KP Sharma

Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law (JSW) will offer the Post Graduate Diploma in National Law (PGDNL), a one-year course for graduates who have studied law outside Bhutan, beginning in August this year.

Bhutan National Legal Institute (BNLI) and JSW announced this earlier this month.

The decision was made about five months after BNLI announced the discontinuation of the course at RIM in January of this year.

A notification from BNLI stated that the decision has been made after a series of meetings between the Bar Council of Bhutan, BNLI, JSW, the judiciary, and the RCSC.

JSW notified the graduates through the school’s website, stating that the school agreed to take over the course with the intent to help the law graduates who have studied outside the country practise law in Bhutan by equipping them with sound knowledge of Bhutanese laws.

It would also equip the graduates with the skills to understand, interpret, and practise pleading and conveyance in the language of the court.

The two-semester programme would cost at least Nu 107,500 for the students. This includes Nu 10,300 as tuition fees, Nu 3,500 for the mess, and Nu 1,000 as accommodation fees per month.

According to the information shared on the website, graduates should have a law degree from outside Bhutan and possess a Class XII pass certificate with a 60 percent mark in Dzongkha.

Those graduates who do not have a BHSEC certificate must have an equivalent secondary education and a pass certificate with a 60 percent mark in the Dzongkha test conducted by the law school.

On the other hand, if students do not meet the 60 percent Dzongkha requirement, they must undergo a two-week bridging Dzongkha language course of 12 credits.

The school announced a capacity of 40 students who would be selected on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Registration started on June 15 and ends on June 30, 2023.