Faculty of Law, Thammasat University

Faculty of Law,
Thammasat University
คณะนิติศาสตร์
มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์
Motto "The Chao Phraya flows incessantly,
So do the morals of Niti Dome;
Children of Dome shall light the society
With the justice we uphold."
("Dome" refers to the University.)
Type Academic faculty of a public university
Established 27 June 1934
Dean Udom Rathamarit, Professor
Administrative staff
 85 (teaching staffs)
Students 4,000
Location Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Campus

• Tha Phra Chan Campus
No. 2, Phra Chan Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, 10200
14°04′32″N 100°37′02″E / 14.07559°N 100.61722°E / 14.07559; 100.61722Coordinates: 14°04′32″N 100°37′02″E / 14.07559°N 100.61722°E / 14.07559; 100.61722
• Rangsit Campus
No. 99, Village 18, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng Subdistrict, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, 12120

• Lampang Campus
No. 248, Village 2, Pong Yang Khok Subdistrict, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province, 52190
Colours      White
Mascot Balance and Yellow Tiger
Website Law.tu.ac.th

The Faculty of Law, Thammasat University (Thai: คณะนิติศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์; rtgs: Khana Nitisat Mahawitthayalai Thammasat) is an administrative agency of the Thai Government, being an academic faculty attached to Thammasat University, Ministry of Education. It is the second oldest university faculty in the country, preceded only by the Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University.[1][2][3][4] Also, it has long played a major role in the politics of Thailand and among its graduates counts many former prime ministers, ministers, senior government officers, judges, including Presidents of the Supreme Court of Justice, and other public figures.[1]

History

Thammasat University's Faculty of Law dates from the initiation of the Law School in 1907 by Prince Raphi Phatthanasak Krommaluang Ratchaburi Direk Rit, the western-educated Minister of Justice and a son of King Chulalongkorn. Classes were originally conducted at the luncheon lobby of the Prince's palace; he would give 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 Rhapi 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 took the Law School under his patronage. 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.

Following the successful coup d'état against King Prajadhipok, 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 the next year, 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:[5]

“ Section 4. There shall be established a university called 'Moral and Political Science University', bearing the duty to provide education as to legal science, political science, economic science and all other branches concerning moral and political science.

Section 5. The Faculty of Law and Public Administration, Chulalongkorn University, as well as its property and budgets shall all be transferred to the University by 1 April 1934.

 ”

An open admission university at the beginning, Thammasat offered only a "Bachelor of Jurisprudence" course.

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 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 retained its previous evaluation system (point average system) as a main system for education assessment until the present.

In 2006, the 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 Rangsit Campus in Changwat Pathum Thani, where there had been hosted the 1998 Asian Games and the 2007 Summer Universiade.

In 2008, Lampang Campus of the University has been established. The University announced open the branch office of the Faculty of Law there, where the law courses began in the following year. The persons capable of becoming the students at this Campus are required to have completed secondary education and to be domiciled in the Northern Region of the country. The student admission system has also been dichotomised into the University's selection (Direct Admission System) and the Government's selection (Central Admission System). In each year, about 150 students will be selected out of those applied in the former system, and further 50, from the latter.[6]

Administration

Administers

List of Thammasat University's Faculty of Law Deans[7]
Name Years in Office

1. Nitisatphaisan (Wan Chamonman), Prof Phraya 1949—1953
2. Latphlithammaprakhan (Wong Latphli), Prof Phraya 1953—1960
3. Atthakariniphon (Sitthi Chunnanon), Prof Phraya 1960—1968
4. Sanya Dharmasakti, Prof 1968—1971
5. Chitti Tingsaphat, Prof 1971—1974
6. Acting Dean 1974—1975
7. Pridi Kasemsap, Prof 1975—1976
8. Acting Dean 1976—1978
9. Mana Phitthayaphon, Prof 1978—1979
10. Phaisit Phiphatthanakun, Prof 1979—1982
11. Kiatkhachon Watthanasak, Assoc Prof 1982—1985
12. Preecha Suwannathat, Assist Prof 1985—1986
13. Phanat Thatsaniyanon, Instructor 1886—1988
14. Prathan Watthanawanit, Assoc Prof 1988—1991
15. Somyot Chueathai, Assist Prof 1991—1997
16. Suthi Supphanit, Assoc Prof 1997—1998
17. Suthi Iamprayun, Assist Prof 1998—2001
18. Suraphol Nitikraipot, Prof 2001—2004
19. Kamchai Chongchakkraphan, Assoc Prof 2004—2007
20. Somkit Lertpaithoon, Prof 2007—2010
21. Surasak Likasitwatanakul, Prof 2010—2013
22. Narong Chaihan, Assoc Prof 2013—2016
23. Udom Rathamarit, Prof 2016—present

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

Academic Divisions

Thammasat University's Faculty of Law consists of the following academic divisions:

Courses[8]

Undergraduate Courses

Each year, the Faculty has an intake of about 600–700 undergraduate students contemplating the 4-year LL.B. programme, with a total students of almost 2,000–3,000 students for the whole four years. 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.

Staffed by over 100 well-qualified teaching members with overseas experience from various jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan and so forth, the Faculty has maintained its recognised status as the best law school of the Country.

Teaching law at this law school is distinct. Not only provisions of law are taught. Students are introduced philosophical foundations underlying "black letters" of the codes or legislation 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". Altruistic attitudes and social responsibilities are instilled, all along the line of the "social dedication" spirit adhered to by the University since its inauguration in 1934. Remarkably, the Faculty has thus far produced holders of significant offices of the country.

Graduate Courses

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. Indeed, under the LL.M. programme, in an attempt to promote expertise in specific areas, 8 fields of study are offered: Private Law, Criminal Law, Business Law, International Law, International Trade Law, Tax Law, Public Law, and Environmental Law.

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 5 terms (2.5 years). The Faculty of Law plans to operate an English-Language LL.M. Programme in Business Law in 2009.

With the well-known expertise in public law, the Faculty also offers the 1-year Graduate Diploma Programme in Public Law, mostly enrolled by Government and State officials, with an annual intake of up to 100 students. A certain limit of credits earned from this Diploma Programme may be transferred towards the LL.M. Programme. Further, the Faculty also offers the Graduate Diploma Programme in Business Law which provides intended fields of concentration e.g. "Intellectual Property" or "Risk Management and Insurance".

At the doctoral level, the Faculty welcomes candidates with excellent legal knowledge. Admission is granted mainly through an English test as well as a qualifying examination on the result of preliminary study on a selected topic. This uppermost programme is mainly based upon independent research, although attendance at the Legal Methodology Class is compulsory.

Symbols


Notable alumni

Prominent Activities

Day Commemorating Prince Raphi


In every August, the Faculty annually organises an Exhibition of the Day Commemorating Prince Raphi. The activities in which consists of: laying wreath before the Prince's Statue at the Supreme Court of Justice as a homage to the Prince, Buddhist ceremonies, academic forums on various topics which are usually concerning the ongoing political and social events in the country, legal clinic sans frais, academic competitions, moot court. etc.[12][13]

Each year, four male and another four female students of the Faculty will be elected by all students to become the Exhibition ambassadors carrying out public relations campaigns as to the Exhibition and laying wreaths of homage.

References

  1. 1 2 คณะนิติศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์. (2547). ประวัติคณะนิติศาสตรบัณฑิต สาขาวิชานิติศาสตร์ . [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก . (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 25 สิงหาคม 2551).
  2. ↑ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล. (2549). ประวัติของมหาวิทยาลัยมหิดลโดยสังเขป. [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก . (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 25 สิงหาคม 2551).
  3. ↑ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย. (2548). ประวัติศาสตร์จุฬาฯ . [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก . (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 25 สิงหาคม 2551).
  4. ↑ มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์. (2551). Kasetsart University : แนะนำมหาวิทยาลัย. [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก . (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 25 สิงหาคม 2551).
  5. ↑ "พระราชบัญญัติมหาวิทยาลัยวิชาธรรมศาสตร์และการเมือง พุทธศักราช 2476". (2476, 20 มีนาคม). ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, (เล่ม 50). [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2476/A/1007.PDF. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 17 สิงหาคม 2551).
  6. ↑ คณะนิติศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ ศูนย์ลำปาง. (2551,กันยายน). รับสมัครบุคคลเข้าศึกษาในระดับปริญญาตรี (ภาคปกติ) หลักสูตรนิติศาสตรบัณฑิต. จุลสารข่าวคณะนิติศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ ศูนย์ลำปาง. ฉบับพิเศษ, 8.
  7. ↑ ประวัติบุคคลสำคัญเกี่ยวกับคณะนิติศาสตร์. (2550). [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: http://www.law.tu.ac.th/About_LAW/list_dean/list_dean.html. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 16 สิงหาคม 2551).
  8. ↑ Faculty of Law, Thammasat University. (n.d.). History of the Faculty . [Online]. Available: < http://www.law.tu.ac.th/law%20eng/main.html >. (Accessed: 31 October 2008).
  9. ↑ "ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง กำหนดภาพเครื่องหมายราชการตามพระราชบัญญัติเครื่องหมายราชการ พุทธศักราช 2482 (ฉบับที่ 50) ลงวันที่ 2 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2509". (2509, 1 มีนาคม). ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, (เล่ม 83, ตอนที่ 19). [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: <คลิก>. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 27 กรกฎาคม 2552).
  10. ↑ บ้านคนรักสุนทราภรณ์. (มปป.). นิติศาสตร์สามัคคี . [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: . (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 20 สิงหาคม 2551).
  11. ↑ บ้านคนรักสุนทราภรณ์. (มปป.). นิติศาสตร์สมานฉันท์ . [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก . (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 20 สิงหาคม 2551).
  12. ↑ Thaipr.net . (2551, 25 กรกฎาคม). คณะนิติศาสตร์ ม.ธรรมศาสตร์ จัดงานวันรพี ในวันที่ 7 สิงหาคม นี้. [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จากซ http://www.ryt9.com/news/2000-07-25/24012560/. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 17 สิงหาคม 2551).
  13. ↑ กิจกรรมวันรพี'49 7–8 ส.ค. ธรรมศาสตร์ ท่าพระจันทร์. (2549, 5 สิงหาคม). [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: http://www4.eduzones.com/topic.php?id=5386. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 17 สิงหาคม 2551).
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