24 Legal Terms Every Philippine Law Student Should Know in 2025

If you’re starting law school in the Philippines in 2025, these 24 legal terms will appear in your recits, exams, and case assignments. Learning them early saves stress and sets you up for success.

Mastering legal terms early makes recitations, exams, and case analysis manageable for every law student. Terms like plaintiff, judgment, and affidavit seem intimidating, but learning them early reduces stress This 2025 mini-dictionary for Philippine law students, designed to introduce foundational legal terms that recur in law school, court decisions, and the bar exam.

Common Legal Terms in Philippine Law Schools

Learning about legal terms is only intimidating if you hear it for the first time and not know how to respond. To avoid unnecessary stress, below are just some of the usual words used in Philippine law schools.

Basic Legal Terms in Law School Culture

1. 1L, 2L, 3L, 4L

This set of terms shortens a law student’s introductions because they refer to the year level one is currently in. For instance, 1L refers to “1st year law student” while 2L is “2nd year law student”, and so on and so forth. Do note however that when you introduce yourself, it is not common to introduce yourself as a 1L but rather as a “1st year law student.”

2. ALAC

ALAC or “Answer - Legal Basis - Application - Conclusion” makes answering any legal issue easier since it is the standard answering method in bar examinations and law school recitations. Take a step further and learn more about this here.

3. LSG

LSG or “Law Student Government” is the student council counterpart in law school. They assist you with any concerns you may have during your law school stay, may they be academic or non-academic.

4. Moot Court

Moot Court is one of the many extracurricular activities you can join in law school. It is a “pretend” court where law students can take various roles (as a lawyer or judge) to practice arguing in front of a real court in the near future. To learn more about this activity and how to start, check this blog out.

5. Beadle

The beadle is considered as the point person of the class in a certain subject. He/she is assigned to contact the professor for announcements and to lead any class efforts such as digest pools or collaborative notes, among other tasks.

6. On Deck

Knowing when one is “on deck” is important since it helps you prepare for your recitations better. It means that a student is next in line to be called to recite and thus, should be prepared for questions from the professor.

7. Bala

Bala or bullet in English is a colloquial term which means the amount of study material or coverage a law student has prepared for a certain class day. It’s usually asked by law students to each other to ask (and maybe compare) the level of preparedness a classmate is at.

Academic and Classroom Terminology

Classroom legal terms describe how professors test students and structure learning. Fear not for below are listed the most common terms used.

8. Recit

Recit or recitation is the task of law students day in and day out which is to answer any questions a professor might throw our way. This is what we study daily for.

9. Rounds

Rounds, in relation to recitations, is exercised within the professor’s discretion of calling on each student to recite, often completing a full cycle (or "round") through the class list first before calling those who have recited already.

10. Block

A block is what law students call their class section. This will be your main support system during your 4 (or 5 for evening students) years in law school.

11. Bar Ops

In Philippine law schools, Bar Ops is a student-led support system for bar exam takers. These are committees formed within a law school consisting of students who volunteered to assist in the needs of the current bar takers.

With the yearly bar exams, it is important to always brush up on the basic information so we can help out our school’s bar takers. 

12. Dismissal

Dismissal, in the legal field, means the end of a case, petition, or proceeding before our courts. This is usually found at the bottom of full-text cases where the Court writes its decision.

For instance, in People v. Tamayo (2025), an ordinary appeal was filed before the Supreme Court to pray for the reversal of the finding of guilt. In the end, the Supreme Court confirmed the finding of guilt and dismissed the appeal.

13. Remand

Remand is also a legal term usually found at the bottom of full-text cases. It means that the Court orders the return of the decision of the case to lower courts for further determination of necessary facts.

Legal Role and Case Terminologies

On your first day, it is expected that at least one of your professors will already be assigning cases. Familiarity with terms and roles usually found in full-text cases can help alleviate unnecessary anxiety:

Parties in a Case (Plaintiff, Petitioner, Defendant, etc.)

• Plaintiff

A plaintiff is the person bringing an action for damages or sometimes, to compel another to do something before the Court. People referred to as plaintiffs are usually those who bring the action before the courts for the first time.

• Petitioner

Petitioners, compared to a plaintiff, are the individuals who seek orders from the courts or who wish to have the cases reviewed or appealed.

•  Defendant

A defendant is the opposing party or the person accused or sued in a case. This is the opposite party in a case.

• Appellant

An appellant is the one who files an appeal before a higher court (for instance, the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court) usually seeking the reversal of the decision of the lower court.

•  Appellee

An appellee is the person against whom an appeal is filed. This is the equivalent of a defendant in appealed cases.

Courtroom and Judicial Terms (Counsel, Ponente, Amicus Curiae)

• Counsel

Counsel is another term used for the lawyer representative of a client before the court. Lawyers in hearings are usually addressed in this manner by the presiding judge.

• Ponente

The ponente is the judge or justice assigned to write the court's official decision or resolution in a case after a deliberation. 

For instance, when reading full-text cases, the ponente is usually indicated at the upper right portion of the document, just below the case title. Sample below is the full text of Lopez vs. Gonzaga (1964).

• Amicus Curiae

Amicus curiae, also known as a friend of the court, is an impartial expert in a particular field being decided upon by the courts in a case.

Key Terminologies Every First Year Law Student Must Know

Now that you’re more or less prepared for your first day in law school, let’s go the extra mile and learn additional ones to impress your classmates and maybe, even professors:

Professors and Address (Prof/Atty.)

While professors in law school have their own preferences when it comes to how students call them, the standard way is to address them as “Prof [Last Name]” or “Atty [Last Name]”.

Legal References (Codal, Digests)

• Codal

A codal is a book containing the verbatim words of the law. Examples of such are the Revised Penal Code and the Civil Code of the Philippines.

• Digest/s

Digests are easy-to-read summaries of full-text cases usually created by law students. If you’re curious on how to make one as early as now, this guide would prove to be helpful.

Methods of Instruction (Socratic Method)

The socratic method is a recitation style in law school where the professor and student engage in a continuous conversation facilitated by persistent questioning from the former. 

Key Takeaways

• Law school uses its own language—mastering these terms will ease recitations and bar prep.

• ALAC is the bar-standard answering method every law student must practice.

• Core roles in a case include plaintiff, petitioner, appellee, and ponente, all appearing in Supreme Court rulings.

• Knowing terms like codal, digests, and Socratic Method prepares you for daily recits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is GR in law?

GR in law means General Register and is the identifier for Philippine legal cases before the highest court in the country, the Supreme Court.

What does CA mean in law?

CA means the Court of Appeals or the court where most cases in the Philippines are appealed if the persons involved are unhappy with the initial ruling.

What is law in 5 words?

Laws are rules set by the State. 

Conclusion

Now that you’re familiar with the basics, you no longer have any reason to be nervous about your first day. If you want to take a few more steps further, check out our legal research tools. From online legal dictionaries for law students and codal provisions to case digests and free Bar-ready reviewers, Digest.PH is your go-to platform for smarter, more efficient study. Whether you're gearing up for your first recitation or building your Bar exam arsenal, let Digest.PH guide your journey—every step, every term, every case. Start strong, study smart. Visit https://www.digest.ph today!