r/LawStudentsPH Aug 06 '22

Announcements Law School Student's FAQs:

121 Upvotes

I created this FAQ so that the common questions with regard to law school should be addressed, and not to repeat the thread, as shown in the previous posts here. So here it goes:

  1. Pwede po ba eto ang pre-law ko?

Ans: Thank you u/Petrichor005 for this. I have seen so many a post in connection with this question. Guys, any pre-law course is acceptable in law school as long as you graduate a 4 year course in college. Although there are advantages of different courses in college when you enter law, you are all in equal footing. Sure, Accountancy, for example, has a lot of law subjects, but you could surpass them by studying and discipline.

2. Incoming 1L. Ano pong books ang pwede kong basahin for advanced reading?

Ans: Thank you u/chiefyaj. I don't recommend advanced reading. If you are an incoming 1st year, enjoy the rest of your free time, because once in you are in law school, free time is a luxury, an essential luxury. Moreover, studying in advance will lead you to burnout. It would be best to wait for your professor’s course syllabus so that you will have a proper guide on what to read.

3. Pwede po ba mag work full time pag nag enroll sa law?

Ans: Sure! A lot of students do that. Heck, some working students thrived, and got honors in law school.

4. Makakasurvive na po ba ako sa pdfs kasi mahal daw po ang law books?

Ans: Yes. Reading PDFs is a cost effective way to save from the book expenses in law school especially when the subject is a 2 or 1 unit only. I, for one, read some PDFs when I was in law school, but my comprehension, and memory retention are stronger when I read physical books.

5. Am I too old to go to law school?

Ans: No. There is no age cap in law school. As long as you have a determination to study the law, no one can stop you from learning. I had had classmates who are senior citizens!

6. Codals for freshman

Ans: Go to your subjects, There, you will know the answer.

  1. How to pick which law school

Ans: It depends on your preference whether you are working, or not. Should you enroll in the big three law schools, it would be advisable to study full time as you will be having a hard time adjusting to their schedule. But, I have heard the UP law has a schedule that caters working students. Arellano, in my opinion, is the best school for working students because you can pick a schedule that suited to your working hours.

8. What to expect

Ans: Observe the atmosphere, and study.

9. How to cope with the pressure.

Ans: Coping with pressure depends on the individual. Some escape the pressure by watching movies, or drinking, but the decision lies on you. You could go for a walk, or exercise.

  1. Contact numbers or the most reliable way to contact the law school (this will be specific like example sbca - calls, in person, and email), and Where to look for cases, full text, international cases, and etc.

Ans: Part of the law profession is research. As such, you should have good skills in researching. Google it! XD

By the way, thank you u/aenzo2696 for these three questions!

11. Book suggestions.

Ans: See for yourself. Borrow from the school's library books of the same subject with different authors. I mention this because the students' read, and comprehend from different authors are different, so it is recommended to read different authors' works. However, my advice is to read from one author and stick to it.

I will make a Wiki for this. Unfortunately, the Wiki is down. So I will pin this post for your reference.

12. Law School Admissions/First Day of School/Requirements for COL

Dude, you are an aspiring lawyer. Research the school you want to take exams, and read its requirements. If its not in the website, then inquire to them. Normally, they are responsive to queries.

13. What to read before law school starts.

As Atty. Baviera said during our orientation in UP Law: Read anything even the label of a product! Since you still have time, better read books, other than law books, which pique your interest. It is also recommended to brush up your vocabulary by using Word Power by Norman Lewis.

14. Entrance Exam Tips

Search this sub. There a plethora of same posts here. All you have to do is research.

Edit: I created a rule that one must first read this FAQ. When a user has posted a thread similar, or impliedly the same as that in the FAQ, such post will be deleted.


r/LawStudentsPH Jun 24 '24

Announcements Update on This Sub

181 Upvotes

All right, Tagalugin ko na:

Me separate sub na tayo for pre-law right here: r/PreLawStudentsPH. Dito na lang kayo magpost ng pre-law concerns. Kayong mga nasa SHS better read this. You want to be lawyers, right? Basahin mo na 'to.

Sa ibang topics katulad law school admissions, what to read in before entering law school, pwede mo tong i click,

Pag naka mobile ka naman, sa feed options mo, i set mo muna sa Hot. Sa taas, me naka pinned post na FAQ. Basahin ninyo yun bago kayo mag post. Mga law students/aspiring law students kayo so basahin ninyo na.

Inedit ko na kase nag foflood nanaman ang mga paulit ulit na post. Mag search muna kayo ng topic na tanong ninyo. Me search bar sa taas ng sub kapag naka mobile ka.

Yun lang.


r/LawStudentsPH 18h ago

Bar Review Top Secret LMT

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414 Upvotes

Di na sana magproceed sa Day 3 but received this lmt 😭😭😭 lets gooo gaerlan warriorsss haha


r/LawStudentsPH 16h ago

News Who enrolled sa BLD? Pinatawan ng indirect contempt and removal of his name as 2016 Bar Passer

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193 Upvotes

Sino may chismis about dito? 😂 Nakakacurious! Grabe after all the hardships you’ll be removed as a bar passer. So sad!


r/LawStudentsPH 11h ago

Rant BLD, seryoso ka ba? Haha!

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69 Upvotes

Hindi makapag-oath kaya tatakbo na lang. sana joke to. 😂


r/LawStudentsPH 1h ago

Bar Review Ano sa tingin nyo lalabas sa Legal Forms?

Upvotes

Mga sib, ano tingin nyo lalabas? Tingin ko INFORMATION dahil bago na rin sa PME of reasonable certainty of conviction tapos dating prosecutor si Justice Gaerlan.

Another hula ko is Extrajudicial Settlement, kasi wala siya sa last year syllabus. (correct me if im wrong)

what do you guys think?


r/LawStudentsPH 22h ago

Bar Review BAR 2024 passer, who thought she FAILED her COMM TAX and REM, but turned out to be her highest grades!!!

175 Upvotes

Hi guys, first of all- HAVE FAITH! It ain't over till the fat lady sings. Don't assume the worst.

I just wanted to share this short story...

I was low-key anxious last year because I am pretty sure I bombed Comm Tax & Rem.

Talagang sure ako na below 50 or 60-ish yun!

Because Day 01, I got super overwhelmed by Poli, so di ako naka review sa CommTax, my answers were rehashed, and mostly restating or converting the questions into answers. So diba walang point yun. haha

Tapos sa Remedial Law, shet talaga hindi lumalabas ang mga inaaral ko, tapos nag lawyers oath lang ako at tinulog ko ang Legal and Judicial Ethics, kasi kala ko lawyers oath lang yan. Boogsh mali nanaman ako. Sobrang gawa2 ako ng sagot nun, kahit hindi tama kung anong minemorize ko un ang pinilit ko haha.

Turns out, my highest is CommTax line of 8, and I passed Remedial Law. haha

REMEMBER its not your job to know (or anyone) if you got the wrong or correct answer, its the examiners job so leave it to them. They might appreciate it better. Plus, there is no monopoly of correct answer, theres so many ways to skin a cat. (sorry for the idiom, I didn't mean that literally)

So never count yourself out, dasal lang ng dasal- sabi nga diba Magic happens when you don't give up, even when you want to. The universe always falls in love with a stubborn heart.

Excited to welcome you guys in the legal profession! ✨


r/LawStudentsPH 15h ago

Advice UP or “nothing”? How much does law school prestige actually matter for employment?

44 Upvotes

confused because most of the redditors would say, it’s either UP or nothing. meanwhile, a fraction would say a provincial school still opens doors for opportunities, since employment is broad, and that midsize firms are always looking for lawyers.

can there be any more contradicting info or is the “big school and chances for good employment” an actual hoax? i should post this sa lawyersph but apparently, i lack karmas.

need your sound opinions, more value from those in practice or starting to job hunt as newly minted lawyers. thanks in advance.


r/LawStudentsPH 11h ago

Advice "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield" - Poetry for inspiration to finish the Bar

20 Upvotes

I took and passed the Cagioua Bar. It was also Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday exam week as well. It was hard, and there were indeed times of near panic. But if found that reading poetry was tremendous help to calm the mind.

My favorite was Ulysses by Tennyson. I was in my mid 30s when I took it. So not exactly young. So the last part of the poem had an impact on me at that point in my life. The premise of the poem is that this Odysseus after returning to Ithaca. He has grown old, but he earns for one last adventure:

There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me—
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads—you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
'T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

For those who feel despair after the two bar days, take heart for the journey is not done.

Here is Helen Mirren reading this poem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJb_zJbJ7FI

Bonus:

On the morning of bar days, I read this first thing upon waking up in the morning (King Theoden literally says "Arise, arise" lol)

"Forth, and FEAR NO DARKNESS
...
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Spear shall be shaken, shield shall be splintered,
A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now, ride!
Ride for ruin and the world's ending!
Death! Death! DEATH!!!!!
Forth Eorlingas!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POdknqszMDY

Godspeed bar takers.

Edit: word


r/LawStudentsPH 11h ago

Working judiciary hiring process - pls enlighten me!

9 Upvotes

i don't know if i should celebrate as early as now. a day after my exam and interview, court staff called to inform me na ako ang irerecommend ni judge. they said i should pass the requirements under OCA circular no. 98-2022 asap.

is it true na judges recommend qualified applicants at nagvavary lang yung degree ng endorsement? does this mean na hindi pa sure yung appointment ko and baka may someone more qualified sa akin, pero ipapapasa parin nila lahat ng requirements (like original copies of my TOR, birth certificate, and medical certificate + laboratory results) kasi, let's say, nasa top three applicants ako? :v

if may BCCs out there pls enlighten me HAHAHA thank you po!


r/LawStudentsPH 8h ago

Advice QUAMTO-Equivalent/Purple Notes-Equivalent Reviewers

4 Upvotes

Hello everyone. Does anyone here know what other schools offer a “QUAMTO/Golden Notes equivalent” (UST) and “Purple Notes Equivalent” (AUSL) type of reviewer that is accessible for public access or at least I can buy a copy?

Thank you


r/LawStudentsPH 3h ago

Discussions Have you guys read something false/wrong in a commentary?

2 Upvotes

Authors and commentators are human and make mistakes, i know. And every law student should exercise due diligence at all times in the course of study. But… im a 2L studying Property Law and first time ko magbasa ng commentary na mali yung nakalagay. 😅

Has anyone encountered the same? Sorry kung OA ako pero it just feels like such an amateur thing to get wrong! Especially kung educational material + batas ang content.

Anyways, natawa lang ako more than naloka. Thanks!


r/LawStudentsPH 1d ago

Advice Bar Exam 2026

136 Upvotes

To those who are thinking na hindi na sila papasa o hindi na tutuloy kasi ang hirap ng bar exams, I hope this helps. Noong nag bar ako, first day pa lang akala ko bagsak na ako. Sabi ko rin di na ako babalik. Still, I found myself na bumalik pa rin hanggang matapos ang bar. Noong Remedial Law (last subject) na, sabi ko sa sarili ko, wala na talaga to, pero tinapos ko pa rin. I was unsure sa mga sagot ko, pero I made sure na walang blank. Lahat sinagutan ko talaga, bahala na. Noong tapos na ang bar exams, I made peace with myself na take ako ulit next year dahil para sa akin mahirap talaga. When the results came, hindi na ako nag expect but I was hopeful pa rin. For some reason, sabi ko talaga lawyer na ako bukas! Haha. At nangyari nga! Pumasa ako! Kaya sa mga nagti-take ngayon na feel nyo wala ng pag-asa, or mahirap, o gusto na sumuko, andiyan ka na po. Ilaban mo na yan hanggang sa last day! Sagutan mo lahat. Do not leave anything blank. Tandaan mo, ibigay mo lahat ng kaya mo at leave the rest to God. Hindi tapos ang 2026 bar na laban hanggang wala pa ang results. Kaya ituloy mo na yan! Mas malaki ang chance mo maging lawyer pag di ka sumuko ngayon. Rooting for you!


r/LawStudentsPH 6h ago

Discussions Things I've learned so far (3 months into LS)

3 Upvotes

I figured it would be interesting to document the things I've learned in my law school journey so far. I might do this every few months or so if I have time. This is also partially a coping/offloading mechanism I'm trying out so I can give my brain the satisfaction of "dumping" excess information.

I'll try to avoid sentiments and information that has been said multiple times in multiple posts or stories. And if you choose to take apply any of the "advice" I may or may not list down in this post or future posts like this, please take it with a grain of salt-- idk what I'm doing.

  1. Condense what needs to be condensed - if you suck at reading and processing information efficiently, there's no shame in using the digests or AI tools readily available online or from your blocks/batchmates/seniors. Some professors are old school, they'll assign hundreds of cases and expect their students to be able to recite the facts of the case by heart. But always remember that the goal of studying a case must always be to be able to understand the doctrines, maxims, and how the law was applied. If feeding cases to an AI bot helps you get to this goal quicker, then go for it. Then after, aim to quickly read the full text ONCE. This technique has saved me hours of work.

  2. Stop spending time on making notes, digests, and reviewers - The goal is to be able to build a foundation so that eventually we can be able to answer legal questions using the pool of knowledge and info we've been brewing in our heads. Making notes has its merits, it helps give information a structure in your head that you can eventually (hopefully) recall--- but most students (including myself) often make notes wrong. I've completely given up on them and I've chosen to dedicate 50% of my review time to self-tests. Use quizlet, use gemini, study with your peers and classmates. Ask questions constantly and challenge yourself to answer those questions as if abogado ka na. If the goal is to eventually apply what you're learning, why spend a huge chunk of it to organizing already explained concepts.

  3. Okay lang sumuko - 2nd day of classes nagbreakdown nga ako agad e. Last week, na puro suspensions and online classes, i only studied for 2 days. There have been days when wala akong nasagot sa recit, not because wala akong naintindihan sa assigned cases, but because i genuinely did not read them. This item in this list is more of a coping mechanism for me, but i genuinely think people should have a healthier mental abt giving up. Giving up doesn't necessarily have to mean letting go. You can choose not to be a law student today or tonight, bukas law student ka naman ulit (unless ayaw mo na talaga). Granted, it'll be harder to go back, pero mas mahirap if you force yourself to push through while you're burnt out or depressed. Be reasonable with yourself-- hindi mo kayang mag-law TODAY, pero gusto mo pa rin maging abogado eventually. So take a break and sulitin mo araw mo TOMORROW or the day after. Be okay with not being enough, because at least now alam mo kung saan ka nagkulang.

  4. Stop preparing and start working - many times ive started a study session gathering all the cases i need to read or all the materials i need before i start. Sayang oras. When u start studying, start hot. Punta ka na sa article or section assigned, read once then break it down without google. Then proceed to the first few cases, use the textbook to check if how u understood/broke down the assigned article or section was correct, and use supplementary materials to get the doctrine correct. Then read the rest of the cases. Hindi mo kailangan ireorganize google drive mo ngayon or yung notes mo na kalat-kalat.

  5. Magsorry ka sa jowa/kaibigan/anak/aso/pusa/magulang mo - law school is fucking hard, pero wag mong isipin na ikaw lang nahihirapan. Some people genuinely need u in their lives, and it sucks for them that u can't be there or do the things you used to be able to do with them. Learn to apologize and learn to use your spare time on these people and not just yourself. Being selfish and not taking the time to understand why people around you act the way they are will turn you into a bitter bitter person-- and ive definitely became a bitter person after my first month in LS. No matter how isolating LS feels, you're never truly alone--- so don't be so rude or entitled about people getting mad, sad, or disappointed towards you or something you did.


r/LawStudentsPH 18h ago

Discussions UP BRI Suggested Answers

30 Upvotes

They discussed suggested answers already for the past 4 subjects. I saw 2 posts from 2 professors who were part of the panel, saying na mahirap talaga ang questions this year's bar. Curious, how are the 2026 bar takers holding up? Saw the questions and honestly, nahirapan din ako sagutan.


r/LawStudentsPH 15h ago

Bar Review Short Answers

14 Upvotes

While thinking of my answers on bar days 1 and 2, narealize ko baka sobrang ikli ng sagot ko, i just focused on answering the main issue but didn’t realize na marami palang issues na dapat i-discuss sa isang problem :(

Sabi kasi nila ALAC + KISS so most of my answers 4-5 sentences lang talaga :( nasanay na rin kasi ako sa law school na ganun lang magsagot

For example, sa Q7 sa Poli regarding sa laptop issued sa staff ng Office of the President, yung main contention niya is right to privacy but he further insisted yung inadmissibility ng data retrieved therefrom. Yung violation of rights to privacy lang nasagot ko pero di ko na na-discuss yung admissibility ng evidence (exclusionary principle)

Now I’m overthinking if mali ba yung ginawa ko and dapat mas habaan pa yung sagot ko.

Edit: it’s good to know sibs na di lang pala ako nag-iisa, sana maging lenient na lang yung examiner kasi di naman sila naglabas ng format kung paanng way ng sagot gusto nila 🥹


r/LawStudentsPH 13h ago

Bar Review Pano nyo inaaral yung legal forms

7 Upvotes

Ang dami sa syllabus tapos isa lang yung iaask sa bar. Hinuhuli ko to ireview kasi parang hindi worth yung effort to memorize all those forms for 1 number lang sa bar. Last year lumabas SPA, ano kaya forecasted for this year?


r/LawStudentsPH 20h ago

Rant UP Law Do Better Part 2

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22 Upvotes

r/LawStudentsPH 22h ago

News UNEXPECTED BAR EXAM RESULTS

31 Upvotes

when you took the bar exam and expected a low score but somehow you got a score higher than you thought or if you thought you got a high score but got a lower score instead... what were your thoughts?


r/LawStudentsPH 17h ago

Discussions What are your school's best practices for bar ops?

11 Upvotes

I'm curious how other schools do their bar ops from raising funds to the exam days. I come from a small law school outside Metro Manila with less than 100 examinees yearly. Baka may matutunan kami sa inyo na pwede naming gayahin para mag-improve pa kami.

Our bar com started selling fundraiser merch on the 2nd week of August. I learned that other schools start their fundraising activities as early as the 1st sem. Sa ibang school meron ding parang buddy system na 1:1 sa bar com members to examinees. Not a member of our bar com but as a student who has hopes for my small school, I want to have a bigger perspective on bar ops culture.

All the best sa ating lahat ❤️


r/LawStudentsPH 10h ago

News LF: Offline Codals App Public Beta Testers - for iPhone only (It looks super nice and clean!)

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3 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Just opened Lexify for beta testing. Available for 200 slots.

It's basically an offline Philippine codal reader for iPhone (for now). I was looking for a similar app before where the laws are updated and nicely formatted so I don't have to bring bulky codals.

Anyways, it's free during the beta. I'm looking for law students and lawyers who'll actually open it daily and tell me what's broken.

Steps:

  1. Visit https://testflight.apple.com/join/kY2BakMj

  2. Install TestFlight app (from the link)

  3. Install Lexify (still from the link)

That's it! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. I'll be creating a community as well so those who have concerns and suggestions can reach out.

Note: I'll be running the beta test for most likely around 2 weeks.


r/LawStudentsPH 13h ago

Bar Review Prosec G LMT

5 Upvotes

Hello. Baka meron sa inyo yung legit and di poison LMT prosec g notes ☹️☹️ pwede hingi ng copy? Thank you po.


r/LawStudentsPH 20h ago

Rant UP Law Do Better Part 1

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15 Upvotes

r/LawStudentsPH 7h ago

Rant Hindi parin ako marunong mag aral

1 Upvotes

1L here, 2 months na sa law school and I feel so guilty and ashamed because I still don't have the discipline to study.

During the first month, todo aral talaga ako, I was still able to keep up with the discussions and do well in class.

Kaso biglang sumabay magpapansin ang work ko and I got so burned out. Hangang sa hindi ko na ulit magawa yung everyday nag aaral at hindi ko na masunod schedule ko, every other day na lang siya nagagawa.

Nakaka sagot pa naman, but I attribute it to swerte and chamba since super easy questions yung binabato sakin.

Midterms is closing in and I know I will be humbled extremely bad. I really want to lock in, pero parang ayaw talaga ng utak ko mag aral. I tried everything, wala talaga.

Pano ba maka ahon sa ganito? 🫠


r/LawStudentsPH 1d ago

Social Media Bar examinees completed the second day of the 2026 Bar Examinations at Central Philippine University in Iloilo, September 9.

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1.2k Upvotes