i have my heart set on spending at least 2 years living and working in japan. i wanted to go and teach english after receiving my college degree, but instead made a horrible life choice (probably the worst decision of my life) and went to law school instead. i have one year remaining until i finish my law degree. i REALLY don't want to be a lawyer in the US!

i understand it's pretty much impossible for a foreign trained lawyer to be allowed to sit for the japanese bar, but an wondering what, if any, opportunities there might be of a US trained lawyer in japan. i'm not that enthusiastic about practicing law, so if there's no law jobs, i'd be perfectly happy teaching english. american law schools award a doctorate upon graduation--will holding a doctorate help any/make me a more competitive candidate for english teaching jobs? or will they not care? also, will by degree be any help with receiving a working visa ?

Did you read the visas threads?

Yes, a degree is usually a requirement to get a teaching job and visa.

So you should have no problem getting a job teaching English.

Not likely you could ever practice law in Japan, sorry.