The Faculty of Law

The faculty of Law is the first Law School in Indonesia was established by the Dutch-Indies government in 1909 under the name of Rechtsschool. The school was established in Batavia to meet the demand of P.A. Achmad Djajadiningrat, the head of Serang regency, for law staff who will be placed in the regency’s court of law. In the beginning the school was divided into two courses: The Preparatory Course and The Advance Course. The school was then upgraded into a higher education institution under the name of Rechtshogeschool or Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid. The inauguration was delivered by Governor General D. Fockt on October 28, 1924 in Museum van het Bataviasche Vennootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen at Jalan Merdeka Barat Jakarta. A famous Dutch Professor, Prof. Mr. Paul Scholten, was appointed to lead the school. On 18 May 1928, the School of Law was officially closed and it was replaced by the Rechtshogeschool.

Both names were used in the regulations on institute for higher education at that time. The regulations were as follow; Hooger Onderwijs-Ordonnantie (S.1924 No. 456, later amended by S. 1926 No. 338 and No. 502, S. 1927 No. 395, S. 1926 No. 348, S. 1929 No. 222, S. 1932 No. 14, S. 1933 No. 345, S. 1934 No. 529).

According to chapter 9 of the regulations, subject matters taught at the Rechtshogeschool, are: Introduction to Law, State and Administration Law, Civil and Criminal Laws, Traditional Laws, Law and Islamic Rules, Trade Laws, Sociology, Governmental Science, Science of Dutch-Indies Nations, Malay Language, Javanese Language, Latin, Philosophy of Law, Principles of Roman Civil Laws, International Civil Law, Intergentil Law, Criminology, Psychology, Medical Forensic Science, International Law, Overseas Colonial Law, Dutch-Indies History and Statistic. The Governor General may by decree add any subject to the previously mentioned subjects to ensure that the law education is in line with society development.
The period of study at the Rechtshogeschool is five years and it is divided into two stages. The first stage should be completed within two years in which the candidate must pass a candidate’s exam (candidaatsexamen). The end of the second stage was marked with a doctoral examination (doctoraal-examen). During the last year, known as doctoral-examination part three, the candidate may select one out of four majors (richtingen) available. They are: Civil laws, Criminal Laws, State Laws and Sociology-Economics. According to chapter 10 of the regulations, those who passed this level have the right to use the Meester in de Rechten title. It gave the bearer of the title the right to be (a) an advocate and lawyer and other positions in the judicial field; (b) state employee in field of education (chapter 20). Rechtshogeschool regulations which was published in S.1924 No. 457 was amended for the last time by S.1936 No.106 and 438.

During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945) the Rechtshogeschool was closed and was reopened in 1946 under the name of Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid en Sociale Wetenschappen as a part of the Nood-Universiteit van Indonesië which was opened on 21 January 1946. This higher education institution was established by the NICA (Netherlands' Indies Civil Administration).
Five moths prior to that the Indonesian Government had established its own higher education institution, Balai Perguruan Tinggi Republik Indonesia, the Higher Education Council of The Republic of Indonesia on 19 August 1945.

At that time the institution consisted of four majors; Medicines, Pharmacy, Law and Literatures. Even though parts of the activities were moved outside of Jakarta, to Indonesian territory centered in Yogyakarta, the majority was still in Jakarta under the leadership of Prof. dr. Sarwono Prawirohardjo, Prof. dr. Sutomo Tjokronegoro, Prof. dr. Slamet Iman Santoso and Prof. Mr. Sudiman Kartohadiprodjo.

With the recognition of Indonesian sovereignty on 27 December 1949, an emergency law dated 30 January 1950 was decreed giving the Minister of Education, Learning and Culture the authority to take the necessary steps to ensure the continuation of higher education in Indonesia.
On 2 February 1950, Indonesia, represented by Dr. Abu Hanifah, met with the Dutch in the Faculty of Medicine auditorium at Jalan Salemba 6 Jakarta. The meeting was not successful and ended in a mess. But there was a silver lining, at that time a new education entity was born, The Universiteit Indonesia which later was renamed The Universitas Indonesia.

This university was a merger between the Universiteit van Indonesië and the Higher Education Council of The Republic of Indonesia. The Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid en Sociale Wetenschappen and the Faculty of Law from the Council for Higher Education were also merged. The new faculty took on the name of The Faculty of Law and Public Science (Fakulteit Hukum dan Pengetahuan Masyarakat). Prof. Mr. Djokosoetono was appointed as the first Dean and Prof. Mr. Dr. Hazairin as the Deputy.

The Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge curriculums and education basically were taken from the Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid en Sociale Wetenschappen. In 1969 several things were changed in line with the decisions taken in the Official Conference between the Major Faculty of Law in Indonesia, which was held in Yogyakarta from 29 thru 31 August 1968 and adjusted with the Minister of Education and Culture decree numbered 0198/U/1972, dated 30 December 1972 regarding the minimal curriculum. However; the curriculum pattern or the education system was still quite similar to the system used by Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid en Sociale Wetenschappen, with the exception of some subjects matters, the introduction of guided study system and the divisions of academic year in the semester,

The most significant changes occurred much later with the introduction of The Semester Credit System (System Credit Semester) which was based on the Minister of Education and Culture’s decree numbered 0124/U/1979 dated 8 June 1979. Both regulations (1972 and 1979) have been amended by another decree from the Minister of Education and Culture 0211/U/1982 dated 26 June 1982 and numbered 0212/U/1982.Based on these regulations on 31 July 1982, The FHUI Dean’s Letter of decision numbered 121/SK/D/FH/7/82 was published. The Director General of Higher Education Letter’s of Decision numbered 30/DJ/KEP/1983 dated 27 April 1983 regarding The Main Curriculum for Graduates Education in the Field of Law which has been implemented into The FHUI Dean’s Letter of Decision numbered 210/SK/D/ FH/7/1986 was also important to be noted.

Changes within the faculty’s organization occurred in 1959 with the opening of the Publisistics Major. In the year 1960, The Faculty of Law also offered an evening course intended for working students, this section was known as The Extension Course or The Faculty of Law Evening Section. The opening of this Extension Section was based on The Head of The Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge, Prof. Mr. Djokosoetono, letter numbered 4/915/Ib/61/K dated 1 August 1961 (Later on with the Dean’s Decree number 92/I/4/1994 dated 30 April 1994, the program was renamed The Faculty of Law Extension Program).

On 6 May 1968 with the Directorate General of Higher Education decree numbered 42, The Faculty of Law and Public Science (FH & IPK) was divided into two separate entities; The Faculty of Law and The Faculty of Public Science, the separation became official on 1 April 1969. The Faculty of Public Science was later known as The Faculty of Social Sciences and now it has become The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.

One section which has existed from the earlier times was the Notary Education, better known as The Notary Major. Ever since the merger in the 1950s’ (during The Universiteit van Indonesië it was lead by Prof. Mr. Slamet and during the earlier time at The Universitas Indonesia it was lead by Prof. Mr. Tan Eng Kiam and Prof. Mr. R. Soedja. In 1965 The State Examinations For Notary Level I and Level II was canceled, therefore; this education officially became universiter and it’s known as The Notary Major in The Faculty of Law Universitas Indonesia, with a study period of two years. Currently it is called Notary and Land Specialized Program.

In the year 1979, The Faculty of Law began planning for the opening of a post-graduate program (Stratum-2) to provide specialized training and the preparation for dissertation writing to the graduates of the faculty of law. A Working Committee for the Preparation/Formation of The Post-Graduate Program was headed by Mardjono Reksodiputro, S.H., MA. According to the Dean’s Decree number 29/1979 dated 20 October 1979; the tasks had to be completed in six-month time. Because he failed to meet the dead line; the personnel composition was changed and a time extension was given as per the Dean’s decree numbered 52 and 63 in the year 1980. The chair of committee remained the same.
The committee completed the task on 16 January 1981 with suggestions on curriculum, lecturers and the division of three study programs. The next task was assigned to a new committee headed by Dr. Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri, S.H, with the Dean’s Decree numbered 82 dated 19 January 1981. Later Dr. Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri, S.H was appointed The Co-coordinator in the field of Law, Faculty of Post-Graduate Universitas Indonesia (Now The Post-Graduate Program Universitas Indonesia)

The following names are former Dean of The Faculty of Law Universitas Indonesia;
Prof. R. Djokosoetono, S.H. (1950-1962), Prof. Soejono Hadinoto, S.H. (1962-1964), Prof. R. Subekti, S.H. (1964-1966), Prof. Oemar Seno Adji, S.H. (1966-1968), Prof. R. Soekardono, S.H. (1968-1970), Padmo Wahjono, S.H. (1970-1978), Ny. S.J. Hanifa Wiknjosastro, S.H. (1978-1984), Mardjono Reksodiputro, S.H., MA (1984-1990), Prof. Dr. Ch. Himawan, (1990-1993), dan Prof. R.M. Girindro Pringgodigdo, S.H. (1993-1998).
When Prof. R.M. Girindro Pringgodigdo, S.H., died on 3 April 1997, the position was given to Prof. Dr. Sri Setianingsih Suwardi, S.H., M.H. as a care-taker until the appointment of the new dean, Abdul Bari Azed, S.H., M.H. (1999-2003). Currently the position of the Faculty of Law Dean is held by Prof. Hikmahanto Juwana, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D.