Post Graduate Diploma in National Law (PGDNL)

Course Outline

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1. Introduction

Post Graduate Diploma in National Law (PGDNL) is a one-year full-time course designed for the
law graduates who are selected from the Bhutan Civil Service Examination and granted scholarship.
In addition, the course is further extended to self-finance law graduates from recognized
universities/institutions and desiring to practice as lawyers and legal counsel in the corporate,
private sectors or self-employed legal firms in the country.

The legal course had been initiated for the first time on 8 th February, 1995 on the command of His
Majesty the King by the Judiciary mainly to address the acute shortage of law graduates and legal
officers in the country. The course was designed to provide the graduates with a thorough
understanding of the Bhutanese laws and general legal system of Bhutan. It aimed at presenting the
legal concepts and principles in the context of Bhutanese culture, national language and society and
the laws derived from them.

2. Course Duration

The course is offered for one year on a full-time basis with 120 credit points.

3. Course Coordination and Collaboration

The course is conducted under the Department of Management Development (DMD) of the RIM in
close collaboration with the Bhutan National Legal Institute (BNLI) which is the research and the
training arm of the Judiciary.

Course Coordinator
Phuntsho Wangdi
Phone 02 351013/77237186
Email: phuntsho_wangdi@rim.edu.bt

Programme Assistant
Jangchub Dema
Phone: 02-351013
Email: jangchub_dema@rim.edu.bt

4. Admission Requirements

The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) Scholarship candidates are selected through the Bhutan
Civil Service Examinations (BCSE) conducted by Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC).
Admission for the privately sponsored candidates is governed by Admission Rules and Regulations

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of the Royal Institute of Management (RIM). Each candidate (other than the RCSC selected
graduates) must have scored at least 50% in Dzongkha in Class 12 final examination or obtained
pass marks in Dzongkha bridging course or pass mark in Dzongkha entrance exam conducted by
RIM.

5. Any Accreditation requirements and Authority

The course has been designed following the guidelines prescribed in the RIM Academic Policy and
Bhutan Qualifications Framework (BQF).

6. Validation of the Course

This course is validated based on the Training Needs Analysis carried out by the RIM Team in 2019,
findings from the 2019 OD Exercise of the RIM, and further consultations with key stakeholders
including Judiciary, BNLI, Office of the Attorney General, Bar Council of Bhutan and Jigme Singye
Wangchuck School of Law conducted in July 2020.

7. Course Objectives

The aims of the course is to train competent and professional lawyers in the judiciary as well as legal
counselors for corporate, private and civil society organizations. Specifically, the objectives of the course are
to:
i. Develop competent and professional law and legal graduates who can understand and
interpret the Bhutanese Laws and legal systems of our country.

ii. Enhance the knowledge of phonetics, spellings and grammar that will enrich dzongkha
vocabulary while drafting, pleading and conveyancing since Bhutanese laws are written in
liturgical language.

iii. Develop skills to generate, compile and analyze case evidence through logical thinking and
reasoning while handling cases.

iv. Develop the values of compassionate leadership and manage human skills using emotional
intelligence and proper conduct of three doors- body, speech and mind.

v. Develop range of skills on digital, management and leadership while executing government
policies and development programmes.

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8. Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, PGDNL graduates should be able to:

i. Comprehend, interpret and apply the Bhutanese laws effectively in ensuring justices in the
society.
ii. Gain skills on effective communication such as reading, writing, speaking and listening while
discharging the judicial services.
iii. Apply logic, philosophy and reasoning while handling court cases.
iv. Able to inculcate the Bhutanese values of conduct through body, speech and mind beside
applying the ways of life of bodhisattvas through compassionate leadership.
v. Apply the management and leadership skills, digital skills and effective management of
programmes and government policies.

9. Graduate Attributes

The course focuses on developing and inculcating the following graduate attributes:

Sl. No. Attributes Definition 

GA1 Competent and Knowledgeable in understanding and application of Bhutanese

professionalism in laws and respect for the established protocols of the legal systems
Bhutanese laws and legal of the country.
systems

GA2 Logical thinking, Encompassing the values of humility, selflessness, rationality and
analytical and reasoning analytical mind.
mindset

GA 3 Communication skills  The ability to read, write, listen and speak the views, thoughts and
ideas effectively in a variety of forms and contexts. 

GA 4 Learning to learn skills  The ability and willingness to pursue and persist in learning which
includes organizing one’s own learning through effective
management of time and information, individual conduct and
uphold values.

GA 5 Compassionate mindset, The ability to understand and manage the emotions of oneself, of
Emotional intelligence others and of groups. Develop a good heart, a sense of kindness
and self-awareness and freedom in today’s world of hatred and malice, thereby
rendering impartially while discharging justices.

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 GA6 Leadership and The ability to apply interpersonal and prlblem solving skills to
Management skills influence and guide others toward a goal. It includes leveraging
strengths of others to accomplish a common goal.

10. Summary of Course Contents

PGDNL, as a diploma level course, is 120 credit points (CP) programme. In total, there are a total of
9 units with 10 CP and 6 units with 5 CP. In addition to the credited units, the course also offers non-
credit workshops and seminars on a number of topics. The detailed course structure is given under
Section 11 below.

11. Course Structure and Units

The PGDNL is a one-year full time course spread over three terms. Normally, in each term, there are
13 teaching weeks and three weeks for assessment including examination week. However, for the
year 2021, the course is customize into eight weeks per term for the period of eight months due to
covid protocols. The course is structured to reflect the incremental academic rigor and to balance
academic knowledge with real life workplace skills. Besides the credited units, students will also
have the opportunity to complete non-credit units in each term. These non-credit units are designed
for holistic personal development of our students. The detailed course structure and the units being
offered in each term is attached herewith.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Pre-Term RIM Orientation Programme: 28th June, 2021

Term I (31st May to 30th July, Term II (2nd August to 8th October, Term III (18th October to 17th
2021) 2021 ) December, 2021 )

13 weeks of Teaching 13 weeks of Teaching 13 weeks of Teaching

1 week of Examinations 1 week of Exam 1 week of Exam

3 Weeks of Assessment 3 Weeks of Assessment 2 weeks of Assessment

2 weeks of Field Visits

ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

10 CP Units 10 CP Units 10 CP Units

1.Thrim I (Sa, Nyen & Kelthrim) 1. Thrim II: Criminal Laws (Penal 1. Thrim IV: The Evidence Act of
Code of Bhutan) Bhutan and Buloen Thrim

2. Thrim V: Tsathrim (The 2. Thrim III: Civil and Criminal Court 2. Contract Law
Constitution of the Kingdom of Procedures

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Bhutan)

3. Sumtag 3. Legal Drafting and Research

Writing

5 CP Units 5 CP Units 5 CP Units

1. Ngagdron 1. Ngyen Ngag 1.Choenjug

2. Digital Literacy Certification 2. Dzongkha Unicode 2. Workshop on public Sector

(ICDL) Innovation (Design Thinking)

3. Tshema 3. Moot Court and Trial Advocacy

Skills

Non-Credited Units: Non-Credited Units: Non-Credited Units:

1. Seminar on EI & Self Awareness 1. Seminar on Nangkha Nangdrig 1.Seminar on Leadership &
(SIY & Choe-shey) (Mediation) Management (LEAD & Actions)

2. Personal Development 2. Seminar on Government Policy & 2.Seminar on Company Law

Workshop: Drig Lam Nam Zha Development Programs/ Real Life
experience sharing

3. Seminar on Regulatory Impact 3. Field Visits

Assessment (RIA) 3. Yigkur Namzha (TLU)

Note: PGDNL will run on an intensive mode during the Academic Year 2021 from June to December 2021.
Therefore, all the 10 CP and 5 CP units will be conducted over a period of 8 weeks (5 hours per week) to
cover the required 39 sessions.

12. Teaching and Learning Methodology

This course adopts a mix of teaching and learning approaches such as: case studies, case
presentation, and mock session. Further, these teaching and learning approaches are supported by a
variety of modes of delivery, which includes, role play, lectures, and cooperative team learning. The
course has assessment modality such as assignments, case studies, projects, oral presentation,
exams/tests and other exercises.

13. The offering Department

The course is offered under the Department of Management Development (DMD), Royal Institute of
Management.

14. Contact hours

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All credited units will have 39 hours of face-to-face teaching. In addition, students are required to
put in 111 hours of self-learning for each unit to make up 150 notional hours for each unit. The
contact hours and self-learning for non-credit units will vary depending on the units. The
requirement for notional hours for each credited unit is governed by the RIM Academic Policy.

15. Alignment of Course Objectives with the Units, Learning Outcomes, and Graduate
Attributes
Objective 1: Bhutanization
Learning Graduate Credited Units Non-credited units
Outcomes Attributes
i, ii, iii, iv, v i, ii, iii, iv, v  Thrim I  Seminar on
 Thrim II Nangkha-
 Thrim III Nangdrig
 Contract Law  Seminar on
 Legal Drafting and Research Writing Company
 Sumtag Law
 Tshema  Yigkur
 Ngagdoen Namzha
 Choenjug  Field visits on
Moot Court
 Dzongkha Unicode
 Moot Court and Trail Advocacy

Objective 2: Professional Expertise in Laws

Learning Graduate Credited Units Non-credited units
Outcomes Attributes
i, ii, iii, iv, v i, iii, vii  Thrim I  Seminar on Nangkha-
 Thrim II Nangdrig
 Thrim III  Seminar on Company Law
 Contract Law  Field Visits on Moot Court
 Legal Drafting and 
Research Writing

Objective 3: Management and Leadership skills

Learning Graduate Credited Units Non-credited units
Outcomes Attributes
ii, iv, v ii, iii, iv, v, vi  Workshops and Seminars  LeAD & Actions

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 on Design Thinking  RIA

Objective 4: Learning – Lifelong learning

Learning Graduate Credited Units Non-credited units
Outcomes Attributes
i, ii, iii, iv, i, ii, iii, iv, v,  All credited units  All non-credited units
v, vi

Objective 5: Personal Development

Learning Graduate Credited Units Non-credited units
Outcomes Attributes
ii, iv, v ii, iii, iv, v  Choenjug  Driglam Namzha
 Seminar on EI & Self
Awareness (SIY)
 Choshey

16. Alignment of Units with Graduate Attributes (GA)

The table below shows the alignment of each unit to the respective graduate attributes of the course.
Name of the Units Graduate Attributes
Credit Thrim I (Sa, Ngyen, Kel) GA1, GA4
Units Tsha-thrim GA1, GA4
Sumtag GA3, GA4
Contract Law GA1, GA4
Legal Drafting and Research Writing GA1, GA2, GA4
Tshema GA2, GA4
Thrim 2 (The Penal Code of Bhutan) GA1, GA4
Thrim 3 (Civil and Criminal Court Procedures) GA1, GA4
Thrim 4 (Evidence Act of Bhutan) GA1, GA2, GA4
Dzongkha Unicode GA3, GA4

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 Yikur Namzha GA3, GA4
Digital Literacy Certification (ICDL) GA3, GA4
Ngagdoen GA3, GA4
Seminar on Moot Court & trial advocacy/field visits GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4
Choenjug GA2, GA4, GA5
Seminar on Design Thinking GA2, GA4, GA6
Non- Seminar on EI & Self Awareness (SIY & Choe-shey) GA2, GA4, GA5, GA6
Credit Seminar on Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) GA3, GA4, GA6
Units
Personal Development Workshop: Drig Lam Nam Zha GA4, GA5
Seminar on Nangkha Nangdrig (Mediation) GA1, GA4, GA6
Seminar on Government Policy & Development Programmes/ GA4, GA6
Real Life experience sharing
Seminar on Leadership & Management (LeAD & Actions) GA4, GA6
Seminar on Company Law GA1, GA4