Lawyers play an important role in the legal system of the Philippines. They advise and represent individuals, businesses and organizations on a variety of legal matters.
They assist clients with navigating the legal system, drafting legal documents, and negotiating settlements.
In this post, you will learn how to become a Lawyer in the Philippines. To become a Lawyer in the Philippines, you must complete the following 5 steps:
How to become a Lawyer in the Philippines
Step 1: Get a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) Degree
- To become a lawyer in the Philippines, one must first obtain a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a law school accredited by the Legal Education Board (LEB).
- The LL.B program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive legal education covering subjects such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Commercial Law and Civil Law.
- The LL.B degree takes four years to complete.
Step 2: Pass the Philippine Bar Examination
- Candidates must pass the Philippine Bar Examination upon completion of the LL.B degree, which is a rigorous, nationwide examination that tests their knowledge of legal principles and practices.
- Bar exams are usually held twice a year, in September and February.
- The exam is divided into two categories: written exam and oral exam.
- The written test assesses the candidate’s understanding of legal principles and is divided into four general topics: political law, labour law, civil law and taxation.
- The oral exam is usually conducted as an interview with a panel of examiners and is designed to assess the candidate’s ability to apply legal principles to real-world situations.
- Candidates must clear both parts of the exam to advance to the next stage.
Step 3: Take an Oath and Sign the Roll of Attorney
- After passing the bar exam, a candidate must take an oath and sign the Roll of Attorney before practising law in the Philippines.
- The ceremony is usually held at the Supreme Court of the Philippines, where the candidates take their oath and sign the roll of attorney in front of the Supreme Court justices.
Step 4: Start your Legal Career
- A lawyer can start practising law by working for a law firm, a government agency, or a private company.
- Many new lawyers begin their careers as associates in a law firm, where they are supervised by more experienced lawyers.
- Others may choose to work as in-house counsel for a private company or as a government public attorney.
Step 5: Participate in Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programmes
- The Philippine Supreme Court requires all lawyers to participate in continuing legal education (CLE) programs to improve their professional skills and knowledge along with developments in law and legal practice.
- The purpose of the CLE program is to keep lawyers up to date on the latest developments in law and legal practice, as well as to improve their professional skills and knowledge.
- Continuing legal education is required of all practising lawyers in the Philippines and is designed to keep lawyers up to date on the latest laws and regulations.