EN BANC

[B.M. 850. October 2, 2001]

MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION RE OLUTION

ADO!TING T"E RE#I ED RULE ON T"E CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION $OR MEMBER O$ T"E INTEGRATED BAR O$ T"E !"ILI!!INE
Considering the Rules on the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) for members of the Integrated Bar of the Phili ines (IBP)! recommended by the IBP! endorsed by the Phili ine "udicial Academy! and re#ie$ed and assed u on by the %u reme Court Committee on Legal Education! the Court hereby resol#es to a ro#e! as it hereby a ro#es! the follo$ing Re#ised Rules for ro er im lementation&
R%&e 1. !UR!O E

%EC'I(N )* Purpose of the MCLE* + Continuing legal education is re,uired of members of the Integrated Bar of the Phili ines (IBP) to ensure that throughout their career! they -ee abreast $ith la$ and .uris rudence! maintain the ethics of the rofession and enhance the standards of the ractice of la$*
R%&e 2. MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

%EC'I(N )* Commencement of the MCLE* + /ithin t$o (0) months from the a ro#al of these Rules by the %u reme Court En Banc! the MCLE Co''(ttee )*+&& be co,)t(t%te- +,- shall commence the im lementation of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) rogram in accordance $ith these Rules* %EC* 0* Requirements of completion of MCLE* + Members of the IBP not e1em t under Rule 2 shall com lete e#ery three (3) years at least thirty4si1 (35) hours of continuing legal education acti#ities a ro#ed by the MCLE Committee* (f the 35 hours&
.+/ At least si1 (5) hours shall be de#oted to legal ethics e0%(1+&e,t to )(2 .3/ cre-(t %,(t). (b) At least four (6) hours shall be de#oted to trial and retrial s-ills e0%(1+&e,t to 4o%r .5/ cre-(t %,(t).

(c) At least fi#e (7) hours shall be de#oted to alternati#e dis ute resolution e0%(1+&e,t to 4(1e .5/ cre-(t %,(t). (d) At least nine (8) hours shall be de#oted to u dates on substanti#e and rocedural la$s! and .uris rudence e0%(1+&e,t to ,(,e .6/ cre-(t %,(t). (e) At least four (6) hours shall be de#oted to legal $riting and oral ad#ocacy e0%(1+&e,t to 4o%r .5/ cre-(t %,(t). (f) At least t$o (0) hours shall be de#oted to international la$ and international con#entions e0%(1+&e,t to t7o .2/ cre-(t %,(t). (g) 'he remaining si1 (5) hours shall be de#oted to such sub.ects as may be rescribed by the MCLE Committee e0%(1+&e,t to )(2 .3/ cre-(t %,(t).

R%&e 8. COM!LIANCE !ERIOD

%EC'I(N )* Initial compliance period* 44 'he initial com liance eriod shall begin not later than three (3) months from the ado tion of these Rules* E1ce t for the initial com liance eriod for members admitted or readmitted after the establishment of the rogram! all com liance eriods shall be for thirty4si1 (35) months and shall begin the day after the end of the re#ious com liance eriod* %EC* 0* Compliance Groups* 44 Members of the IBP not e1em t from the MCLE re,uirement shall be di#ided into three (3) com liance grou s! namely&
(a) Compliance group 1* 44 Members in the National Ca ital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila are assigned to Com liance 9rou )* (b) Compliance group 2* 44 Members in Lu:on outside NCR are assigned to Com liance 9rou 0* (c) Compliance group 3* 44 Members in ;isayas and Mindanao are assigned to Com liance 9rou 3*

Ne1ert*e&e)), 'e'ber) '+9 :+rt(c(:+te (, +,9 &e;+& e-%c+t(o, +ct(1(t9 7*ere1er (t '+9 be +1+(&+b&e to e+r, cre-(t %,(t to7+r- co':&(+,ce 7(t* t*e MCLE re0%(re'e,t. %EC* 3* Compliance period of members admitted or readmitted after establishment of the program* + Members admitted or readmitted to the Bar after the establishment of the rogram shall be assigned to the a ro riate Com liance 9rou based on their Cha ter membershi on the date of admission or readmission* 'he initial com liance eriod after admission or readmission shall begin on the first day of the month of admission or readmission and shall end on the same day as that of all other members in the same Com liance 9rou *
(a) /here four (6) months or less remain of the initial com liance eriod after admission or readmission! the member is not re,uired to com ly $ith the rogram re,uirement for the initial com liance* (b) /here more than four (6) months remain of the initial com liance eriod after

admission or readmission! the member shall be re,uired to com lete a number of hours of a ro#ed continuing legal education acti#ities e,ual to the number of months remaining in the com liance eriod in $hich the member is admitted or readmitted* %uch member shall be re,uired to com lete a number of hours of education in legal ethics in ro ortion to the number of months remaining in the com liance eriod* <ractions of hours shall be rounded u to the ne1t $hole number*

R%&e 5. COM!UTATION O$ CREDIT UNIT .CU/

%EC'I(N )* Guidelines* 4 CRE=I' UNIT ARE E>?I;ALEN' '( CRE=I' @(?R%* CREDIT UNIT 'e+)%re co':&(+,ce 7(t* t*e MCLE re0%(re'e,t %,-er t*e R%&e), b+)e- o, t*e c+te;or9 o4 t*e &+79er<) :+rt(c(:+t(o, (, t*e MCLE +ct(1(t9. T*e 4o&&o7(,; +re t*e ;%(-e&(,e) 4or co':%t(,; cre-(t %,(t) +,- t*e )%::ort(,; -oc%'e,t) re0%(re- t*ere4or=
PR GR!M"#!C$I%I$& CRE'I$ ()I$" "(PP R$I)G ' C(ME)$" 1* "EMI)!R"+ C )%E)$I )"+ C ),ERE)CE"+ "&MP "I!+ I)-. ("E E'(C!$I ) PR GR!M"+ / R0". P"+ 'I!L G(E"+ R ()' $!1LE 'I"C(""I )" 1& !PPR %E' PR %I'ER" ()'ER R(LE 2 !)' $.ER REL!$E' R(LE" 1*1 P!R$ICIP!)$# !$$E)'EE 1*2 LEC$(RER RE" (RCE "PE!0ER 1*3 P!)ELI"$#RE!C$ R C MME)$!$ R# M 'ER!$ R# C R'I)!$ R# ,!CILI$!$ R 1 C( PER . (R , !$$E)'!)CE ,(LL C( , R $.E "(13EC$ PER C MPLI!)CE PERI ' 1#2 , C( , R $.E "(13EC$ PER C MPLI!)CE PERI ' CER$I,IC!$E , !$$E)'!)CE /I$. )(M1ER , . (R" P. $ C P& , PL!4(E R "P )" R5" CER$I,IC!$I ) CER$I,IC!$I ) ,R M "P )" RI)G RG!)I6!$I )

2. AUTHORSHIP, EDITING AND REVIEW 2*1 L!/ 1 0 , ) $ LE"" $.!) 177 P!GE" 2*2 1 0 E'I$ R ,(LL C( , R $.E "(13EC$ PER C MPLI!)CE PERI ' 1#2 , $.E C( , !($. R".IP C!$EG R& 1#2 , C( , R $.E "(13EC$ PER C MPLI!)CE PERI ' P(1LI".E' 1 0

P(1LI".E' 1 0 /I$. PR , !" E'I$ R '(L& CER$I,IE'# P(1LI".E' $EC.)IC!L REP R$#P!PER P(1LI".E' !R$ICLE

2*3 RE"E!RC. P!PER I)) %!$I%E PR GR!M# CRE!$I%E PR 3EC$

2*8 LEG!L !R$ICLE , !$

1#2 , C( , R $.E

LE!"$ $E) 917: P!GE" 2*; LEG!L )E/"LE$$ER# L!/ 3 (R)!L E'I$ R )E/"LE$$ER#3 (R)!L 2*< PR ,E"" RI!L C.!IR# 1!R RE%IE/ LEC$(RE L!/ $E!C.I)G#

"(13EC$ PER C MPLI!)CE PERI ' 1 C( PER I""(E P(1LI".E'

,(LL C( , R $.E "(13EC$ PER C MPLI!)CE PERI '

CER$I,IC!$I ) , L!/ 'E!) R 1!R RE%IE/ 'IREC$ R

R%&e 5. CATEGORIE O$ CREDIT UNIT

%EC'I(N )* Classes of Credit units* 44 Cre-(t %,(t) are either artici atory or non4 artici atory* %EC* 0* Claim for participator= credit units* 44 Partici atory credit %,(t) may be claimed for&
(a) Attending a ro#ed education acti#ities li-e seminars! conferences! con#entions! sym osia! in4house education rograms! $or-sho s! dialogues or round table discussion* (b) % ea-ing or lecturing! or acting as assigned anelist! reactor! commentator! resource s ea-er! moderator! coordinator or facilitator in a ro#ed education acti#ities* (c) 'eaching in a la$ school or lecturing in a bar re#ie$ class*

%EC* 3* Claim for non-participator= credit units* + Non4 artici atory credit %,(t) may be claimed er com liance eriod for&
(a) Pre aring! as an author or co4author! $ritten materials ublished or acce ted for ublication! e*g*! in the form of an article! cha ter! boo-! or boo- re#ie$ $hich contribute to the legal education of the author member! $hich $ere not re ared in the ordinary course of the memberAs ractice or em loyment* (b) Editing a la$ boo-! la$ .ournal or legal ne$sletter*

R%&e 3. COM!UTATION O$ CREDIT "OUR .C"/

%EC'I(N )* Computation of credit hours* 44 Credit hours are com uted based on actual time s ent in an education acti#ity in hours to the nearest one4,uarter hour re orted in decimals*
R%&e >. E?EM!TION

%EC'I(N )* Parties e>empted from the MCLE* 44 'he follo$ing members of the Bar are e1em t from the MCLE re,uirement&
(a) 'he President and the ;ice President of the Phili ?ndersecretaries of E1ecuti#e =e artmentsB ines! and the %ecretaries and

(b) %enators and Members of the @ouse of Re resentati#esB (c) 'he Chief "ustice and Associate "ustices of the %u reme Court! incumbent and retired members of the .udiciary! incumbent members of the "udicial and Bar Council and incumbent court la$yers co#ered by the Phili ine "udicial Academy rogram of continuing .udicial educationB (d) 'he Chief %tate Counsel! Chief %tate Prosecutor and Assistant %ecretaries of the =e artment of "usticeB (e) 'he %olicitor 9eneral and the Assistant %olicitors 9eneralB (f) 'he 9o#ernment Cor orate Counsel! =e uty and Assistant 9o#ernment Cor orate CounselB (g) 'he Chairmen and Members of the Constitutional CommissionsB (h) 'he (mbudsman! the (#erall =e uty (mbudsman! the =e uty (mbudsman and the % ecial Prosecutor of the (ffice of the (mbudsmanB (i) @eads of go#ernment agencies e1ercising ,uasi4.udicial functionsB (.) Incumbent deans! bar re#ie$ers and rofessors of la$ $ho ha#e teaching e1 erience for at least ten ()C) years in accredited la$ schoolsB (-) 'he Chancellor! ;ice4Chancellor and members of the Cor s of Professors and Professorial Lecturers of the Phili ine "udicial AcademyB and (l) 9o#ernors and Mayors*

%EC* 0* ther parties e>empted from the MCLE* + 'he follo$ing Members of the Bar are li-e$ise e1em t&
(a) 'hose $ho are not in la$ ractice! ri#ate or ublic* (b) 'hose $ho ha#e retired from la$ ractice $ith the a ro#al of the IBP Board of 9o#ernors*

%EC* 3* Good cause for e>emption from or modification of requirement +A member may file a #erified re,uest setting forth good cause for e1em tion (such as hysical disability! illness! ost graduate study abroad! ro#en e1 ertise in la$! etc*) from com liance $ith or modification of any of the re,uirements! including an e1tension of time for com liance! in accordance $ith a rocedure to be established by the MCLE Committee* %EC* 6* Change of status* + 'he com liance eriod shall begin on the first day of the month in $hich a member ceases to be e1em t under %ections )! 0! or 3 of this Rule and shall end on the same day as that of all other members in the same Com liance 9rou * %EC* 7* Proof of e>emption* + A lications for e1em tion from or modification of

the MCLE re,uirement shall be under oath and su

orted by documents*

R%&e 8. TANDARD $OR A!!RO#AL O$ EDUCATION ACTI#ITIE

%EC'I(N )* !ppro?al of MCLE program* + %ub.ect to the (':&e'e,t(,; re;%&+t(o,) that may be ado ted by the MCLE Committee! continuing legal education rogram may be granted a ro#al in either of t$o (0) $ays& ()) the ro#ider of the acti#ity is an +ccre-(te- ro#ider and certifies that the acti#ity meets the criteria of %ection 0 of this RuleB and (0) the ro#ider is s ecifically mandated by la$ to ro#ide continuing legal education* %EC* 0* "tandards for all education acti?ities* + All continuing legal education acti#ities must meet the follo$ing standards&
(a) 'he acti#ity shall ha#e significant current intellectual or ractical content* (b) 'he acti#ity shall constitute an organi:ed rogram of learning related to legal sub.ects and the legal rofession! including cross rofession acti#ities (e*g*! accounting4ta1 or medical4legal) that enhance legal s-ills or the ability to ractice la$! as $ell as sub.ects in legal $riting and oral ad#ocacy* (c) 'he acti#ity shall be conducted by a ro#ider $ith ade,uate rofessional e1 erience* (d) /here the acti#ity is more than one ()) hour in length! substanti#e $ritten materials must be distributed to all artici ants* %uch materials must be distributed at or before the time the acti#ity is offered* (e) In4house education acti#ities must be scheduled at a time and location so as to be free from interru tion li-e tele hone calls and other distractions*

R%&e 6. ACCREDITATION O$ !RO#IDER

%EC'I(N )* Accreditation of pro?iders* 44 Accre-(t+t(o, of ro#iders shall be done by the MCLE Committee* %EC* 0* Requirements for accreditation of pro?iders* + Any erson or grou may be +ccre-(te- as a ro#ider for a term of t$o (0) years! $hich may be rene$ed! u on $ritten a lication* All ro#iders of continuing legal education acti#ities! including in4 house ro#iders! are eligible to be accredited ro#iders* A lication for +ccre-(t+t(o, shall&
(a) Be submitted on a form ro#ided by the MCLE CommitteeB (b) Contain all information re,uested in the formB (c) Be accom anied by the a ro riate a ro#al fee*

%EC* 3* Requirements of all pro?iders* 44 All a ro#ed +ccre-(te- ro#iders shall agree to the follo$ing&

(a) An official record #erifying the attendance at the acti#ity shall be maintained by the ro#ider for at least four (6) years after the com letion date* 'he ro#ider shall include the member on the official record of attendance only if the memberAs signature $as obtained at the time of attendance at the acti#ity* 'he official record of attendance shall contain the memberAs name and number in the Roll of Attorneys and shall identify the time! date! location! sub.ect matter! and length of the education acti#ity* A co y of such record shall be furnished the MCLE C(MMI''EE* (b) 'he ro#ider shall certify that& ()) 'his acti#ity has been a ro#ed BD '@E MCLE C(MMI''EE in the amount of EEEEEEEE hours of $hich EEEEEE hours $ill a ly in (legal ethics! etc*)! as a ro riate to the content of the acti#ityB (0) 'he acti#ity conforms to the standards for a ro#ed education acti#ities rescribed by these Rules and such regulations as may be rescribed by the MCLE C(MMI''EE* (c) 'he ro#ider shall issue a record or certificate to all artici ants identifying the time! date! location! sub.ect matter and length of the acti#ity* (d) 'he ro#ider shall allo$ in4 erson obser#ation of all a ro#ed continuing legal education acti#ity by '@E MCLE C(MMI''EE! members of the IBP Board of 9o#ernors! or designees of the Committee and IBP staff Bo+r- for ur oses of monitoring com liance $ith these Rules* (e) 'he ro#ider shall indicate in romotional materials! the nature of the acti#ity! the time de#oted to each to ic and identity of the instructors* 'he ro#ider shall ma-e a#ailable to each artici ant a co y of '@E MCLE C(MMI''EE4a ro#ed Education Acti#ity E#aluation <orm* (f) 'he ro#ider shall maintain the com leted Education Acti#ity E#aluation <orms for a eriod of not less than one ()) year after the acti#ity! co y furnished the MCLE C(MMI''EE* (g) Any erson or grou $ho conducts an unauthori:ed acti#ity under this rogram or issues a s urious certificate in #iolation of these Rules shall be sub.ect to a ro riate sanctions*

%EC* 6* Rene@al of pro?ider accreditation* + 'he +ccre-(t+t(o, of a ro#ider may be rene$ed e#ery t$o (0) years* It may be denied if the ro#ider fails to com ly $ith any of the re,uirements of these Rules or fails to ro#ide satisfactory education acti#ities for the receding eriod* %EC* 7* Re?ocation of pro?ider accreditation. 44 the +ccre-(t+t(o, of any ro#ider referred to in Rule 8 may be re#o-ed by a ma.ority #ote of the MCLE Committee! after notice and hearing and for good cause*
R%&e 10. $EE $OR A!!RO#AL O$ ACTI#ITY AND ACCREDITATION O$ !RO#IDER

%EC'I(N )* Pa=ment of fees* + A lication for a ro#al of an education acti#ity or accreditation as a ro#ider re,uires ayment of the a ro riate fee as ro#ided in the %chedule of MCLE <ees*

R%&e 11. GENERAL COM!LIANCE !ROCEDURE

%EC'I(N )* Compliance card* 44 Each member shall secure from the MCLE Committee a Com liance Card before the end of his com liance eriod* @e shall com lete the card by attesting under oath that he has com lied $ith the education re,uirement or that he is e1em t! s ecifying the nature of the e1em tion* %uch Com liance Card must be returned to the Co''(ttee ,ot later than the day after the end of the memberAs com liance eriod* %EC* 0* Member record Aeeping requirement* -- Each member shall maintain sufficient record of com liance or e1em tion! co y furnished the MCLE Committee* 'he record re,uired to be ro#ided to the members by the ro#ider ursuant to %ection 3F of Rule 8 should be a sufficient record of attendance at a artici atory acti#ity* A record of non4 artici atory acti#ity shall also be maintained by the member! as referred to in %ection 3 of Rule 7*
R%&e 12. NON@COM!LIANCE !ROCEDURE

%EC'I(N )* /hat constitutes non-compliance* + 'he follo$ing shall constitute non4com liance&
(a) <ailure to com lete the education re,uirement $ithin the com liance eriodB (b) <ailure to ro#ide attestation of com liance or e1em tionB (c) <ailure to ro#ide satisfactory e#idence of com liance (including e#idence of e1em t status) $ithin the rescribed eriodB (d) <ailure to satisfy the education re,uirement and furnish e#idence of such com liance $ithin si1ty (5C) days from recei t of non4com liance noticeB (e) <ailure to ay non4com liance fee $ithin the rescribed eriodB (f) Any other act or omission analogous to any of the foregoing or intended to circum#ent or e#ade com liance $ith the MCLE re,uirements*

%EC* 0* )on-compliance notice and <7-da= period to attain compliance* 4Members failing to com ly $ill recei#e a Non4Com liance Notice stating the s ecific deficiency and $ill be gi#en si1ty (5C) days from the date of notification to file a res onse clarifying the deficiency or other$ise sho$ing com liance $ith the re,uirements* %uch notice shall contain the follo$ing language near the beginning of the notice in ca ital letters&
I< D(? <AIL '( PR(;I=E A=E>?A'E PR((< (< C(MPLIANCE /I'@ '@E MCLE RE>?IREMEN' BD (IN%ER' =A'E 5C =AD% <R(M =A'E (< N('ICE)! D(? %@ALL BE LI%'E= A% A =ELIN>?EN' MEMBER AN= %@ALL N(' BE PERMI''E= '( PRAC'ICE LA/ ?N'IL %?C@ 'IME A% A=E>?A'E PR((< (< C(MPLIANCE I% RECEI;E= BD '@E MCLE COMMITTEE. Members gi#en si1ty (5C) days to res ond to a Non4Com liance Notice may use this eriod to attain the ade,uate number of credit %,(t) for com liance* Credit %,(t) earned during this

eriod may only be counted to$ard com liance $ith the rior com liance eriod re,uirement unless %,(t) in e1cess of the re,uirement are earned! in $hich case the e1cess may be counted to$ard meeting the current com liance eriod re,uirement*

R%&e 18. CON EAUENCE O$ NON@COM!LIANCE

%EC'I(N )* )on-compliance fee* 44 A member $ho! for $hate#er reason! is in non4 com liance at the end of the com liance eriod shall ay a non4com liance fee* %EC* 0* Listing as delinquent member* 44 A member $ho fails to com ly $ith the re,uirements after the si1ty (5C) day eriod for com liance has e1 ired! shall be listed as a delin,uent member of the IBP u on the recommendation of the MCLE Committee* 'he in#estigation of a member for non4com liance shall be conducted by the IBPAs Commission on Bar =isci line as a fact4finding arm of the MCLE Committee* %EC* 3* !ccrual of membership fee* 44 Membershi fees shall continue to accrue at the acti#e rate against a member during the eriod heGshe is listed as a delin,uent member*
R%&e 15. REIN TATEMENT

%EC'I(N )* Process* 44 'he in#oluntary listing as a delin,uent member shall be terminated $hen the member ro#ides roof of com liance $ith the MCLE re,uirement! including ayment of non4com liance fee* A member may attain the necessary credit %,(t) to meet the re,uirement for the eriod of non4com liance during the eriod the member is on inacti#e status* 'hese credit %,(t) may not be counted to$ard meeting the current com liance eriod re,uirement* Credit %,(t) e+r,e- during the eriod of non4 com liance in e1cess of the number needed to satisfy the rior com liance eriod re,uirement may be counted to$ard meeting the current com liance eriod re,uirement* %EC* 0* $ermination of delinquent listing is an administrati?e process* + 'he termination of listing as a delin,uent member is administrati#e in nature AN= it shall be made by the MCLE Committee*
R%&e. 15. COMMITTEE ON MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

%EC'I(N )* Composition* + 'he MCLE Committee shall be com osed of fi#e (7) members! namely! a retired "ustice of the %u reme Court as Chair! and four (6) members res ecti#ely nominated by the IBP! the Phili ine "udicial Academy! a la$ center designated by the %u reme Court and associations of la$ schools andGor la$ rofessors* 'he members of the Committee shall be of ro#en robity and integrity* 'hey shall be a ointed by the %u reme Court for a term of three (3) years and shall recei#e such

com ensation as may be determined by the Court* %EC* 0* 'ut= of committee* + 'he MCLE Committee shall administer and ado t such im lementing rules as may be necessary sub.ect to the a ro#al of the %u reme Court* It shall! in consultation $ith the IBP Board of 9o#ernors! rescribe a schedule of MCLE fees $ith the a ro#al of the %u reme Court* %EC* 3* "taff of the M !E Committee* + %bBect to +::ro1+& b9 t*e %:re'e Co%rt! the MCLE Committee shall em loy such staff as may be necessary to erform the record4-ee ing! auditing! re orting! a ro#al and other necessary functions* %EC* 6* "ubmission of annual budget* + 'he MCLE Committee shall submit to the %u reme Court 4or +::ro1+&! an annual budget Hfor a subsidyI to establish! o erate and maintain the MCLE Program* 'his resolution shall ta-e effect on the fifteenth of %e tember 0CCC! follo$ing its ublication in t$o (0) ne$s a ers of general circulation in the Phili ines* Ado ted this 00nd day of August! 0CCC! as amended on C0 (ctober 0CC)* 'a?ide+ 3r*+ C*3*+ 1ellosillo+ Melo+ Puno+ %itug+ MendoBa+ Panganiban+ 4uisumbing+ Pardo+ 1uena+ &nares-"antiago+ 'e Leon+ 3r*+ and "ando?al-GutierreB+ 33*+ concur* 0apunan+ 3*+ on official lea#e*