Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.
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It is very important to have an Ethical Code for Thai lawyers just like for any professional in order to protect the public. In most countries, registered lawyers must follow their “ethical code” and it can apply also outside of their country. An ethical code are some regulations, rules that lawyers must follow and they are in place normally to protect the clients, to protect justice. It a lawyer fail to follow one of these rules, he or she can lose the license to practice law or have other penalties.
There are normally committee and/or places where you can complain about the behavior of a lawyer. Strangely I found almost nothing about this subject in English before translating and founding the texts below, which are pretty shallow.
Thai lawyers are no exception but the rules here are simple, short and not very detailed. We did a NON-OFFICIAL translation of these “Ethical Code for Thai lawyers”. The translation was very difficult and we hope you will understand most of this text. Our goal is only to inform and please read the disclaimer below this page. The 1986 rules are still the ones in force. The Lawyers Council has amended them twice, and both times only on court dress: regulation No. 2 of B.E. 2566 (Royal Gazette, 27 June 2023) rewrote the dress rule for women lawyers in clause 20(2), and regulation No. 3 of B.E. 2568 added dress rules for lawyers whose gender identity differs from their sex at birth.
ETHICAL CODE FOR THAI LAWYERS
- Lawyers Council regulation on lawyers’ ethics, B.E. 2529 (1986) (in Thai)
- Ethic rules of Thai Lawyers in English. Regulation of 1986 (same document as previous, with unofficial translation)
Registered foreign attorneys must follow the rules of their own legal association, and normally even if they work abroad, they are subjects to the rules of their own country. But many foreign “lawyers” in Thailand are not lawyers and do not have a license to practice law. Even if a foreign lawyer is registered in his own country,, he can normally not plead in Court in Thailand.
Foreigners are restricted by law to be “attorneys”. That doesn’t mean they are not qualify and can’t work for a law firm. Any international law firm in Thailand do employ foreign attorneys, from Tilleke Gibbins, to Baker Mackenzie or ThaiLawOnline.. Yes, I know, we are way smaller than these 2 others! But we try to maintain high quality legal services.
Two organisations
The Lawyers Council of Thailand (TLC) and the Thai Bar (TBA, เนติบัณฑิตยสภา) are the two bodies a Thai lawyer answers to. The TLC licenses lawyers and enforces their ethics; the Thai Bar is the body every applicant for a licence must first join (Lawyers Act B.E. 2528, section 35). That is the problem: Should a Bar Association represent the best interests of the lawyers or the best interest of the public? Well, not everyone follow their Ethical Code for Thai lawyers. But this is crucial.
a) TLC
- The TLC was created by the Lawyers Act B.E. 2528 (1985). Section 6 makes it a juristic person made up of its committee and its members, and section 7 gives it its objects, among them controlling lawyers’ ethics and running welfare for its members. It registers and licenses lawyers: section 8(1) gives it that power and duty, and under section 36 the Board accepts the registration and issues the licence once the applicant meets the section 35 qualifications. Its committee is one representative of the Ministry of Justice, one of the Thai Bar, and a president and up to 23 other members elected by lawyers nationwide, at least nine of whom must have offices in the regions (section 14).
b) TBA
- The Thai Bar is older than the Council, and the Lawyers Act treats it as an existing body. Its place in the profession is written into that Act: membership of the Thai Bar is a condition of a lawyer’s licence (section 35), and the Thai Bar has a seat on the Council’s committee (section 14).
The two are linked by law rather than by function: the Thai Bar is the gate to the profession, and the Council regulates those who pass through it.
Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between the TLC and the TBA:
| Feature | Thailand Lawyer’s Council | Thai Bar Association |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Lawyers Act B.E. 2528 (1985), section 6 | An existing body the Lawyers Act refers to |
| Governing body | Committee elected by lawyers, plus a Ministry of Justice and a Thai Bar representative (section 14) | Its own rules, not covered on this page |
| Role for a lawyer | Licenses lawyers and enforces their ethics | Membership required before a licence (section 35) |
| Membership | Every licensed lawyer (section 37) | Every applicant for a lawyer’s licence |
Thai lawyers (in 2024) do not have a mandatory liability insurance. They do not have normally escrow accounts. These practices were established a long time ago abroad to protect the public. There are still a lot to do in Thailand, to follow the Ethical Code for Thai lawyers.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026. The statements of law on this page were checked against the Lawyers Act B.E. 2528 (sections 6, 7, 14, 35 and 37), the Lawyers Council regulation on lawyers’ ethics B.E. 2529, and its amendment No. 2 of B.E. 2566 as published in the Royal Gazette. The author’s own experience and opinions are his and are not part of that check.
Ethical rules from abroad for foreign lawyers apply even if they work in Thailand
If a foreign lawyer acts unethically in Thailand, you can file a complaint with their bar association. Lawyers’ ethical codes usually apply everywhere they practice, whether they’re acting as an attorney or if they violate any rules through their behavior.
When someone uses titles like “legal advisor,” “legal consultant,” or “director of X,” they often are not an “attorney,” “lawyer,” or “barrister.” It’s important to ask for their qualifications, experience, and references. Remember, only Thai nationals can be licensed as lawyers in Thailand (Lawyers Act B.E. 2528, section 35). Genuine attorneys will not hesitate to share their legal status, education, and can easily provide their license number. You can also check their status with their Bar Association in Thailand or abroad if you wish.
Foreign attorneys must follow their Ethical Code.
As for me, I was admitted to the Bar of Quebec but chose to resign a few years ago. Why? I was paying $2,000 in membership fees per year without receiving anything in return. Moreover, they required me to complete 30 hours of continuing education about Quebec laws every two years, despite my having lived and worked in Asia for over 10 years.
Leaving the bar was a better decision for me. However, I continuously learn about Thai law and strive to improve my knowledge and skills, as any lawyer should. I’ve never been investigated for failing to follow an ethical rule. If your Thai lawyer doesn’t do the work properly, do not hesitate to make a complaint to his Bar Association. An Ethical Code for Thai lawyers should apply!
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