Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law

JSW Law has advanced to the Grand Final of the Hague Inter-University Law Debate Tournament 2026 after an outstanding semi-final victory over the University of Nairobi. JSW Law will face the Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand) in the Grand Final.

Here is the list of law schools JSW Law has defeated en route to the Grand Final:

Preliminary Rounds:
* Jindal Global Law School (India)
* University of Bologna (Italy)
* Tallinn Law School (Estonia)
Octa-Final Round:
* University of Chile
Quarter-Final Round:
* National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)
Semi-Final Round:
* University of Nairobi (Kenya)

🏛️ **THIULDT 2026 – Semi-Final Results**

Supported by **Oxford University Press**, the two Semi-Finals of **The Hague Inter-University Law Debate Tournament 2026** are now complete.

🏆 **BT Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law** defeated **KE University of Nairobi**
**Final score:** 271 – 259.5

🏆 **NZ Auckland University of Technology** defeated **IT University of Bologna**
**Final score:** 256 – 255

👏 Congratulations to **Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law** and **Auckland University of Technology**, who will compete in the **Final of THIULDT 2026**.

👏 Congratulations also to the **University of Nairobi** and the **University of Bologna**, who will continue their journey in the **Match for 3rd Place**.

🌍 THIULDT 2026 continues to showcase rigorous legal debate, international exchange, and Hague Style debate across continents.

Associate Professors Sonam Tshering and Dema Lham presented papers at the 23rd Annual Asian Law Institute Conference 2026, hosted by Universitas Indonesia's Faculty of Law.

Sonam Tshering examined Gelephu Mindfulness City as a new category of legal order, framing economic development as its engine while embedding Gross National Happiness values into enforceable law.

Dema Lham presented her paper, Restorative Justice for Children in Conflict with the Law in Bhutan: A Doctrinal and Practice-Based Inquiry. Drawing on Bhutanese law, field-based research, and comparative experiences from across the Asia-Pacific region, the paper examines how restorative approaches such as diversion, family group conferencing, and community-based interventions can better promote accountability, rehabilitation, and reintegration while safeguarding the dignity and best interests of the child.
Beyond Bhutan, the presentation invites legal systems across Asia to reimagine child justice through a restorative lens, one that is more humane, effective, and meaningful for children, victims, and communities.

Selected among over 580 submissions, with roughly 100 papers chosen, their inclusion marks a notable milestone for law school’s legal scholarship on the international forums.

On the auspicious occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, the JSW Law family joins the nation in honouring Her Majesty’s exemplary service to the Kingdom.

Her Majesty’s unwavering dedication to the well-being of the people continues to inspire generations across Bhutan.

We offer our deepest gratitude and prayers for Her Majesty’s continued good health, happiness, and long life.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty.

Tashi Delek La! 🎊

After months of learning by doing, our graduating Class of 2026 returned to the JSW Law today to share their experiences at the Externship Showcase.

Through four interactive panel discussions, students reflected on their first impressions, workplace cultures, professional growth, and the practical challenges they navigated during their externships.

This year’s showcase highlighted the expanding global reach of our externship programme, with students sharing insights from placements in Singapore, London, and India, alongside experiences from Bhutan’s public, corporate, and civil society sectors.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the host institutions and mentors whose guidance and support enriched our students’ learning journeys.

👏 Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We wish you continued success in all your future endeavors.

The Bhutan Compassionate Leadership Forum (BCLF), a one-day high-level gathering on Compassionate Leadership for Just Peace and Sustainable Futures, was held at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law (JSW Law) in Paro, Bhutan. The event was graced by Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, Honourable Founding President of JSW Law. The Forum brought together Nobel Peace Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, policymakers, jurists, business leaders, academics, students, and civil society representatives to explore the integration of compassion into leadership, governance, and justice systems.

The Forum was convened as a global platform to advance compassion as a guiding force in response to pressing global challenges, including conflict, inequality, ecological stress, democratic erosion, and declining trust. It emphasized embedding compassion within leadership practice, policymaking, and institutional systems across sectors.

Keynote addresses and thematic dialogues explored compassionate approaches in governance, business, and justice systems, with Nobel Peace Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi highlighting compassion as a transformative force for justice and human dignity.

A key milestone of the Forum was the launch of the JSW–Satyarthi Compassionate Action Lab (JSW–SCAL), a joint initiative of JSW Law and the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion. Inspired by the vision of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and Mr. Satyarthi, the Lab will serve as a hub for research, education, dialogue, and community engagement, anchored in Bhutan’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness and the Globalisation of Compassion™ framework.

The Forum also featured the ceremonial unveiling of the Global Compassion Declaration (GCD), signed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, and jointly unveiled by the Honourable Founding President and Mr. Satyarthi. Emerging from the United Nations General Assembly side event in September 2025, the Declaration calls for compassion to guide leadership and collective action across government, business, law, education, media, faith, and civil society to address interconnected global crises.

A Memorandum of Understanding between JSW Law and the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion was also signed, formalising collaboration in education, research, and professional exchange, and supporting the establishment of JSW–SCAL.

The Forum further featured a curated exhibition titled “Soft Power and Strong Leadership: The Great Fourth’s Global Legacy,” highlighting His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s visionary leadership and the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, and its contribution to global discourse on sustainable and compassionate governance.

The Forum reaffirmed compassion as a guiding principle for leadership and called for continued collaboration to translate it into action across systems and institutions.

Admissions Open!
Applications are now open for the Postgraduate Diploma in National Law (PGDNL) programme at JSW Law.

Designed for graduates who have completed their LL.B. studies outside Bhutan, the programme provides a strong foundation in Bhutanese national law, legal systems, and professional practice.

Please note: Due to the limited number of applicants in recent years and increasing operational costs, the continuation of the programme is currently under review. If we do not receive the minimum required number of applications for this intake, the programme may not be offered next year.

📅 Registration closes: 30 June 2026�🔗 Apply now: https://jswlaw.bt/postgraduate-diploma-in-national-law-pgdnl-program/

Advance your legal career with the knowledge, skills, and professional grounding needed to practice law in Bhutan.

To strengthen facilitation, leadership, and teamwork competencies through experiential learning, JSW Law staff are participating in the MetaZone Facilitation Programs — BFG101: Introduction to Facilitation and BFG108: Thinking Like a Facilitator, conducted by facilitators from Singapore.

Call for Papers | 5th International Conference on Gross National Happiness and Law

Theme: “The Small-State Leadership & GNH”

JSW Law invites abstracts for the 5th International Conference on Gross National Happiness and Law, to be held on 12–13 November 2026.

The conference will explore how small states can exercise moral and intellectual leadership in shaping a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world through the lens of Gross National Happiness. It will bring together scholars, jurists, policymakers, and practitioners to engage with Bhutan’s GNH framework, comparative small-state experiences, and emerging models such as Gelephu Mindfulness City.

📍 Venue: JSW Law, Paro Bhutan
📅 Conference Dates: 12–13 November 2026

Congratulations to the Debate Team of JSW Law on qualifying for the Semi-Finals of THIULDT 2026 after an impressive Quarter-Final victory against National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

A proud moment for Bhutan and for JSW Law on the international debate stage. 👏

🏛️ THIULDT 2026 – Quarter-Final Results

🏆 Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law defeated National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Final score: 258 – 257

🏆 University of Nairobi qualified for the Semi-Finals following the withdrawal of University of Malta, which concludes the tournament in 8th place.

👏 Congratulations to Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law and University of Nairobi for reaching the Semi-Finals!

👏 Congratulations as well to Athens and Malta for their strong performances throughout THIULDT 2026.

🌍 The tournament continues to showcase international legal debate and Hague Style excellence across continents.