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Law studies in the Philippines

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) is a four year graduate program designed to help students become
lawyers.

Find Law schools

NCR (Metro Manila)

There are eight major subjects included in the LL.B. curriculum: Civil, Political, Labor, Criminal,
Commercial, International, Tax and Remedial laws. All these subjects are required by the
Supreme Court of the Philippines for the completion of the Law program, plus a number of other
subjects (Legal Research, Legal Ethics and Labor Standards). In addition, students are required

Related Courses

to choose one elective subject out of the following subjects: Admiralty, Advanced Taxation,

BS in Criminology

Agrarian Law and Social Legislation, Appellate Practice and Brief Making. These subjects are

BS in Legal Management

usually oered in the fourth year of law school.

AB in Legal Management

The rst two years of the Bachelor of Laws program are spent in rigorous classroom discussions,
oral recitations, case study analysis and debates. During junior and senior years law students will
undergo an extensive apprenticeship in a duly recognized law rm, a research court
apprenticeship and an on the job training in a government agency or a public legal assistance
agency (Public Attorneys Oce).
A nal requirement during the fourth year of law school and one of the highlights in the Law
program is the thesis making. The topic may come from any subject of law or issues concerning
legal matters. The thesis is done under the supervision of a faculty and culminates when the
student faces a committee to defend his/her work.

Is Law a profession?
Law is a profession. A graduate of Bachelor of Laws who passes the Philippine Bar Examination is
called an Attorney or a Lawyer. Depending on which eld of specialization a Lawyer chooses,
roles and responsibilities will signicantly vary. Compared to other professions, Lawyers have a
wide array of jobs. This includes explaining the law and giving general legal advice, representing
a client and advising them on their legal situation, settling disputes and supervising any
agreements, drafting contracts and other legal documents, analyzing legal documents,
researching and gathering evidence, creating oral argument in the courts, attending court
hearings to defend clients, conveyancing (making documents necessary for the transfer of
properties such as deeds and mortgages) and prosecuting criminal suspects.

What are the admission requirements for Bachelor of Laws?

Requirements at each school may dier, but these are the common requirements:
(See source 1 and source 2)
Pre-Law bachelors degree:
To be admitted to the Law program, a student must have completed a bachelors degree in
arts or science in an authorized university or college, with any of the following subjects as
major or eld of concentration:
Political Science
Philosophy
English
Economics
History
Other degrees - required subjects:
In the event that an applicant is a bachelors degree holder in a eld other than those
mentioned above, he/she may still be admitted as long as he/she has earned the following
minimum number of units in certain subject areas:
English: 12 units
History and/or Economics: 9 units
Social Sciences (Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Literature) : 21 units
Math : 6 units
Rizal: 3 units
Recommendation letter: must submit a recommendation letter from reputable source and

from previous college dean or any faculty of member of his/her previous school.
Police clearance: must submit a copy of Police or NBI clearance showing no involvement in
cases of moral turpitude (rape, robbery, forgery).
Admission Test: an applicant shall be required to take the Law Aptitude Examination (LAE)
or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) before being accepted. He/she will then be
evaluated according to the score that he/she obtains. There are schools that require an
above average rating or depending on the specied rating set by the school.
English Prociency Examination: must pass an English Prociency Examination with a rating
not less than 80%.
Interview: must undergo a separate interview with the College Admissions Ocer as well as
the College Dean.
Employment status: there are schools that do not accept applicants who are currently
employed. They only admit those who can be full time students.

What skills, traits and attitude will help you succeed in this
course?
The following characteristics will help you survive Law school:
Analytical and Logical reasoning the ability to review complex written documents, draw
inferences and create connections among legal evidences
Critical thinking the ability to discern concepts, comprehend evidences and integrate them
with certain legal theories
Reasoning skill the ability to discover underlying principles between two or more subjects
and use it to solve a case.
Organization ability to sort, order and manage large volumes of exhibits, documents, les,
evidence, data and other information.
Sound Judgment the ability to consistently think clearly, carefully, and independently.
Attention to detail the ability to eye pertinent data and evidences that can be used for a
case
Stellar communication skills the ability to prociently speak and write English and convey
information in a clear, concise, and logical manner.
Memorization skills the ability to recall concepts that have been previously studied and
apply it to new cases.
Diligence and commitment

How dicult is Bachelor of Laws?

Bachelor of Laws is a dicult course. It requires a great amount of time and eort. You must
have the passion to study law in order to graduate from the program. Consistency and diligence
is very important. Expect that when you take up law you have to consistently study every night
for the next four years. The most common mistake among many applicants is the thought that
because they are able to articulate and read English prociently, they are a good t to take up
Law. However, Law goes beyond pronouncing words well, it requires reading comprehension. It is
a complicated subject with lots of diering rulings on various aspects of the law. Studying law
also involves lots of writing on complex subjects.
Getting a law degree is nothing like getting a bachelors degree. Many law classrooms are run
more like courts than like classrooms. Professors in law school are not your average professors.
These professors do not at all behave like teachers in a classroom; they behave like lawyers in a
court, trying to prove that each and every one of the students in the room did not do the required
reading thoroughly enough.
In addition, the Philippine Bar Examination is one of the hardest board exams; only a small
percentage of examinees are able to pass.

How long does it take to complete the L.L.B program in the

Philippines?
Generally, the L.L.B. program takes four years to complete. However, there are certain schools
that follow a ve year curriculum. In schools that follow a trimestral curriculum, the program may
be completed in less than four years.

After graduation, a sixmonth comprehensive review program prepares law students for the
Philippine Bar Examination. The program features classes and lectures from members of the Law
School's faculty as well as other legal scholars and practitioners.

Apprenticeship
Law schools who accept employed students do not require apprenticeships and on the job
trainings. Instead, to supplement for the lack of hands on experience, they are required to attend
seminars and selected court hearings. Most of these activities are scheduled on weekends or
selected days of the week.
The apprenticeship program requires qualied attorneys who will assist the students in the actual
practice of law. The supervising attorney evaluates the performance of the students and
recommends to the Dean whether academic credits can be granted on the basis of such
evaluation. Students must earn a total of four (4) academic credits from apprenticeship work to
be eligible for graduation.

Specializations
The most common elds of specializations in Law are as follows:
Constitutional Law the body of law that regulates the federal, state, and local
governments; most often associated with fundamental rights like equal protection, the right
to bear arms, freedom of religion, and the right to free speech.
Criminal Law body of rules that denes conduct prohibited by the government because it
threatens and harms public safety and welfare; examples are kidnapping, rape, robbery,
murder, rebellion.
Business Law governs transactions between business entities, contracts, sales, business
organizations, property, and bailments.
Labor Law an area of the law that deals with the rights of employers, employees, and labor
organizations.
Civil Law covers disputes between individuals, companies and sometimes local or central
government.
Tax Law covers the rules, policies and laws that oversee the tax process, which involves
charges on estates, transactions, property, income, licenses and more by the government.
Family Law an area of the law that deals with familyrelated matters and domestic
relations; examples include annulment, adoption, child custody.

Philippine Bar Examination

To be a fulledged lawyer in the Philippines and be eligible to use the title Attorney, a graduate
of Bachelor of Laws needs to pass the Philippine Bar Examination. The examination is conducted
by the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the Supreme Court Bar Examination Committee. It
is scheduled once a year in the four Sundays of October.
There are eight sets of subjects included in the exam and each subject has its corresponding
weight. Civil Law (15%), Labor Law and Social Legislation (10%), Mercantile Law (15%),
Criminal Law (10%), Political and International Law (15%), Taxation (10%), Remedial Law
(20%) and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises (5%) are the eight main subjects included in the
exam.
To pass the examination you should obtain a passing average of 75%, with no grade falling
below 50% in any bar subject. Compared to other eligibility examinations, the Bar Exam can only
be taken six times. Failure to pass in the rst three examinations means disqualication of a
candidate. However, he/she may take a fourth and fth examination provided that he successfully
completes a one (1) year refresher course for each examination. Once a candidate fails in his/her
fourth and fth attempt, he/she will be required to take another one year refresher course, after
which, the candidate may again take the sixth and nal bar examination.
The result of the board examination is usually released during March, 5 months after the exam.

Is the LL.B. degree dierent from the Juris Doctor degree?

Can you become a lawyer by taking the Juris Doctor program:

Both the Bachelor of Laws program and the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program are professional law
degrees that entitle a graduate to practice law in the Philippines, given that they pass the
Bar Examination.
Admission requirements:
Generally speaking, admission requirements for both programs are similar.
Duration:
Both programs take 4 years to complete.
Curriculum:
The J.D. program requires students to nish the core bar subjects in 2.5 years, and take
elective subjects.
Thesis:
The J.D. program requires you to prepare and defend a thesis. In the L.L.B. program, a thesis
is not always required (its up to the school).
Apprenticeship:
The J.D. program always requires an apprenticeship, while the L.L.B. doesnt always require
one (its up to the school).
(see sources 1, 2 and 3)

Career opportunities for Bachelor of Laws graduates

Jobs for Certied Lawyers (bar exam passers)
The number of lawyers in the Philippines is very low in international comparison. According
to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the ocial organization of Filipino lawyers,
there are approximately 50,000 attorneys at present. Majority of lawyers are hired by
government agencies, law rms and non-government organizations, while others turn to
private practice after passing the bar examination.

Entry Level jobs

Jobs requiring no prior to minimal level of experience:
Junior Associate Attorney lawyers who recently passed the bar exam and work
as assistants to senior lawyers in rms
Sta Attorney performs a specialized function such as rule review or the
preparation of annotations for publication
Assistant Corporation Counsel lawyers who work directly for a business or
company; assist in any matter requiring legal knowledge or advice.
Attorney Recruitment Coordinator oversee the process of hiring and recruiting
qualied attorneys at major law rms.
MidLevel Positions
Require trainings and prior job experience of a few years:
Private Practice Lawyer work alone in a small oce or alongside many lawyers
at a large law rm
Senior Corporate Counsel employed in the legal department of a medium to
large company, and responsible for drafting documents and contracts,
representing the company in legal agreements, and responsible for any matter
requiring legal advice.
Junior Partner in a Law Firm assists the senior partner in preparing important
legal cases and is usually the second counsel during trials.
Corporate Lawyer ensure the legality of commercial transactions, advising
corporations on their legal rights and duties
Tax Lawyer possess strong knowledge of tax laws and issues including income,
property, gift and federal tax.
Senior Legal Counsel responsible for providing quality and timely legal support
and advice: the primary lawyer in major cases
Criminal Defense Attorney also known as criminal defense lawyers and public
defenders, defend individuals, organizations and entities that have been charged
with a crime.
Notary public a public ocer appointed by a state government; helps prevent
fraud by witnessing the signing of documents and verifying their authenticity.
Law Professor conduct the law classes according to the college academic
standards and rules.
Civil Rights Attorney an attorney that concentrates on special interest groups or

a specic civil rights issue

Mediator facilitate negotiation and settlement between disputing parties by
providing direction and encouragement, working collaboratively with the parties
and nding creative ways to reach a mutual solution.
Advanced Positions
Require years of extensive experience and practice:
Senior Partner in a Law Firm the primary responsibility for managing the
business of the Firm, with particular emphasis on the provision of legal services,
the performance of all partners and other time keepers and nancial performance,
client relationships and satisfaction.
Law rm owner a highly tenured lawyer who owns a legal clinic
Law College Dean head of a schools law department
Court Judge preside over cases brought before the court and review legal briefs,
arguments and evidence presented by the defense and the prosecution
Associate Justice second to the highest position in the Supreme Court; votes on
cases, drafts opinions
Attorney General the main legal advisor to the government, and in some
jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement,
public prosecutions or even ministerial responsibility for legal aairs
Government Agency head (Supreme Court of the Philippines, Ombudsman,
Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Justice and Court of
Appeals)

Jobs for Non Bar Passers:

Paralegal assists lawyers in preparing for trials, hearings and closings
Law Clerk receives and les documents and vital records; maintains all les as keeper
of les and records
Court Reporter provides the verbatim ocial record of all court testimony and
activity and, when necessary, grand jury proceedings; prepares transcripts of court
proceedings as directed.
Law Librarians analyze legal sources for accuracy and quality; they are responsible
for selecting new books and information resources for the library
Private Investigator nd facts and analyze information about legal, nancial, and
personal matters; verify people's backgrounds, nding missing persons, and
investigating computer crimes.

Jobs not related to L.L.B. that graduates can apply to

These jobs will mainly depend on the undergraduate course that one has nished or the
existing position that one is holding. For example, an accountant who graduated Bachelor of
Laws may work as an accountant; a teacher may continue teaching and so on.

Career Opportunities Abroad

The law profession is a course distinct from country to country. Every nation has a diverse
set of law governing them thus Filipino lawyers are not in demand abroad. To be able to
practice law abroad you need to study the course and pass the examination in the country
of your choice. However, there are countries like the United States who allow Filipino lawyers
to practice law in their country provided that they are able acquire a certain number of
subject units and pass state US bar examination (See source 1 and source 2).
As employment opportunities for lawyers in the Philippines are excellent and compensation
is fairly high, most Lawyers do not feel the need to go and work in other countries.

Salary Levels
Salary levels for graduates of the L.L.B. program vary greatly. It depends whether you
passed the Philippines Bar Exam and became a registered lawyer, whether you work in a
private law rm, a legal department of a company or in the government sector, your
specialization, experience and abilities.
Generally speaking, salaries for certied lawyers would be quite high compared to the
average salary in the Philippines.

Reviews of Bachelor of Laws graduates:

Read reviews >>

Albert Logan
Studied Bachelor of Laws
at University of the Philippines Diliman , Quezon City
Graduated: 2007

About my college education:

I took up bachelor of law at the University of the Philippines Diliman. It was a good
education.
I had so much fun because this study is design to mold the student to become a
professional lawyer.
During my time in college I was active in joining school activities. I believe it helped me
a lot to survive because I did exposed myself in dierent kind of activities.

My current job:
I work at Convergys as their workforce senior manager.

Am I using what I learned in college:

Yes.

How long did it take to nd a job after graduation:

3 months

Do I recommend studying Bachelor of Laws:

All courses are highly recommended. I would recommend my eld of study because it
will teach you the true meaning of education.

Was this review useful to you?

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