Global law firm White & Case LLP is set to build Bhutan’s first law school, the Royal Institute of Law that is scheduled to break ground in early 2015. This was highlighted at 2014 Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York, September 23, 2014.
According to a press release of the firm issued september 23, HRH princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuk, the president of the project and Chairman of White & Case, Hugh Verrier attended CGI’s Commitment to Action meeting. 
“We are proud to be part of this journey with the Kingdom of Bhutan,” said Hugh Verrier. He added, “The Royal Institute of Law will train the first generation of lawyers and judges skilled in both international and Bhutanese law. It is very meaningful to know our efforts are helping to create an institution that will play a central role in strengthening democracy and rule of law in Bhutan.”
HRH Princess Dechan said, “Working with White & Case in this regard of establishing law school allows us to lay down a path that will transform the legal profession in Bhutan.” She indicated to building of more self-sufficient legal manpower for future Bhutan, replacing the existing foreign-trained legal experts.
According to the release, posted in the site of White & Case, the pro bono firm will work to:
create the master plan for the law school,
develop a curriculum reflecting Bhutanese traditional practices and international best practices,
attract world class faculty and administrators,
prepare student recruiting materials and admission procedures,
design the school’s center for advanced legal study and research,
draft the school’s bylaws, and
appeal the potential donors.
White & Case has entered into collaboration with the kingdom of Bhutan in 2009 for completing a comprehensive needs assessment for legal education, requested by Royal education council. In July 2011, the firm assisted in establishing a law library in Thimphu, that now offers legal resources databases, law books and other printed materials previously unavailable in the country.
The first batch of the students opting to study law in the school is expected to begin the class in autumn 2017, the press release reads.
White & Case LLP is a global law firm with lawyers working from 39 offices across 26 countries.
