The Juris Doctor Program Core Subjects

First Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Constitutional Law I (4 units)
The course undertakes a survey and evaluation of basic principles contained in the Philippine Constitution dealing with the structure of the Philippine Government.
 
Criminal Law I (3 units)
This course covers Book One of the Revised Penal Code, which contains the provisions on felonies, circumstances which affect criminal liability, persons criminally liable for felonies, penalties imposed, the extinction of criminal liability, as well as civil liability.
 
Introduction to Law (1 unit)
This is an overview of the various aspects of the concept of law with emphasis on the relationship between law, jurisprudence, courts, society, and public policy.
 
Legal Profession (1 unit)
This subject begins with an examination of the role of lawyers throughout history, through the study of the major legal systems in the world, and an examination of how these systems figure in the history and development of the legal profession in the Philippines.
 
Legal Research and Writing I (1 unit)
This course focuses on the importance of legal research and teaches students how to effectively research using various sources and tools. It introduces students to the methodology of legal research and the preparation of legal opinions, memoranda, and related matters.
 
Persons and Family Relations (4 units)
This is a study of the laws on Persons and Family Relations as contained in the Preliminary and Human Relations chapters of the New Civil Code of the Philippines, the Family Code of the Philippines, and the pertinent chapters of the New Civil Code of the Philippines. Special laws relevant to the family are also included.
 
Philosophy of Law (2 units)
This subject looks into the historical roots of law, the schools of legal thought that spurred its growth and development, and the primordial purpose of law and legal education. It involves a philosophical reflection on the nature of law, and surveys classical, modern, and contemporary theories of law. Moreover, it seeks to develop in the student a reasoned, healthy, and critical approach toward the law and its institutions, including legal education. 
 
Statutory Construction (2 units)
This course explores the use and force of statutes and the principles and methods of their construction and interpretation.
 
Constitutional Law II (3 units)
This course is a study of the Philippine Constitution, specifically the bill of rights, citizenship and suffrage, social justice and human rights, and judicial review of acts affecting them.
 
Criminal Law II (4 units)
This is a study of specific felonies penalized in Book II of the Revised Penal Code, their nature, elements, and corresponding penalties. Such felonies include crimes against the fundamental laws of the state, crimes against public interest, crimes against persons, and quasi-offenses, among others.
 
Legal Technique and Logic (2 units)
This is a course on the methods of reasoning, syllogisms, arguments and explanations, deductions, the truth table demonstrating invalidity and inconsistency, and propositional functions.  It also includes the logical organization of legal language and logical testing of judicial reasoning.
 
Legal Writing (2 units)
This is a foundational course on the principles, elements, and techniques of legal writing. It involves a review of the basic rules for form and style, argumentation, advocacy, legal research, legal citation and legal bibliography, case digesting and reporting analysis, legal reasoning, and preparation of legal opinions or memoranda.
 
Obligations and Contracts (5 units)
This is a study of the nature, kinds and effect of obligations, and their extinguishment; and contracts in general, their requisites, form and interpretation, as well as the various kinds of defective contracts. It also surveys natural obligations, estoppel, and prescription.
 
Theology and the Law – Social Teachings of the Church (2 units)
This course traces the historical development of significant Papal encyclicals that have relevance to the legal profession in order to provide a better understanding of the mission of the Church in the modern world, and the role that lawyers and judges play. It endeavors to contextualize the vision and mission of the Church in the Filipino setting and culture, in order to achieve an interiorized consciousness of the challenges that face the legal profession.

Second Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Intersession

APPRENTICESHIP (120 Hours) – 2 

SECOND YEAR, First Semester 

Administrative Law and Law on Public Officers (2 units) 

This course deals with the development of the law and the various principles used by  administrative agencies in the performance of their functions. It focuses principally on the  investigatory, rule-making, and adjudicatory powers exercised by an administrative agency as provided in the Revised Administrative Code, and the availability of judicial relief. 

Agency, Trusts, and Partnership Law (3 units) 

This course studies the non-corporate media of pursuing business and transactions, namely agency, business trusts, partnership, and joint venture arrangements. It also covers the rules and  regulations issued by government agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel bearing on the matters covered by the course. 

Basic Legal and Judicial Ethics (3 units) 

This course focuses on the canons of legal ethics involving the duties and responsibilities of the  lawyer with respect to the client, the court, the bar, and the public. 

Civil Procedure I (4 units) 

This course is a study of Rules 1-56 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended. It reviews  the differences between substantive and remedial law, the basic principles of jurisdiction, and the  power of the Supreme Court to promulgate the Rules of Court.  

Election Laws (1 unit) 

This course deals with the various laws on Election. 

Environmental and Natural Resources Law (2 units) 

This course studies the constitutional provisions and special laws governing natural resources,  their use and disposition. It tackles current environmental concerns and issues and the laws that  govern them. 

Property and Land Laws (4 units) 

This course studies the law on the different classifications of property, ownership, co-ownership,  condominiums, possession, usufruct, easements, nuisance, and the different modes of acquiring  ownership, including donations (but excluding tradition, intellectual creation, and succession).  This course also studies the systems and methods of registration of titles and deeds to land,  including related land tenure instruments. 

Sales (2 units) 

This is an examination of the provisions of the New Civil Code on the contract of sale, its nature  and form, the obligations of the parties, warranties, remedies, breach of contract, and  conventional and legal redemption. It includes assignment of credits and incorporeal rights, and  the relevant provisions of the Electronic Commerce Act.

SECOND YEAR, Second Semester 

Basic Taxation Law I (2 units) 

This course discusses the general principles of taxation and statutory provisions on income  taxation, including pertinent revenue regulations. 

Corporation and Basic Securities Law (4 units) 

This is a study of the Corporation Code and other special laws governing private corporations,  including foreign corporations and the concept of doing business in the Philippines. It includes  in-depth analyses of the applicable common law and commercial law principles underlying the  various relationships in the corporate setting. It also surveys the structure, powers, and  

jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the pertinent provisions of the  Securities Regulation Code. 

Civil Procedure II (2 units) 

This course is a study of Rules 57-71 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended. It reviews the differences between substantive and remedial law, the basic principles of jurisdiction, and the power of the Supreme Court to promulgate the Rules of Court.  

Criminal Procedure (3 units) 

This course studies Rules 110-127 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure covered by,  including the basic rights of the accused, the jurisdiction of courts, and the system of criminal  justice administration. 

Labor Law and Social Legislation I (2 units) 

This course is an introduction to Philippine Labor Laws. It covers several sections of the Labor  Code, including the Preliminary Title, Pre-Employment, Human Resources Development,  Conditions of Employment, and Health, Safety, and Social Welfare Benefits. Other important  laws such as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act are also covered. 

Laws on Local Government (2 unit) 

This course studies the Local Government Code and provides an understanding of the nature of  local government units, its autonomy, powers, funding, officials, accountability, and people's  participation. 

Public International Law (3 units) 

This is an overview of the legal principles governing international relations based, among others,  on the United Nations Charter and other treaties, and the decisions of international tribunals. It  includes an introduction to the law of nations and international organizations, and a review of  relevant international and Philippine case and treaty law. 

Torts and Damages (2 units) 

This subject involves the study of the concepts of fault and negligence giving rise to civil  liability on the part of persons not bound by contract, and others who, by virtue of their  relationship with the tortfeasor, may also be held civilly liable with them. It also includes the  types of damages that may be awarded, the requirements for awarding each type of damages, and  the defenses available to either mitigate or evade liability for damages.

Third Year

First Semester

Second Semester

THIRD YEAR, First Semester 

Basic Succession Law (4 units) 

This is a detailed evaluation of the law on testate and intestate succession, including wills, institution of heirs, computation of legitimacy of compulsory heirs, disinheritance, and partition and distribution of the estate. 

Basic Taxation II (2 units) 

This is a study of the concepts and general principles of transfer, value-added, excise, and other percentage and miscellaneous taxes, provided in the National Internal Revenue Code; the remedies available to the government and the taxpayer; fundamentals of local taxation; and the general principles on tariff and customs duties. 

Commercial Law I: Insurance Law and Transportation (3 units) 

This is a study of the Insurance Code and related laws, including the concept and function of insurance, the nature of the insurance contract, insurable interest, special forms of insurance, and government regulation of the business. Moreover, this course is also a study of the general principles and basic regulations governing common carriers by land, sea, and air. Specifically, it  examines the laws relevant to transportation of goods and passengers for compensation, as well as the relevant cases that establish the obligations and liabilities of the common carriers. 

Evidence (4 units) 

This course looks into the rules of presentation, admissibility, and weight and sufficiency of evidence, including burden of proof and presumptions. 

Fundamentals of Thesis Writing I (1 unit) 

This course is an instructional guide to the preparation and writing of a legal thesis, with the  objective of choosing a subject and drafting an outline for the J.D. thesis to be submitted and defended by the student. 

Labor Law and Social Legislation II (3 units) 

This course covers sections of the Labor Code dealing with Labor Relations, Post-employment,  and the Transitory and Final Provisions. It deals with topics such as labor organizations, unfair labor practices, collective bargaining, termination of employment, and disputes arising from such.

Special Commercial Laws: IP, Data Privacy, Banking, Negotiable Instruments, Competition Law (3 units) 

A survey of the important principles and concepts of basic laws on intellectual property, data privacy, banking, negotiable instruments and competition law.

THIRD YEAR, Second Semester 

Commercial Law II: Credit Transactions and Financial Rehabilitation (3 units) This is a study of the law governing loans and deposits, including mortgages, guaranties, and  similar credit transactions, as amended by the Personal Property Securities Act. In addition, the  course integrates discussion on relevant provisions of laws on financial rehabilitation.  

Fundamentals of Thesis Writing II (1 unit) 

A continuation of Fundamentals of Thesis Writing I, this course aims to guide students as they  progress in researching on and formulating their arguments, and as they write the body of their  theses. It requires the students to defend their thesis proposals and outlines before a panel, in  preparation for the actual thesis defense. 

Gender Sensitivity, and Laws on Women and Children’s Rights (2 Units) The course seeks to provide students with an understanding of gender and child sensitivity and  equality and non-discrimination laws and principles.  

Human Rights Law (2 units) 

This course focuses on the concept of human rights as enunciated in the Universal Declaration of  Human Rights; International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil  and Political Rights; and humanitarian laws. It also reviews the state of observance of human  rights and the means to implement human rights at various levels. 

Legal Forms (2 units) 

This course instructs students in the drafting of various legal documents and deeds, as well as  judicial pleadings and briefs. 

Medical Jurisprudence (1 unit) 

This course includes the study of both medical jurisprudence and legal medicine. It examines the  legal principles that relate to the medical field and medico-legal cases. It provides an overview of  forensic medicine as it relates to legal problems, particularly in the fields of criminal and civil  law. 

Private International Law (3 units) 

This is a course dealing with legal transactions or relationships involving foreign elements with  emphasis on the choice of law, including problems in jurisdiction and the recognition and  enforcement of foreign judgments. 

Special Rules and Proceedings (2 units) 

This is a study of Rules 72-109 of the Revised Rules of Court. It deals with, among other things,  the procedural rules on the settlement of estate of deceased persons, guardianship, appointment  of trustees, adoption, habeas corpus, cancellation and correction of entries in the Civil Registry, 

and appeals on special proceedings. It also covers the rules on injunctive writs and temporary restraining orders, as well as the special rule covering the writ of kalikasan.

Fourth Year

First Semester

Second Semester

FOURTH YEAR, First Semester 

Civil Law Review and Integration I (4 units) 

This is a general integration of the principles in civil law covering the effect and application of laws, the law on human relations, persons and family relations, property, ownership and its modifications, and the different modes of acquiring ownership. 

Criminal Law Review and Integration (4 units) 

This is a general review of the Revised Penal Code with its latest amendments, other penal statutes, and relevant jurisprudence.  

Legal and Judicial Ethics and Practical Exercises Review and Integration (2 units) The course involves a review of legal and judicial ethics, covered by the Code of Professional  Responsibility and Accountability as well as related jurisprudence. It also provides survey and review of key legal forms and memoranda. 

Political Law Review and Integration (5 units) 

This is an integrated survey of the Constitution of the Philippines, administrative law, law on public officers, the Local Government Code, and election laws. 

Remedial Law Review and Integration (3 units) 

This is a general review and integration of the rules on Civil Procedure (Rules 1-71) and Special  Proceedings (Rules 72-109) of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended. 

FOURTH YEAR, Second Semester 

Civil Law Review and Integration II (3 units) 

This is a general integration of the principles in civil law relating to succession, obligations and contracts, sales, lease, quasi-contracts, quasi-delicts, and damages. 

Commercial Law Review and Integration (5 units) 

This is a survey and review of the laws on partnership, agency, trusts, corporations, securities,  negotiable instruments, insurance, and transportation. 

Labor Law Review and Integration (3 units) 

This is an integration of the laws on labor standards and labor relations, related social welfare legislation, as well as landmark and recent jurisprudence on labor laws. 

Remedial Law Review and Integration II (3 units) 

This is a general review and integration of the rules on Criminal Procedure (Rules 110-127) and  Evidence (Rules 128-134) of the Rules of Court.  

Taxation Law Review and Integration (3 units) 

This is a general integration of principles of tax laws, including income, transfer, value-added tax, and other business taxes. It also includes a review of local and real property taxation, and the basic principles of the Tariff and Customs Code.