On 15 October 2025, I had the opportunity to accompany a delegation from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University (BYU Law School). The delegation was led by the Dean of BYU Law School, together with the Executive Director of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, law professors, and senior lawyers. We visited Thailand’s leading legal institutions to exchange ideas and explore cooperation.
The Institutions We Visited
The delegation met with four key institutions: the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University, the Faculty of Law at Chulalongkorn University, the Office of the Council of State (Krisdika), and the Lawyers Council of Thailand Under the Royal Patronage.
These four institutions form the backbone of Thailand’s legal system. Thammasat and Chulalongkorn are the two oldest and most influential law faculties in the country. The Office of the Council of State serves as the government’s principal legal advisory body. The Lawyers Council regulates the legal profession for every practicing lawyer in Thailand.
The fact that BYU Law School and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society chose to meet these institutions shows that both sides are serious about building meaningful cooperation.
Months of Coordination Behind the Scenes
This visit did not happen overnight. We spent months coordinating, reaching out, arranging meetings, and preparing everything. As a Thai lawyer and member of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, I played a role in connecting the American delegation with the Thai legal institutions.
Cross-border coordination like this is not easy. You need to understand both sides. You need to know who should meet whom. You need to prioritize. And you need to make sure every party sees the mutual benefit. I am very glad we made it happen.
Meeting Fellow Lawyers Who Share the Same Ideals
What impressed me the most was meeting fellow lawyers who share the same ideals. The J. Reuben Clark Law Society is an international professional organization with over 65 professional chapters and 125 student chapters around the world. Its mission is to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law, while affirming the strength that personal religious conviction brings to the practice of law.
Meeting lawyers who believe in the same things, public service, professional excellence, and personal faith, makes you feel that you are not doing this work alone.
What Is BYU Law School?
For those who are not familiar, BYU Law School, formally known as the J. Reuben Clark Law School, is the law school of Brigham Young University in Utah, United States. Founded in 1973, it is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). The school is well known for its strength in international law, human rights, and religious freedom.
The current Dean is Professor David H. Moore, a scholar of international law, foreign relations law, and human rights. He previously served as Acting Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
Looking Ahead
This visit is a beginning, not an end. There will be more good projects coming for the legal profession in Thailand. Academic exchange, knowledge sharing, and cross-border cooperation are all on the table.
I believe Thai lawyers have great potential on the international stage. What we need is a good bridge. And this is what I am trying to build for our profession.
Aphiwat Bualoi
Aphiwat Bualoi Law Office Co., Ltd.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
bualoi.law@hotmail.com
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