Faculty Of Law, Thammasat University
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The Faculty of Law, Thammasat University ( th, คณะนิติศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์; ) is an administrative agency of the Thai government, being an academic faculty attached to
Thammasat University Thammasat University (Abbreviation, Abrv: TU th, มธ.; th, มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์, , ) is a public research university in Thailand with campuses in Tha Phra Chan area of Phra Nakhon District near the ...
, Ministry of Education. It is the second oldest university faculty in the country, preceded only by the Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University. It has long played a major role in the
politics of Thailand Until 22 May 2014, the politics of Thailand were conducted within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the prime minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is independent of the ex ...
and among its graduates are many former prime ministers, ministers, senior government officers, judges, and other public figures.คณะนิติศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์. (2547). ประวัติคณะนิติศาสตรบัณฑิต สาขาวิชานิติศาสตร์ . อนไลน์ เข้าถึงได้จา

. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 25 สิงหาคม 2551).


History

TU's Faculty of Law dates from the inception of the law school in 1907 by Raphi Phatthanasak, Prince Raphi Phatthanasak, Prince of Ratchaburi, the Western-educated Minister of Justice and a son of King
Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
. Classes were originally conducted at the luncheon lobby of the prince's palace; he gave lectures there every afternoon. The law school was soon moved to the central building of the Ministry of Justice due to the increasing number of students. In 1910 Prince Raphi resigned from the office of Minister of Justice and the law school was first relocated to Wat Mahathat Yuwarat Rang Sarit, a royally sponsored Buddhist temple, and then to a small royal residence next to the Civil Court. The following year, King
Vajiravudh Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...
took the law school under his
patronage Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
. By a royal command, the school became a subsidiary of the Ministry of Justice. The school was once again relocated to the former office of the Department of Public Relations, near
Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge ( th, สะพานผ่านพิภพลีลา, , ; 'King's Cross Bridge') is a bridge across Khlong Khu Mueang Doem (), or old moat, in Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. The bridge connects Thanon Ratchadamnoen ...
. Following the successful coup d'état against King
Prajadhipok Prajadhipok ( th, ประชาธิปก, RTGS: ''Prachathipok'', 8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941), also Rama VII, was the seventh monarch of Siam of the Chakri dynasty. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and ...
, the government, on 25 April 1932, ordered a Faculty of Law and Public Administration to be established as part of Chulalongkorn University and the law school to be transferred to the newly established faculty. In 1933, Narisara Nuvadtivongs, the Regent for King Prajadhipok, signed the Moral and Political Science University Act, Buddhist Era 2476 (1933), which came into force on 20 March. Certain parts of the Act read:"พระราชบัญญัติมหาวิทยาลัยวิชาธรรมศาสตร์และการเมือง พุทธศักราช 2476". (2476, 20 มีนาคม). ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, (เล่ม 50). อนไลน์ เข้าถึงได้จาก
http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2476/A/1007.PDF
(เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 17 สิงหาคม 2551).
An open admissions university from the beginning, Thammasat offered only a "Bachelor of Jurisprudence"
course Course may refer to: Directions or navigation * Course (navigation), the path of travel * Course (orienteering), a series of control points visited by orienteers during a competition, marked with red/white flags in the terrain, and corresponding ...
. On 14 June 1939, the Bachelor of Jurisprudence course was divided into four majors, organised into separate faculties: the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Public Administration, the Faculty of Economics, and the Faculty of Commerce. The Bachelor of Jurisprudence course completely came to an end in 1953. In 1969, the Faculty of Law organised an examination for lecturer selection for the first time, and started providing funds for developing its lecturers by sending them to study abroad, such as, the National Civil Service Commission Fund, the Oceanic and Suwannamat Fund, the French Government Fund, and the Ananda Mahidol Fund. In 1971, credit system and new evaluation system (
grade point average Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements for varying levels of achievements in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (usually A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a numbe ...
system) were used in the university for the first time. The Faculty of Law had improved its courses to be in compliance with the new systems, but has retained its previous evaluation system (point average system) as its system of educational assessment up to the present day. In 2006, Thammasat University's Faculty of Law Council resolved to move all undergraduate courses, other than summer courses, from Tha Phra Chan campus in Bangkok to the Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani Province. In 2008, the Lampang campus of the university was established. The university announced the opening of a branch of the Faculty of Law there. Law courses began the following year. Would-be students at this campus are required to have completed secondary education and to be domiciled in the
northern Thailand Northern Thailand, or more specifically Lanna, is geographically characterised by several mountain ranges, which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar to Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them. Though like most of Thailand ...
of the country. The university's direct admission system and the government's central admission system were melded together. Each year about 150 applicants are selected from the former system and another 50 from the latter system.


Administration


Deans

Note: Academic titles shown above are those at the time of assuming the dean's office, some of which may have later changed.


Academic centers

Thammasat University's Faculty of Law consists of the following academic centers: * Civil Law Center *
Criminal Law Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It prescribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal law i ...
and
Criminology Criminology (from Latin , "accusation", and Ancient Greek , ''-logia'', from λόγος ''logos'' meaning: "word, reason") is the study of crime and deviant behaviour. Criminology is an interdisciplinary field in both the behavioural and so ...
Center *
Public Law Public law is the part of law that governs relations between legal persons and a government, between different institutions within a state, between different branches of governments, as well as relationships between persons that are of direct ...
Center * Social, Historical and Philosophical Law Center * International Trade Law Center * Commercial and Business Law Center * International Law Center * Natural Resources and Environment Law Center * Tax Law Center


Courses


Undergraduate

Each year, the faculty has an intake of about 600–700 undergraduate students pursuing the four-year LL.B. programme, with a total enrollment of almost 2,000–3,000 students. Holders of a non-law degree may also enroll in the evening LL.B. programme, the length of which is shorted to three years, with approximately 500–600 students for each year. An LL.B. in business law is the first Undergraduate International Programme in Law of Thailand held at Tha Pra Chan campus. There are about 100–120 students per year. For admission of this programme, two tracks are offered: students can use the SAT examination or TUAdLaw examination (it is designed to assess your aptitude for the skills required to study law at undergraduate level in English at Thammasat University.) The programme is staffed by over 100 teachers with overseas experience from various jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan. Students are introduced to the philosophical foundations underlying the legal code and are encouraged to discuss, articulate legal reasoning, advance arguments, and think of "the law that ought to be" in tandem with "the law that is".


Graduate

At the graduate level, teaching is based upon a comparative approach and intended to encourage critical thinking and insights into legal problems in both theoretical and practical dimensions. Those leaving the undergraduate law courses therefrom are expected to become legal scholars, legal thinkers, experts, or practitioners in particular areas of law. Under the
LL.M. A Master of Laws (M.L. or LL.M.; Latin: ' or ') is an advanced postgraduate academic degree, pursued by those either holding an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree, or an undergraduate degree in a related subject. In mos ...
programme, in an attempt to promote expertise in specific areas, eight fields of study are offered:
private law Private law is that part of a civil law legal system which is part of the ''jus commune'' that involves relationships between individuals, such as the law of contracts and torts (as it is called in the common law), and the law of obligations ( ...
,
criminal law Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It prescribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal law i ...
, business law, international law, international trade law, tax law,
public law Public law is the part of law that governs relations between legal persons and a government, between different institutions within a state, between different branches of governments, as well as relationships between persons that are of direct ...
, and
environmental law Environmental law is a collective term encompassing aspects of the law that provide protection to the environment. A related but distinct set of regulatory regimes, now strongly influenced by environmental legal principles, focus on the manage ...
. The programme has an annual intake of about 200–300 students. Students attend classes in the evenings and may now complete their courses of study and a thesis (or an independent study on a selected topic) in five terms (2.5 years). The Faculty offers the one year Graduate Diploma Programme in Public Law, mostly for governmental officials, with an annual intake of up to 100 students. Some credits earned from this programme may be transferred to the LL.M. programme. The faculty also offers the Graduate Diploma Programme in Business Law which provides fields of concentration, e.g., "intellectual property" or "risk management and insurance". At the doctoral level, admission is granted via an English test as well as a qualifying examination on a selected topic. This doctoral programme largely consists of independent research, although attendance at a Legal Methodology Class is compulsory.


Symbols

* Seal – The seal of Thammasat University or Thammachak seal—a Constitution on Phan or container, with Thammachak or the Wheel of Law behind—is also used as the seal of the faculty, in accordance with the Notification of the Office of the Prime Minister Re: Determination of Official Agency Seal under the Official Seal Act BE 2482 (1939), (No. 50), dated 2 February BE 2509 (1966). * Flag – The
flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...
of Thammasat University or Thammachak Flag is also used as the Flag of the Faculty, but the phrases "Faculty of Law" are added under the figure of Thammachak or the Wheel of Law. * Colour – White is the colour of the faculty, signifying cleanliness and blamelessness.
Stripe Stripe, striped, or stripes may refer to: Decorations * Stripe (pattern), a line or band that differs in colour or tone from an adjacent surface * Racing stripe, a vehicle decoration * Service stripe, a decoration of the U.S. military Entertainme ...
s on the gowns of the faculty are also in white. * Symbol –
Scale of justice Scales of Justice may refer to: * Scales of justice (symbol), scales held by Lady Justice symbolizing the measure of a case's support and opposition * Scales of Justice (miniseries), ''Scales of Justice'' (miniseries), a 1983 Australian television d ...
* Statue – A Buddha statue, Phra Phuttha Lokkanitithammathet ( th, พระพุทธโลกนิติธรรมเทสก์) or the Buddha of Legal Teachings, established by the Thammasat's Faculty of Law Society and entitled by Yannasangwon (Charoen Suwatthano), the Supreme Patriarch, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Society. * Mascot – A "yellow tiger" is the mascot of the faculty, signifying elegance, honour, justice, satisfaction, power, majesty, and leadership. The Yellow Tiger is used as the mascot for counterbalancing the power of the "red lion", the mascot of the
Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University The Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University ( th, คณะรัฐศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์) is an academic faculty of Thammasat University, Ministry of Education of Thailand. ...
. * Anthems – Other than the
anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short ...
of Thammasat Faculty o
Yung Thong
( th, ยูงทอง), the faculty also takes the following four songs as its important songs: **
Nitisat Samakkhi
( th, นิติศาสตร์สามัคคี, "Faculty of Law in Unity") – composed by Thawip Woradilok, a
National Artist National Artist is an honorary title issued by some states as a highest recognition of artists for their significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the nation. An equivalent title, People's Artist, has been known in countries of the f ...
, and written by Uea Sunthonsanan. **
Nitisat Samanachan
( th, นิติศาสตร์สมานฉันท์, "Faculty of Law in Harmony") – also composed and written by Thawip Woradilok and Uea Sunthonsanan. ** "Tra Chu" ( th, ตราชู, "The Balance") – the name of its composer is unknown, but the song is sung on 7 August of every year before the Court of Justice in Bangkok. ** "Bum Niti" ( th, บูมนิติ, "Boom of the Faculty") – the composer is unknown.


Notable alumni

* Kittisak Prokati, Assistant Professor (กิตติศักดิ์ ปรกติ): Professor of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University *
Kaewsan Atibodhi Kaewsan Atibhoti ( th, แก้วสรร อติโพธิ born August 24, 1951) is a Thai politician, former Senator of Thailand from Bangkok, member of Inspection of Acts being Detrimental to the State Commission (State Detrimential Act ...
, Instructor (แก้วสรรค์ อติโพธิ): Vice Rector of Thammasat University, member of 1996 Constitution Drafting Assembly,
senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
, member of the Committee for Inspection of Acts being Detrimental to the State * Chuan Likphai (ชวน หลีกภัย): Leader of Democrat Party, Prime Minister of Thailand, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand *
Thanin Kraivichien Thanin Kraivichien (first name also spelled ''Tanin'', last name ''Kraivixien'' or ''Kraivichian''; th, ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร, , ; born 5 April 1927) is a Thai former judge, politician and law professor. He ...
, Professor (ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร): Professor of the Faculty of Law, Thammsat University; chief of the judge panel of the
Supreme Court of Thailand The Supreme Court of Thailand ( th, ศาลฎีกา, San Dika), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the highest Thai court of justice, covering criminal and civil cases of the entire country. Operating separately from the Administrative ...
; prime minister;
Privy Councillor A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
*
Banjerd Singkaneti Banjerd Singkaneti ( th, บรรเจิด สิงคะเนติ; ) (born, 11 February 1964) is a Thai legal scholar, a lecturer of law at Thammasat University and a noted critic of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Education and ...
, Associate Professor (บรรเจิด สิงคะเนติ): Professor of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University * Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, Instructor (ปริญญา เทวานฤมิตรกุล): Vice Rector of Thammasat University * Somchai Wongsawat (สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์): prime minister, Minister of Education,
Permanent Secretary A permanent secretary (also known as a principal secretary) is the most senior Civil Service (United Kingdom), civil servant of a department or Ministry (government department), ministry charged with running the department or ministry's day-to-day ...
for Justice * Somyot Chueathai, Associate Professor (สมยศ เชื้อไทย): Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University * Samak Sunthorawet (สมัคร สุนทรเวช): Leader of the People's Power Party, prime minister, minister of various ministries, Governor of Bangkok Metropolis * Sanya Thammasak, Professor (สัญญา ธรรมศักดิ์): Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University; Rector of Thammasat University; prime minister; President of the
Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
*
Suraphol Nitikraipot Suraphol Nitikraipot ( th, สุรพล นิติไกรพจน์) is a Thai professor of law, rector of Thammasat University, and an appointed member of the Thai military junta's National Legislative Assembly. Education Suraphol gra ...
, Professor (สุรพล นิติไกรพจน์): Member of the National Legislative Assembly; Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University; Rector of Thammasat University * Wissanu Krea-ngam, Associate Professor (วิษณุ เครืองาม): Deputy prime minister, Secretary General of the
Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...
, Associate Professor of the
Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University Chulalongkorn University in Thailand comprises nineteen constituent faculties, as well as six schools and colleges, which form the university's teaching units. Together, they offer 76 undergraduate and 375 postgraduate programmes, and (as of the 20 ...
*
Veera Musikapong Veerakarn Musikapong ( th, วีระกานต์ มุสิกพงศ์, ), born Veera Musikapong ( th, วีระ มุสิกพงศ์) on 24 May 1948 in Ranot, Songkhla Province, is a Thai politician. Veera was government sp ...
(วีระ มุสิกพงศ์): politician, journalist, activist for democracy *
Worachet Pakeerut Worachet Pakeerut ( th, วรเจตน์ ภาคีรัตน์, , ; born 8 August 1969) is a Thai legal scholar specialising in constitutional law, constitutional and administrative law and a professor at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat U ...
, Associate Professor (วรเจตน์ ภาคีรัตน์): Professor of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University *
Meechai Ruchuphan Meechai Ruchuphan ( th, มีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์, , ; born 2 February 1938 in Bangkok) is a Thai legal expert and politician who served as acting Prime Minister of Thailand in 1992. Life and career Education and civil se ...
, President of the National Legislative Assembly, President of the Senate of Thailand, deputy prime minister * Bajrakitiyabha (พัชรกิติยาภา): daughter of
Vajiralongkorn Vajiralongkorn ( th, วชิราลงกรณ; , ; born 28 July 1952) is the King of Thailand. He is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was made crown prince by his father. After his ...
, granddaughter of Bhumibol Adulyadej


Activities


Day Commemorating Prince Raphi

Every August, the faculty organises an Exhibition of the Day Commemorating Prince Raphi. Each year, four male and four female students are elected by students to be exhibition ambassadors who perform ceremonial functions. Activities consist of laying a wreath before the prince's statue at the Supreme Court of Justice as a homage to the prince, Buddhist rites, academic forums on various topics usually concerning political and social events, a free legal clinic, academic competitions, and a moot court.กิจกรรมวันรพี'49 7–8 ส.ค. ธรรมศาสตร์ ท่าพระจันทร์. (2549, 5 สิงหาคม). อนไลน์ เข้าถึงได้จาก
http://www4.eduzones.com/topic.php?id=5386
. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 17 สิงหาคม 2551).


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faculty of Law, Thammasat University Thammasat University Law schools in Thailand Educational institutions established in 1934 1934 establishments in Siam University departments in Thailand