The Legal Aid Office of the Bar Association toured Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, launching the forum "Laws People Should Know" to enhance legal literacy, awareness of rights, and access to justice in the community.
On 16 Aug 2016 GMT+7, Mr. Boonsong Noisophon, 2nd Vice President of the Senate and Chair of the Subcommittee of the Legal Aid Office of the Bar Association, assigned Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Thawan Ruiyaporn, Secretary-General of the Bar Association and subcommittee member, to open a traveling project at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University. The initiative aimed to build understanding of everyday legal matters, highlight rights, duties, and justice processes, and share expert legal and communication knowledge with youth, students, and local residents.
Associate Professor Dr. Chusit Pradabphet, President of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University; Associate Professor Dr. Thatree Mahantrat, Vice President for Resource Management; Dr. Tratun Noranitipadungkan, Bachelor of Laws program coordinator; Assistant Professor Narin Unkaew, Assistant Vice President for General Administration and Legal Affairs; and Assistant Professor Dr. Kanjana Sukaboon, Chair of the Bachelor of Laws Program Management Committee, participated in the event. Approximately 300 students and local residents attended, along with community leaders from Ayutthaya province. A free consultation desk was also set up to discuss legal issues and cases with the public.
Speakers included Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Thawan Ruiyaporn, Secretary-General of the Bar Association, who spoke on inheritance cases; Mr. Chet Suksomkasem, a law lecturer in Public Administration at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University and subcommittee member, who addressed legal problems in real market disputes; Mrs. Kanda Champathip, subcommittee member and senior editor of the Thai PBS program "Station of the People," who discussed AI scams; and Dr. Sapong Singsombun, who spoke on the Act on Fines as Wills.
The lectures focused on explaining laws in practical ways that citizens can apply, linking them to social issues such as fraud, rights violations, consumer problems, online threats, and situations requiring complaint or justice processes.
The project aims to raise awareness among youth and students entering the workforce and society that legal knowledge is a vital "life skill," comparable to financial, technological, or communication skills. It enables better risk assessment, awareness of exploitation, and more thoughtful decision-making.
This initiative helps participants gain legal knowledge they can apply daily and pass on to their families and communities.
The traveling legal knowledge dissemination project serves as a key channel connecting "legal knowledge" with "people's real lives," helping to close the gap between citizens and the justice system. Ultimately, knowing the law is not just about restrictions but about understanding rights, duties, solutions, and how to protect oneself against injustice.