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Law Higher Education in the PhilippinesStudents can enroll in a law school, which generally requires four years to complete. Then, the next step for the student is to take a Bar exam.
In order to qualify in any law school in the country, one must be a graduate of any four-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or college.
Moreover, it will be an added value on your application to have a high Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) or Quality Point Index (QPI). CGPA or QPI refers to the weighted average of your grades in college. Most law schools consider this as one of their deciding factors in admissions, as it indicates how an applicant has performed academically.
In the Philippines, under the 1987 Constitution (there are 2 other former Constitutions: the 1935 and the 1971), the qualifications of all wishing to become a member of the bar are defined by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
- Citizenship. A person who wishes to become a lawyer must be a citizen of the Philippines at the time he or she applied to take the Bar exams. The Bar candidate may be a natural-born Filipino (born of parents who are Filipino citizens), naturalized Filipino or a dual citizen.
- Age. A person who wishes to become a lawyer must be at least 21 years old at the time of taking the Bar exam. A birth certificate must be submitted as a supporting document to prove the candidate’s age.
- College Education. A person wanting to take up studies in law must have graduated from a four-year course. The four-year course must include studies in Philippine history, culture, and language. Courses in Spanish are helpful as well because some cases decided by the Philippine Supreme Court which were decided in the 1900s were in Spanish. A transcript of academic records is also required to be submitted when applying to take the Bar exam.
- Law Education. A person wishing to become a member of the Philippine Bar must take up a four-year course in law at an educational institution (college or university) accredited by the Philippine Board of Legal Education. This education must cover all the basic branches or fields of law that will be tested on in the Bar Exams such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Labor Law, Taxation Law, Commercial Law, Civil Law, Remedial Law and Legal Ethics).
- Law Practicum. The Supreme Court also requires law students to enroll in a law practicum course which will include an internship where they will interview clients, observe Court proceedings and handle cases in court. This is necessary to familiarize students with practical tasks that they may face when they practice law. This is also necessary for them to answer questions in Legal Exercises in the Bar exam.
- Bar exam. The Philippine Bar exam is one of the toughest exams in the world. It is administered for four Sundays in the month of November (when I took the Bar, it was in the month of September). The exams begin at 8 am and go on until 12 noon, and then from 2 pm – 5 pm. It is largely an essay-type of examination and it is handwritten (no computers allowed, generally unless the computer is a reasonable accommodation and permission to use a computer has been requested and granted). It involves problem-solving type of questions (such as, determining what crime was committed, what defenses are available, what liabilities are incurred). There are also conceptual questions (explanations of concepts of law). The Bar Examinations are in English. From these requirements, it is easy to see how a candidate must be physically, intellectually and emotionally prepared for the Bar Exams. A Bar Exam candidate must also be morally fit. He must not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and he must submit a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation, a clearance from the Metropolitan Trial Courts and the Regional Trial Courts that there are no pending criminal cases against the Bar candidate.
- Lawyers’ Oath and the Roll of Attorneys. A person who has taken and passed the Bar exam must attend the Oath Taking ceremonies. The ceremonies are actually a session of the Supreme Court en banc. No cameras allowed.
- Membership in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. A person cannot be a lawyer in good standing to practice law unless he or she is a member in good standing of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. To be a member in good standing, a member must pay his or her yearly dues.
- Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). Every three years, a lawyer must enroll and attend 36 hours of lectures on legal trends, updates, and new doctrines from new laws or new decisions of the Supreme Court.
- Good moral character. Persons admitted as lawyers must maintain their good moral character. This means that to stay as members of the Philippine they must not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and they must not be adjudged by the Office of the Bar Confidante as having violated the Lawyers’ Oath, the Code of Professional Responsibility or the Canons of Judicial Ethics.
Every year, thousands of students apply for and are accepted into Legal Education programs in the country. Only a fraction of these students graduate law. An even smaller portion of those who finish law take and pass the Bar Exams. An average of about 2000 law graduates apply to take the Bar Exams every year and only about 1000 candidates succeed, pass the Bar Exams and are admitted into the practice of law.
Some people take up law studies so they can be promoted at work. They do not need to take or pass the Bar. For instance, police officers can be promoted to higher positions if they take legal studies. Students who take and pass the Bar do not need to take the qualifying Civil Service examination to work for the government.
Top 10 Law Schools in the Philippines (2010)
Below is a list of the top 10 law schools in the Philippines. The list is based on reputable statistics from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which gathers official data on schools and colleges and judges their performance.
Choosing the right law school may make or break your career as a lawyer. So, choose wisely. Utilize this list when making that important decision.
Top 10 Law Schools in the Philippines (2010)
- Ateneo de Manila University: 91.24%
- San Beda College: 88.4%
- University of the Philippines: 82.85%
- Far Eastern University-De La Salle University (Juris Doctor MBA): 77.42%
- Ateneo de Davao University: 75.92%
- University of San Carlos: 68.2%
- University of Santo Tomas: 67.64%
- University of Cebu: 52.81%
- University of Perpetual Help-Rizal: 50.81%
- Arellano University: 49.3%
According to bar exam results released in 2010, the top two bar examinees with the highest scores studied at San Beda College of Law. Seven of the next ten highest-scoring examinees studied at Ateneo de Manila University. The remaining two examinees attended University of the Philippines.
The rankings above come from the official statistics of the CHED and are based on passing rates and the law schools’ performance over the past ten years.
Admission Requirements
The majority of law schools in the Philippines require their applicants to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree with at least 18 units of English, 6 units of mathematics, 18 units of social science, and 3 units from the Rizal course.
Law schools admit qualified students of any age, sex, religion, or educational background. Important academic and personal documents are also required to apply. Some law colleges require a law aptitude exam and other qualifying exams before accepting law students. Different schools have different admission processes, but all of them comply with Section 6, Rule 138 of the Rules of the Court of the Philippines, which states that:
No applicant for admission to the bar examination shall be admitted unless he presents a certificate that he has satisfied the Secretary of Education that, before he began the study of law, he had pursued and satisfactorily completed in an authorized and recognized university or college, requiring for admission thereto the completion of a four-year high school course, the course of study prescribed therein for a bachelor’s degree in arts or sciences with any of the following subjects as major field of concentration: Political Science, Logic, English, History and Economics.
They also adhere to the rules stated in Circular No. 46, series of 1996, of the CHED, which specifically states:
In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994,” and to afford Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) more leeway in the determination of their curricular offerings and student eligibility requirements so that they may be able to better attune the same to local, regional and national goals, progressive deregulation vis-a-vis HEIs hereby declared a policy of the Commission. Consequently, effective Collegiate Year (CY) 1996-1997, the following functions of the Commission are hereby delegated to the HEIs concerned, to wit:
1. Issuance of Eligibility for Admission to Higher Education Programs. – Henceforth, the responsibility for and accountability of determining the eligibility of students for admission to the Law . . . courses are hereby transferred to the concerned HEIs provided the following are met and/or observed:
a) Law. – The applicant student must be a graduate of a bachelor’s degree and must have earned eighteen (18) units of English, six (6) units of Mathematics, and eighteen (18) units of Social Science subjects;…
Tuiton
The law school tuition fee in the Philippines usually ranges from 40,000 pesos or more per semester, depending on the university.
Tuition is cheaper at some state universities like the University of the Philippines, since some of the fees there are subsidized by the government.
Keep in mind that most law schools offer scholarships, grants, and financial aid to qualified candidates.
How much do lawyers make?
Graduate lawyer starting salaries
| Junior lawyer/solicitor starting salary | |
|---|---|
| Australia | Small firm: $56,121 USD a year Large firm: $89,047-122,440 USD a year |
| New Zealand | Small firm: $30,675 USD a year Large firm: $34,102 USD a year |
| UK | Small commercial practice: $32,800-52,481 USD a year Large commercial firm: $76,097-85,281 USD a year Large London firm: $104,961+ USD a year |
| US | Private sector law firm: $68,375 USD a year Firm with 75+ lawyers: $126,500-168,250 USD a year Firm with 500+ lawyers: $160,000+ USD a year |
How Many Years Is Law School In The Philippines
How long does it take you to become a lawyer?
Regardless of where you go to law school, it takes approximately six or seven years to become a lawyer. Many countries have slightly different requirements, including shorter law schools, studying law as an undergraduate, and practical course requirements. For example, in the US, you only go to law school after finishing your bachelor’s degree, and UK universities offer law as an undergraduate and a graduate degree.
Steps to becoming a lawyer
High School Pathways
The road to becoming a lawyer starts in high school. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can set yourself up for a fast-tracked, successful law career before you even apply to a university.
Prerequisite subjects for studying law
- Australia/NZ: English
- UK: A level English
- US: English
Highly recommended courses for future lawyers
- Australia/NZ: history, writing, maths, psychology
- UK: A Level writing, history, maths, psychology
- US: AP English Literature/Language, AP US history/Comparative Government, AP psychology
Undergraduate Pathways
Many university students, especially in the United States, choose to pursue law during or after receiving their undergraduate degrees. Since pre-law is not a major at US universities, it’s common to apply to law school with any major. It’s still essential to develop skills that translate to law school, including critical thinking, research, analytical skills, and strong writing ability. Ultimately, law schools will look at a student’s GPA, LSAT score, and extracurricular activities to determine if they are a good fit for their program.
Step 2: Enrol in Law School
It’s impossible to become a lawyer without a degree, so you’ll need to invest significant time learning about the law before you even see a case.
JD vs LLB vs LLM: The Law Degrees Explained
Juris Doctor (JD):
To practice law in the United States, you need a JD degree. Considered the “first degree” in law, the JD is for anyone who wants to become a lawyer, become a law librarian, teach, or go into law consulting. It’s also helpful if you’re going to enter politics or work for an advocacy organization.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Universities in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand offer this 3-year undergraduate degree program. It’s a popular choice for students wishing to change careers.
Master of Laws (LLM)
Students who choose the graduate-level LLM degree have the opportunity to study specific areas of law, expand their knowledge, advance their career, and earn international qualifications (if they received a law degree outside the US or Canada).
Studying law in Australia or New Zealand
In Australia, you’ll spend a minimum of four years studying to become a lawyer. You’ll pursue one of two degrees: a 4-year Bachelor of Law degree (LLB) or a combined LLB (5+ years). In New Zealand, an LLB takes four years to complete, and a combined LLB takes five.
Studying law in the United States
A law degree takes the longest in the United States. Before law school, students must complete a Bachelor’s degree in any subject (law isn’t an undergraduate degree), which takes four years. Then, students complete their Juris Doctor (JD) degree over the next three years. In total, law students in the United States are in school for at least seven years.
Studying law in the UK
Students can choose one of two paths to becoming a lawyer in the UK.
They can get a bachelor’s degree in any subject (three years) and then complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), which takes another two years. UK law students study for a total of five years. Designed to cover nearly the same content as an LLB degree in a shorter amount of time, the GDL allows non-law students to switch to law after university.
Alternatively, students can complete the typical LLB (3 years) or a combined LLB (5+ years).
There is a small loophole. While most lawyers do obtain a law degree in the UK, some do apprenticeships instead.
Through an apprenticeship program, students can qualify either as a solicitor (6-7 years), legal technician (2-3 years), or legal support (12-18 months). Additionally, an apprenticeship allows students to enter into law directly after high school.
What’s the easiest way to get a law degree?
You can get an LLB in the UK in three years. Studying in Australia/New Zealand takes at least four years to get a law degree. Finally, the US requires at least seven years of education to graduate with a law degree.
Bottom line, if you want to obtain a law degree as quickly as possible, get your degree in the UK.
Where are the best universities for law?
It’s important to be strategic in university selection because it will make a difference in how fast you become a practicing lawyer. Since law is a competitive career, one of the best ways to get ahead is by going to a top international university.
Additionally, getting hired at a reputable firm is more about who you know, not what you know, especially in Australia and New Zealand, where many qualified lawyers never actually end up working in law. The best way to secure a job in Australia or New Zealand is to get excellent grades at a top university and find internships that connect you with influential people at respected law firms.
American law schools are internationally recognized as some of the best law schools in the world. Students with a US law degree are almost guaranteed a job after graduation. Even though studying in the US isn’t the quickest way to get your degree, it can save you years of job hunting.
Many US universities are considered Big Law “feeder schools.” That means the nation’s largest law firms (collectively nicknamed Big Law) recruit almost exclusively from these colleges. Attending one of them will “feed” you your dream job.
Here are a few examples of Big Law firms in the US:
- Kirkland & Ellis was established in 1909 and is the world’s second-highest-grossing law firm with $2.65 billion (USD) in annual revenues. With more than 1,900 lawyers across 13 global offices, Kirkland is known for paying associates more than the market average, generously handing out performance-based bonuses. The starting salary for first-year associates is $180,000.
- Jones Day was founded in 1893 and is the most prominent law firm in the US, with over 2,500 lawyers on its books and 44 offices scattered worldwide. They bring in $1.98 billion (USD) annually. A large percentage comes from the Fortune 500 companies Jones represents, including General Motors and Goldman Sachs.
- DLA Piper has only been around since 2005 but brings in $2.48 billion (USD) in revenue each year. Headquartered in New York, DLA has 77 offices around the world and employs more than 3,700 lawyers.
Since many US universities have strong relationships with these firms, they can help you secure a position after graduation.
If you’d like to work in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, or the UK after law school, going to a university in the US will give you a massive edge on domestically educated students. Plus, most of these firms have offices in these countries or alliances with local firms.
Top 5 Big Law feeder schools in the US
According to the National Law Journal, these five US universities send the most graduates to top 100 law firms:
Top 5 US Law Schools for Employment Opportunities
| US Law Schools | Location | Law School Ranking 2021 | Percentage of students that go to a big law firm after graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | New York City, New York | US News Ranking: 4 QS World Ranking: 7 | 57.07% |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | US News Ranking: 5 QS World Ranking: 11 | 48.54% |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois | US News Ranking: 12 QS World Ranking: 49 | 47.58% |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | US News Ranking: 13 QS World Ranking: 38 | 47.54% |
| New York University | New York City, New York | US News Ranking: 6 QS World Ranking: 8 | 47.42% |
If you’re interested in law, you don’t even need to go to a top 10 ranked university to get a top job. It’s more about industry connections at top feeder schools.
Top 5 law universities in the UK
For students interested in getting through law school faster, here are the top five UK law schools. These law schools are also world-renowned and should get you a job anywhere in the world!
Top 5 UK Law Schools
| UK Law Schools | Location | Law School Ranking 2021 | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Oxford | QS World Ranking: 2 | 96.7 |
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge | QS World Ranking: 3 | 96.4 |
| The London School of Economics & Political Science | London | QS World Ranking: 6 | 89.9 |
| University College of London | London | QS World Ranking: 15 | 83.1 |
| Kings’s College London | London | QS World Ranking: 16 | 82.8 |
Top 7 Law Schools in Australia & New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand also have some exceptional law schools. If you’d like a law degree in less time, aim for a degree from one of these top seven law universities. In addition to being some of the best in the world, they have the highest employability at leading law firms.
Top 7 Law Schools in Australia/New Zealand
| Australia/New Zealand Law Schools | Location | Law School Ranking 2021 | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Melbourne | Melbourne, VIC | QS World Ranking: 1 | 86.2 |
| The University of New South Wales | Sydney, NSW | QS World Ranking: 13 | 83.9 |
| The University of Sydney | Sydney, NSW | QS World Ranking: 14 | 83.2 |
| The Australian National University | Canberra, ACT | QS World Ranking: 17 | 82.2 |
| Monash University | Melbourne, VIC | QS World Ranking: 40 | 75.6 |
| The University of Queensland | Brisbane, QLD | QS World Ranking: 43 | 74.9 |
| The University of Auckland | Auckland, NZ | QS World Ranking: 54 | 72.8 |
Step 3: Get ahead in law school
It’s nearly impossible to become a lawyer without summer internships or clerkships. While studying your undergrad, you can get an internship almost anywhere, but you should find one related to law. Consider small local law firms, in-house legal departments, or even working for your local representative.
Your first internships often pave your future and may ultimately determine who hires you when you graduate. Start by applying to smaller law firms or even intern with a judge or professor. Get creative! After your second year of law school, use your experience and grades to get the best summer associate position possible. By year two, you should aim for a full-time job offer that begins after graduation.
The more practical skills you can develop through meaningful summer experiences, the more competitive you’ll be in the job market at graduation. To get ahead, you should aim to do something productive and law-related every summer you’re in law school.
Law school opportunities in Australia & New Zealand
The Australian Federal Court has a three-month volunteer program that allows you to gain practical experience in development projects.
In New Zealand, you may be able to find a summer internship in law before your final year. In your last summer before graduation, you can get a clerkship position that often leads to a full-time job.
Law school opportunities in the UK
If you’re studying in the UK, the best way to get a training contract and a job are by completing a vacation scheme.
Like New Zealand, vacation schemes are technically only available to students in their final year of law school. Still, there are many other ways you can gain experience in the summers leading up to your last year.
You can apply to smaller firms, ask your friends and family about job leads, and work for companies connected to your interests, such as the government or homeless shelters.
Law school opportunities in the US
The US has the most intensive summer requirements. Most students intern every summer during their undergraduate and graduate (law) school years. The best students often enter the job market with at least FIVE internships under their belt, if not more.
Extracurriculars for law School
To gain a prestigious summer position, you’ll need to go above and beyond the rest of your classmates. While a high GPA helps, you’ll need to fill the rest of your time with lots of relevant experience.
In most countries, you can watch court in session. You can also join networks of future lawyers, sign up to receive law news, join a mock trial, or even get your work published in a university law journal. The possibilities are endless!
Creative and out-of-the-box ideas get the attention of future employers. Think about what kind of law interests you and find extracurricular activities both in school and out of school that support your interests. Here are a few ideas:
- Volunteer at a homeless shelter
- Shadow government officials
- Work for a not-for-profit that helps domestic abuse victims find jobs
Find ways to make yourself stand out, and your hard work will pay off.
Step 4: Get Certified to practice law
Your journey to becoming a lawyer is almost complete! Now you need to get certified.
How to practice law in Australia?
If you want to become a lawyer in Australia, you need to complete the Practical Legal Training (PLT), which teaches you the practical skills you need to become a lawyer. There are three ways to complete the PLT.
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP): Consists of both a formal coursework component and a work experience component. The GDLP takes 6-12 months, but you can start before you graduate as long as you complete all your mandatory law courses.
- Supervised Workplace Training: This is only available in Victoria and Queensland and lasts at least 12 months.
- Clerkship: This is the least common way of completing the PLT. It takes at least 12 months and is usually for those who already have a legal job.
After you complete your PLT, you apply for a certificate of practice. The process takes about one to two years, depending on your route.
How to practice law in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, you must complete a Professional Legal Studies Course (PLSC) after you graduate. There are two different providers: the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) and the College of Law New Zealand. The shortest programs are 13 weeks, and the longest is 18 weeks.
Like the PLT, these programs teach you the practical skills you need to become a lawyer.
After you finish your training, you need to obtain a certificate of completion from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE). Then you’ll need a certificate of character from the New Zealand Law Society (up to 3 months), be admitted to the bar(up to a month), and get a current practicing certificate (2-3 weeks).
The entire process should take about 10-12 months.
How to practice law in the UK?
In the UK, you need to complete a Legal Practice Course (LPC) to become a solicitor or a Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) to become a barrister.
The LPC usually takes two years to complete, plus another two-year training contract.
The BPTC takes about a year, plus another year of pupillage (apprenticeship).
How to practice law in the US?
After you graduate from law school in the US, you only need to take the bar exam. Usually, you sit the ethics portion of the exam before your final year of law school and then take the second portion (which includes the multi-state bar exam and a state-specific exam).
Step 5: Secure a job as a lawyer
Congratulations, you’re a lawyer! If you’ve followed the steps above, you probably have a job, and you’re ready to begin your career.
What’s the fastest way to become a lawyer?
Becoming a lawyer takes time, effort, and lots of patience. Depending on the country, it will take anywhere from 4+ years to 7+ years to officially become a lawyer. Here’s the breakdown:
- Australia – Five years
- New Zealand – Four years, ten months
- UK – Five years
- United States – Seven years
College of Law Admission Requirements
Requirements:
- Must be a graduate of a four(4) year Bachelor’s Degree course from a recognized university
- Must pass the Law Admission Test (LAT) (both written and oral)
- Must have 18 units English and 18 units Social Sciences and 6 units Mathemics in the undergraduate course
- Certificate of Good Moral Character signed by the student’s former professor or by the barangay chairman.
- Transcript of Records (TOR)
- Must sign the student pledge to be notarized
- 2 pcs latest 2×2 ID Pictures
- Long Brown envelop
- Must have taken and passed the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhilSAT) as prescribed by the LEB(Legal Education Board)
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