graduation from UW School of Law in 2004,
courses taught by Professor Ramasastry and
he was admitted to the bar in New York.
Professor Roy Prosterman.
Collegiality with his SID network of friends and
school in the United States. After careful
Law classes challenged him academically;
associates continues. “I still have contact with my
research, he chose UW School of Law.
he recalled they were “very hard.” Initially,
classmates,” he said. Especially since he began
he struggled with his English and expressed
traveling extensively to numerous Asian countries
himself in group settings with some difficulty.
on behalf of JICA, Shio has encountered many
However, the professors were “kind and patient
more alumni from UW School of Law.
with comments and corrections.” He praised
“Instantly, we felt intimacy that we are graduates.
the faculty for their “passion for educating
We are Huskies,” Shio said. “That makes my work
international students.”
very easy.”
A close-knit cadre of international students (many
His SID degree laid the foundation for
from Asian countries) populated the law school’s
advancement, he said. He benefits from it daily.
While in the SID program, “I learned how the rule of law evolved in the United States and
In internal documents, Tokyo-based JICA calls
how many legal problems can be recurring,”
for “the sound development of the Japanese and
he said. He cited civil rights as one example
global economy by supporting the socioeconomic
of a recurring theme or pattern of cases that
development, recovery or economic stability of
re-emerges.
developing regions.”
PROFESSORS, CLASSMATES
SID and Intellectual Property Law and Policy programs. They also helped ensure Shio’s success at UW. “Talking with them helped me a lot,” he said. “They are professionals. Many had rich legal
S P R I N G 2 014
projects with Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,
SHIO VISITING THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE SUPREME COURT OF MYANMAR IN FEBRUARY 2013
couple of years after receiving his law degree
uw law
assistance projects. He has spearheaded such
experiences in their own countries.” 32
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