AMENDMENT OF RULE 138 SECTION 5 IN RELATION TO THE REVISION OF RULE 138-A OF THE RULES OF COURT

Whereas, Section 5 (5), Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the Supreme Court has the power to adopt and promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar, and legal assistance to the underprivileged;

Whereas, the Court has approved the proposed Rule 138-A on Law Student Practice; and

Whereas, as a consequence of said approval of Rule 138-A, there is a need to amend provisions of Rule 138 as herein proposed.

NOW, THEREFORE, Supreme Court En Banc hereby adopts and amends the following provisions of Rule 138 to read:

RULE 138
ATTORNEYS AND ADMISSION TO THE BAR

SEC. 5. Additional requirements for other applicants. – All applicants for admission other than those referred to in the two preceding sections, shall before being admitted to the examination, satisfactorily show that they have successfully completed all the prescribed courses for the degree of Bachelor of Laws or its equivalent degree, in a law school or university officially recognized by the Philippine Government or by the proper authority in the foreign jurisdiction where the degree has been granted.

No applicant who obtained the Bachelor of Laws degree in this jurisdiction shall be admitted to the bar examination unless he or she has satisfactorily completed the following course in a law school or university duly recognized by the government: civil law, commercial law, remedial law, criminal law, public and private international law, political law, labor and social legislation medical jurisprudence, taxation, legal ethics and clinical legal education program.

A Filipino citizen who graduated from a foreign law school shall be admitted to the bar examination only upon submission to the Supreme Court of certifications showing: (a) completion of all courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Laws or its equivalent degree; (b) recognition or accreditation of the law school by the proper authority; and (c) completion of all the fourth year subjects in the Bachelor of Laws academic program in a law school duly recognized by the Philippine Government. (As amended by B.M. No. 1153, March 09, 2010)

This amendment shall apply to the bar examination applicants commencing the 2023 bar examinations. This resolution shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

July 23, 2019, Manila, Philippines.

(SGD.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN Chief Justice
(SGD.) ANTONIO T. CARPIO Associate Justice	(SGD.) DIOSDADO M. PERALTA Associate Justice
(On Official Business) MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO Associate Justice	(SGD.) ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE Associate Justice
(SGD.) MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN Associate Justice	(SGD.) FRANCIS H. JARDELEZA Associate Justice
(SGD.) ALFREDO BENJAMIN S. CAGUIOA Associate Justice	(SGD.) ANDRES B. REYES, JR. Associate Justice
(SGD.) ALEXANDER G. GESMUNDO Associate Justice	(SGD.) JOSE C. REYES, JR. Associate Justice
(SGD.) RAMON PAUL L. HERNANDO Associate Justice	(SGD.) ROSMARI D. CARANDANG Associate Justice
(SGD.) AMY C. LAZARO-JAVIER Associate Justice	(SGD.) HENRI JEAN PAUL B. INTING Associate Justice

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* This is a Revision to the En Banc Resolution dated June 25, 2019.