Guidelines on the Legal Apprenticeship Program in the Supreme Court and Other Collegiate Appellate Courts
The Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a resolution on March 20, 2012, outlining the guidelines for the Legal Apprenticeship Program, which is open to incoming 4th year law students, particularly those from accredited Manila-based law schools. The Court approved several amendments, including extending the program to law schools outside Metro Manila and allowing incoming 3rd year law students to participate. The Office of the Bar Confidant will manage the implementation of the program, including the accreditation of law schools and administrative tasks related to student apprenticeships. Additionally, students-at-law will receive a monthly allowance of P10,000, provided they meet the required hours of work.
March 20, 2012
EN BANC
B.M. No. 1552-A
GUIDELINES ON THE LEGAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN THE SUPREME COURT AND OTHER COLLEGIATE APPELLATE COURTS
RESOLUTION
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court en banc issued a Resolution dated March 20, 2012, which reads as follows: aDSAEI
The Legal Apprenticeship Program in the Supreme Court and other collegiate appellate courts is governed by B.M. No. 1552-A, issued by the Court on March 9, 2010.
Under Paragraph 4 of the Guidelines, the Legal Apprenticeship Program is open to incoming 4th year law students, with preference to those from Manila-based law schools that were accredited as of March 31, 2010. Paragraph 17 of the Guidelines further states that the students-at-law shall receive modest allowance during the period of their legal apprenticeship.
On March 19, 2012, the Court received a letter-request from Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion raising matters regarding the implementation of the Program, specifically,
(1) the extension of the period for accreditation of law schools participating in the Program as well as the expansion of the coverage to law schools outside of Metro Manila area;
(2) the amendment of the requirements for application by allowing incoming 3rd year law students to participate in the Program;
(3) the designation of the Office of the Bar Confidant as the office in charge of the implementation of the Legal Apprenticeship Program;
(4) the application for accreditation of De La Salle Lipa — College of Law;
(5) the exemption from certain requirements of a student-at-law of De La Salle Lipa — College of Law pending its application for accreditation; and
(6) the grant of a modest allowance to students-at-law working for the Supreme Court for Summer 2012.
WHEREFORE, acting on the letter-request of Justice Brion and pursuant to the Guidelines, the Court resolved to:
(1) ADOPT a continuing accreditation for law schools and extend accreditation to law schools outside of Metro Manila area;
(2) DIRECT the OBC to develop standard forms for the accreditation of law schools, including a standard form for the Apprenticeship Agreement, within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Resolution;
(3) AMEND paragraphs 1 and 4 of the Guidelines by allowing students who have successfully completed his/her 2nd year of the regularly four-year prescribed law curriculum to participate in the Program;
(4) DELEGATE to the Bar Confidant the administrative and logistical aspects of implementing the Program. The Bar Confidant shall receive applications for accreditation of law schools and recommend actions for the approval of the Court en banc based on the standards approved by the Court en banc. The acceptance of individual students-at-law shall remain within the discretion of the Justices to whom the application requirements have been submitted. Upon acceptance of the application of students-at-law, the Bar Confidant shall take charge of the administrative aspect of their apprenticeship, including the signing of the Apprenticeship Agreement, the issuance of a certificate of service, and other similar matters. The Bar Confidant is further ordered to draft rules on its duties involving the implementation of the Program to be submitted for the approval of the Court en banc; CaAIES
(5) CONDITIONALLY APPROVE the application for accreditation of De La Salle Lipa — College of Law, subject to full compliance with the standards and forms the Court en banc shall approve;
(6) GRANT the requested exemption from the requirement of 4th year law student status of Ms. Jerueh L. Labro, an incoming 3rd year law student of De La Salle Lipa — College of Law, allowing her to work as student-at-law in the Office of Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion; and
(7) CONFIRM that the allowance for Supreme Court students-at law for Summer 2012 shall be Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) per month per student-at-law, chargeable against the available savings in the Fiscal Autonomy Account of the Supreme Court, provided they work for at least 160 hours per month, as certified by their respective Justices." Del Castillo, J., on leave. (adv130) STaHIC
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) ENRIQUETA E. VIDALClerk of Court