REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7662
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR REFORMS IN THE LEGAL EDUCATION, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE, A LEGAL EDUCATION BOARD AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Legal Education Reform Act of 1993."
Section 2. Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to uplift the standards of legal education in order to prepare law students for advocacy, counselling, problem-solving, and decision-making, to infuse in them the ethics of the legal profession; to impress on them the importance, nobility and dignity of the legal profession as an equal and indispensable partner of the Bench in the administration of justice and to develop social competence.
Towards this end, the State shall undertake appropriate reforms in the legal education system, require proper selection of law students, maintain quality among law schools, and require legal apprenticeship and continuing legal education.
Section 3. General and Specific Objective of Legal Education. - (a) Legal education in the Philippines is geared to attain the following...
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Republic Acts
LEGAL EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1993
Republic Act No. 7662
Title: Legal Education Reform Act of 1993
Declaration of Policies (Section 2):
- Uplift standards of legal education to prepare law students for advocacy, counselling, problem-solving, decision-making, and instill ethics of the legal profession.
- Undertake reforms in legal education system, require proper selection of law students, maintain quality among law schools, require legal apprenticeship and continuing legal education.
Objectives of Legal Education (Section 3):
General:
- Prepare students for law practice.
- Increase awareness of needs of poor and oppressed sectors.
- Train persons for leadership.
- Contribute to promotion and advancement of justice, legal system, and institutions.
Specific:
- Impart broad knowledge of law and legal institutions.
- Enhance legal research abilities for analysis, articulation, and application of law.
- Prepare for advocacy, counselling, problem-solving, and decision-making.
- Develop competence in field of law for gainful employment or future training.
- Inculcate ethics and responsibilities of legal profession.
- Produce lawyers who pursue lofty goals and adhere to ethical norms.
Legal Education Board (Section 4):
- Created and attached to Department of Education, Culture and Sports for budgetary purposes.
- Composed of a Chairman (preferably former Supreme Court or Court of Appeals justice) and representatives from Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Law Schools, active law practitioners, law students' sector, and Department of Education, Culture and Sports (ex officio).
- Chairman and regular members must be natural-born Filipino citizens, members of the Philippine Bar, and engaged in law practice and teaching for at least 10 years.
Term of Office and Compensation (Section 5):
- Chairman and regular members appointed by the President for 5-year term without reappointment, from list of nominees prepared by Judicial and Bar Council.
- Initial appointments have staggered terms of 1, 3, or 5 years.
- Chairman and members have same salary and rank as Constitutional Commissions, with no diminution during term.
Office and Staff Support (Section 6):
- Department of Education, Culture and Sports to provide office and staff support, with principal office in Metro Manila.
- Board may appoint necessary officers and employees.
Powers and Functions (Section 7):
- Administer legal education system in the country.
- Supervise law schools.
- Set standards for accreditation of law schools, considering enrollment size, faculty qualifications, library and facilities.
- Accredit law schools that meet standards.
- Prescribe minimum standards for law admission, faculty qualifications and compensation.
- Prescribe basic curricula aligned with Bar requirements, law practice, and social consciousness.
- Establish law practice internship requirement for taking the Bar, not exceeding 12 months.
- Adopt system of continuing legal education and mandatory attendance for practicing lawyers.
- Perform other functions and prescribe rules for attainment of policies and objectives.
Accreditation of Law Schools (Section 8):
- Educational institutions cannot operate a law school unless accredited by the Board.
- Accreditation granted only to government-recognized institutions.
Withdrawal or Downgrading of Accreditation (Section 9):
- Board may withdraw or downgrade accreditation status if law school fails to maintain standards.
Effectivity of Withdrawal or Downgrading (Section 10):
- Effective after the semester/trimester following receipt of notice, unless school meets standards or corrects deficiencies.
Legal Education Fund (Section 11):
- Special endowment fund under control of Board, administered by Social Security System.
- Established from appropriations (P10 million annually for 10 years starting FY 1994), 60% of privilege tax paid by lawyers (effective FY 1994), and donations/contributions.
- Only interest earned can be used for faculty development, professorial chairs, library improvements, and Board operations (up to 10% of interest).
Coverage (Section 12):
- Applies to all law schools currently under Department of Education, Culture and Sports, which will be transferred to Board supervision.
- Also covers new law schools established after this Act.
Appropriation (Section 13):
- P1 million from current year's Contingent Fund for initial expenses of Board.
- P10 million annually for 10 years (starting FY 1994) to form part of Legal Education Fund.
Separability Clause (Section 14):
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain valid.
Repealing Clause (Section 15):
- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended accordingly.
Effectivity (Section 16):
- Act takes effect 15 days after publication in Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation.
Declaration of Policies (Section 2):
- Uplift standards of legal education to prepare law students for advocacy, counselling, problem-solving, decision-making, and instill ethics of the legal profession.
- Undertake reforms in legal education system, require proper selection of law students, maintain quality among law schools, require legal apprenticeship and continuing legal education.
Objectives of Legal Education (Section 3):
General:
- Prepare students for law practice.
- Increase awareness of needs of poor and oppressed sectors.
- Train persons for leadership.
- Contribute to promotion and advancement of justice, legal system, and institutions.
Specific:
- Impart broad knowledge of law and legal institutions.
- Enhance legal research abilities for analysis, articulation, and application of law.
- Prepare for advocacy, counselling, problem-solving, and decision-making.
- Develop competence in field of law for gainful employment or future training.
- Inculcate ethics and responsibilities of legal profession.
- Produce lawyers who pursue lofty goals and adhere to ethical norms.
Legal Education Board (Section 4):
- Created and attached to Department of Education, Culture and Sports for budgetary purposes.
- Composed of a Chairman (preferably former Supreme Court or Court of Appeals justice) and representatives from Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Law Schools, active law practitioners, law students' sector, and Department of Education, Culture and Sports (ex officio).
- Chairman and regular members must be natural-born Filipino citizens, members of the Philippine Bar, and engaged in law practice and teaching for at least 10 years.
Term of Office and Compensation (Section 5):
- Chairman and regular members appointed by the President for 5-year term without reappointment, from list of nominees prepared by Judicial and Bar Council.
- Initial appointments have staggered terms of 1, 3, or 5 years.
- Chairman and members have same salary and rank as Constitutional Commissions, with no diminution during term.
Office and Staff Support (Section 6):
- Department of Education, Culture and Sports to provide office and staff support, with principal office in Metro Manila.
- Board may appoint necessary officers and employees.
Powers and Functions (Section 7):
- Administer legal education system in the country.
- Supervise law schools.
- Set standards for accreditation of law schools, considering enrollment size, faculty qualifications, library and facilities.
- Accredit law schools that meet standards.
- Prescribe minimum standards for law admission, faculty qualifications and compensation.
- Prescribe basic curricula aligned with Bar requirements, law practice, and social consciousness.
- Establish law practice internship requirement for taking the Bar, not exceeding 12 months.
- Adopt system of continuing legal education and mandatory attendance for practicing lawyers.
- Perform other functions and prescribe rules for attainment of policies and objectives.
Accreditation of Law Schools (Section 8):
- Educational institutions cannot operate a law school unless accredited by the Board.
- Accreditation granted only to government-recognized institutions.
Withdrawal or Downgrading of Accreditation (Section 9):
- Board may withdraw or downgrade accreditation status if law school fails to maintain standards.
Effectivity of Withdrawal or Downgrading (Section 10):
- Effective after the semester/trimester following receipt of notice, unless school meets standards or corrects deficiencies.
Legal Education Fund (Section 11):
- Special endowment fund under control of Board, administered by Social Security System.
- Established from appropriations (P10 million annually for 10 years starting FY 1994), 60% of privilege tax paid by lawyers (effective FY 1994), and donations/contributions.
- Only interest earned can be used for faculty development, professorial chairs, library improvements, and Board operations (up to 10% of interest).
Coverage (Section 12):
- Applies to all law schools currently under Department of Education, Culture and Sports, which will be transferred to Board supervision.
- Also covers new law schools established after this Act.
Appropriation (Section 13):
- P1 million from current year's Contingent Fund for initial expenses of Board.
- P10 million annually for 10 years (starting FY 1994) to form part of Legal Education Fund.
Separability Clause (Section 14):
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain valid.
Repealing Clause (Section 15):
- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended accordingly.
Effectivity (Section 16):
- Act takes effect 15 days after publication in Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation.