Essential Books for Law Students in the Philippines (2025)
Picture this: You’re balancing heavy law textbooks on your commute, trying to understand complex provisions while the clock ticks closer to your next exam. As a law student in the Philippines, you know the challenge of mastering the essentials without being overwhelmed.
This article reviews the best books for law students in the Philippines in 2025, highlighting codals, textbooks, and innovative digital tools like Digest AI.
We’ll cover why these resources matter, updates on the Legal Education Board (LEB) curriculum requirements, practical tips for using them in your studies, and where to get them. Stay with us to build a powerful study arsenal.
TL;DR
Philippine law students need a balanced mix of print codals, authoritative textbooks, and digital platforms like Digest AI. Understanding LEB-approved codals, leveraging key law books, and using online legal research tools like the case law search engine are critical for academic and bar exam success.
Why law books are foundational, even in the digital age
Books remain the backbone of law school learning despite the rise of digital technology.
Codals provide the official texts of statutes without commentary, a stable reference essential for exams and recitations. Codals present the bare text of laws mandated by the Legal Education Board (LEB) as part of the core curriculum.
On the other hand, annotated textbooks and commentaries offer expert analysis, clarifications, and relevant case discussions. These printed resources remain vital for legal argumentation, research, and bar exams.
In exams, students should cite the exact statutory provision and support it with jurisprudence from resources such as the Supreme Court decisions available at Digest PH.
Legal Education Board (LEB) Curriculum
LEB Memorandum Order No. 24 sets each year's mandated core law courses, essentially defining which codals students must master.
|
Year Level |
Core Law Subjects |
|
1st Year |
Philosophy of Law, Statutory Construction, Legal Research & Writing, Constitutional Law I, Criminal Law I, Obligations and Contracts |
|
2nd Year |
Constitutional Law II, Criminal Law II, Civil Procedure I & II, Property and Land Law, Labor Law |
|
3rd Year |
Evidence, Torts and Damages, Taxation |
|
4th Year |
Remedial Law, Commercial Laws, Family Law, Corporate Law, Review & Integration courses |
This aligns with the requirements for bar examinations and ensures a structured acquisition of legal knowledge.
What are codals?
Codals are official compilations of Philippine laws containing the bare text, without commentary. They are the definitive reference source for legal provisions examined in school and bar exams.
Common Codals in the Philippines (with Examples)
Based on the leading publishers and standard law school requirements, here are the must-have codals in Philippine legal education:
|
Branch of Law |
Codal Title |
Sample Provision |
|
Political Law |
1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines |
The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people, and all government authority emanates from them. (Article II, Section 1) |
|
Civil Law |
The Civil Code of the Philippines |
Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. (Article 3) |
|
Criminal Law |
The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines |
Criminal liability is totally extinguished by the death of the convict, as to the personal penalties and as to pecuniary penalties, liability therefor is extinguished only when the death of the offender occurs before final judgment. (Article 89, No. 1) |
|
Remedial Law |
Rules of Court |
Evidence is the means, sanctioned by these Rules, of ascertaining in a judicial proceeding the truth respecting a matter of fact. (Rule 128, Section 1) |
|
Commercial Law |
Commercial Laws of the Philippines (various volumes) |
A private corporation organized under this Code commences its corporate existence and juridical personality from the date the Commission issues the certificate of incorporation under its official seal. (Section 18, Revised Corporation Code) |
|
Labor Law |
The Labor Code of the Philippines |
The State shall afford protection to labor, promote full employment, ensure equal work opportunities regardless of sex, race or creed and regulate the relations between workers and employers. (Article 3) |
|
Taxation Law |
National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines |
There shall be levied, assessed, and collected on every sale, barter, or exchange of goods or properties, value-added tax equivalent to twelve percent (12%) of the gross sales of the goods or properties sold, bartered, or exchanged, such tax to be paid by the seller or transferor. (Sec. 106 (A)) |
|
Law Dictionaries |
Law Dictionary: Definition of Terms and Phrases |
Useful for decoding technical terms; see the Philippine legal dictionary |
To learn more about law school codals, click here.
Best law books for beginners in the Philippines
Here are some annotated law books for some of the core law school subjects in the latest LEB curriculum:
|
Year Level |
Core Law Subject |
Suggested Annotated Law Book |
|
1st Year |
Philosophy of Law |
Foundations of Legal Philosophy by Atty. Lhem J. Naval |
|
Statutory Construction |
Statutory Construction by Ruben E. Agpalo Fundamentals of Statutory Construction by Dr. Glenn R. Luansing, RN, DCL |
|
|
Legal Research and Writing |
Legal Research and Writing: A Competency-Based Approach by Gil Marvel P. Tabucanon and David A. Mockon Guidebook on Legal Research and Thesis Writing by Atty. Alvin Claridades |
|
|
Constitutional Law I |
Constitutional Law I for Modern Minds by Jennifer Arlene J. Reyes Constitutional Law: The State and Branches of Government by Atty. Vien Lawrence S. Gabato |
|
|
Criminal Law I |
Commentaries on Criminal Law (Revised Penal Code) Book 1 by Atty. Maximo P. Amurao, Jr. |
|
|
Obligations and Contracts |
Obligations and Contracts: Notes and Jurisprudence by Atty. Ed Vincent A. Albano III Obligations and Contracts by Joseph Ferdinand Dechavez and Ulpiano Sarmiento III |
|
|
Persons and Family Law |
Persons and Family Law by Noemi L. Tolentino |
|
|
Constitutional Law II |
Constitutional Law 2 by Atty. Alvin Claridades |
|
|
2nd Year |
Criminal Law II |
Commentaries on Criminal Law (Revised Penal Code) Book 2 by Atty. Maximo P. Amurao, Jr. |
|
Civil Procedure I & II |
The Amended Rules on Civil Procedure Annotated (Book 2) by Judge Janice L. Andrade-Udarbe |
|
|
Labor Law |
Labor Laws in the Philippines by Atty. Earl Louie M. Masacayan, JD, LLM, DBA |
|
|
Property and Land Law |
Property and Land Law (Books One and Two) by Atty. Alvin Claridades |
|
|
3rd Year |
Evidence |
The Revised Rules on Evidence Annotated by Judge Janice L. Andrade-Udarbe Evidence Explained Redux by Jess Zachael B. Espejo |
|
Torts and Damages |
Torts and Damages by Timoteo B. Aquino Torts and Damages: Commentary & Jurisprudence by Atty. Ed Vincent A. Albano III, Judge Ed Vincent S. Albano (†) |
|
|
Basic Taxation Law |
Basic Taxation Law by Atty. Tanya Renee F. Rosales, Justice Catherine Triunfante Manahan |
|
|
Corporation and Securities Law |
Corporation and Basic Securities by Romeo T. Capulong Jr. |
|
|
4th Year |
Remedial Law |
Compendious Bar Reviewer on Remedial Law: Based on Bar Exam Syllabus (2025) by Dean Nilo T. Divina |
|
Commercial Law |
Pre-Week Reviewer in Commercial Law by Judge Rocille Aquino-Tambasacan |
|
|
Civil Law |
Pre-Week Reviewer in Civil Law by Atty. Ed Vincent A. Albano III |
|
|
Criminal Law |
Pre-Week Reviewer in Criminal Law by Pros. Freddie M. Nojara, LLM |
How to apply law books in practical studies and bar prep
-
Combine codals and commentaries for grounded legal arguments.
-
Research recent rulings on Supreme Court decisions through Digest PH.
-
Use the case law search engine to find relevant jurisprudence efficiently.
Where to buy and access law books and digital resources
Law Bookstores
Digital access to the latest laws and rulings
Leverage trusted digital resources for up-to-date legal information:
Key Takeaways
-
Philippine law students must blend printed codals, textbooks, and digital tools like Digest AI.
-
The Legal Education Board prescribes core codals linked to each year’s required subjects.
-
Beginner books simplify complex doctrines, building foundational understanding.
-
Combining codals with Supreme Court rulings and digital legal databases improves exam and research skills.
-
Reliable bookstores and official online platforms provide easy access to essential law resources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What books are needed for law school in the Philippines?
The LEB-mandated codals, key annotated textbooks like those by Tolentino and De Leon, and access to digital research tools like Digest AI.
What is the hardest year in law school?
The third year is generally challenging due to advanced procedural and substantive subjects, but difficulty can vary by student.
What to read before law school in the Philippines?
Introductory law books, legal research guides, and foundational Philippine law texts.
Where can I read Philippine law?
Printed codals, online resources like Digest PH, and official government legal portals.
How can I effectively use codals and commentaries in exams?
Master the bare law texts (codals) with support from commentaries and up-to-date Supreme Court decisions accessed digitally.
Build your legal study arsenal today
Today, excelling in Philippine law school means combining classic print law books and codals with cutting-edge digital research tools like Digest AI. This balanced approach enhances your understanding, accuracy, and efficiency for academic success and beyond.
Subscribe to Digest PH to access a comprehensive legal research database, case law search engine, and AI legal research assistant. Use promo code LEXDIGEST for exclusive discounts. Empower your legal education journey now!