Administrative Matter No. 19-03-24-SC

• Whereas, Section 5 (5), Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the Supreme Court has the power to adopt and promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar, and legal assistance to the underprivileged;

• Whereas, the Court has approved the proposed Rule 138-A on Law Student Practice; and

• Whereas, as a consequence of said approval of Rule 138-A, there is a need to amend provisions of Rule 138 as herein proposed.

NOW, THEREFORE, Supreme Court En Banc hereby adopts and amends the following provisions of Rule 138 to read:

• Section 5  Additional requirements for other applicants.

  All applicants for admission other than those referred to in the two preceding sections, shall before being admitted to the examination, satisfactorily show that they have regularly studied law for four years, and successfully completed all prescribed courses, in the law school or university, officially approved and recognized by the Secretary of Education. The affidavit of the candidate, accompanied by a certificate from the university or school of law, shall be filed as evidence of such facts, and further evidence may be required by the court.

  • No applicant shall be admitted to the bar examinations unless he has satisfactorily completed the following courses in a law school or university duly recognized by the government: civil law, commercial law, remedial law, criminal law, public and private international law, political law, labor and social legislation, medical jurisprudence, taxation, legal ethics and clinical legal education program.

This amendment shall apply to the bar examination applicants commencing the 2023 bar examinations. This resolution shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.