UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS

School of Law and Governance

College of Law

LEGAL PROFESSION
Academic Year 2019-2020

Amy Rose Soler-Rellin

Judge, MTCC Branch 9, Cebu City

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Description: The course covers the nature and purpose of the legal profession, the study of law, the practice
of law and the professional standards of the legal profession, disciplinary proceedings and the possible options when
one becomes a lawyer.

Objectives: At the end of the semester, the students are able to:

1. Demonstrate appreciation on the real essence, spirit and purpose of the legal profession in the administration of
justice;
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply the ethics and standards of the legal profession in relation with the four-fold
duties of lawyers to the society, legal profession, courts and the client;
3. Determine whether he/she is suited to the legal profession and what possible options he/she would take when
he/she becomes a lawyer.

Methodology: Case assignments; lecture/discussion; individual and group works; field work/interview with lawyers;
court observation; film showing.

Outline:

Learning Objectives Content/Topics Activities

1 Students appreciate the
importance of Legal
Profession as a subject and
as a profession; share their
reasons in the study of law
or identify lawyer(s)
considered as shining
exemplar(s) in the
profession; realize that the
study of law is a serious
matter, and; determine if
they have the basic skills
and qualities required
2 Students realize that the
practice of law is a
profession, not a business
endeavor.
Introduction
 Orientation of the course
 What is the legal profession
 Nature of an Attorney
 Legal Profession as a subject
 Brief history of the legal
profession
The Study of Law
 Reasons and implications in the
study of law
 Basic skills and qualities
required
The Nature of the Legal Profession
 The practice of Law as a
profession
 Legal profession as a privilege
and right
 Standards of the legal
profession
1. Form into six groups, with evenly
distributed number of members.
2. Submit group work in legal size bond
paper.
3. Per group, answer the following
questions:
a. Name 5 lawyers (living or dead, local
or foreign, and not fictional) whom
you believe are worth emulating.
Briefly state the legal career and
accomplishments of said lawyers.
b. Give at least 15 skills or
competencies needed to be globally
competitive as a lawyer, especially
in light of the ASEAN integration.
c. Give your expectations from this
subject, Legal Profession.
d. Give your expectations from the
USC College of Law.
e. Give your short-term goals (1 year)
and long-term goals (4 years) in law
school.
f. How will you achieve the foregoing
goals?
g. What skills and qualities are needed
to succeed in law school?
h. What traits or attitudes should be
minimized, if not, avoided, in law
school?
i. Summarize your learnings from
Chap. 1 of the textbook.
j. Summarize your learnings from
Chap. 2 of the textbook.

3 Students discern whether a Practice of Law 1. Form into six groups, with evenly
certain practice constitutes  Definition distributed number of members.
practice of law and the  What is not considered practice 2. Submit group work in legal size bond
implications of such of law paper.
 Learning Objectives
identification
4 Students appreciate the
requirements for bar
admission, identify who
and who are not allowed to
practice law, and its
implications
5 Students identify the
instances when a law
student may or may not
practice law and apply this
in a given situation
6 Students apply the Code of
Professional Responsibility
in relation to the four-fold
duties of the lawyer to the
society, the legal
profession, the courts and
the client
7 Students appreciate the
concept and purpose,
membership and
organization of the
Integrated Bar of the
Philippines
8 Students appreciate the
disciplinary proceedings
against lawyers who violate
the standards of the legal
profession
9 Students appreciate the
nature and extent of bar
examinations and the
process involved in the
preparation, conduct and
determination of the
results of the examinations
Content/Topics
 Importance of knowing what
practice of law is
Admission to practice
 Power to admit applicants to
the practice of law
 Integration of the bar
 Persons entitled to practice
law, exceptions
 Public officials prohibited from
private practice
 Importance of knowing who
may be allowed to practice law
Law student's Practice
 Conditions
 Privileged communication
 Standard of conduct and
supervision
Duties and privileges of a lawyer
 The Code of Professional
Responsibility
 Four-fold Duties of a Lawyer
 Privileges of an Attorney
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines
 Concept and Purpose of
Integration
 Power and constitutionality of
Integrating the Bar
 Membership and Organization
of the IBP
Disciplinary Proceedings
Bar Examinations
 Nature and extent
 Bar Examination Committee
 Conduct of the examinations
 Oath and Certificate
Activities
3. Research and digest 10 Supreme Court
cases which discuss the practice of law
and the objectives of the legal
profession.
1. Form into six groups, with evenly
distributed number of members.
2. Submit group work in legal size bond
paper.
3. Research and cite the pertinent legal
provisions/bases:
a. non-lawyers who are allowed to
appear before the court
b. proceedings where lawyers are not
allowed to appear
c. public officials who are prohibited
from private practice during their
incumbency
1. Form into six groups, with evenly
distributed number of members.
2. Submit group work in legal size bond
paper.
3. Distinguish law student practice from
pro se representation.
4. Research and digest two cases involving
law student practice.
1. Form into six groups, with evenly
distributed number of members.
2. Submit group work in legal size bond
paper.
3. Find/Choose a news incident/event,
local or international, within the past 2
years involving lawyers or the legal
profession. For reference, print out the
article or submit a clipping of the news
item. Discuss the relevance or
importance (or lack thereof) of the role
of lawyer(s) in the incident. If you were
in the lawyer’s shoes, what would you
have done?
4. What do you think should set the
Carolinian lawyer apart from other
lawyers?
5. What is your opinion on the state of the
legal profession in the country? How
can this be improved or enhanced?
6. As student of the law, how do you
prepare yourself, ethics-wise, for the
legal profession?
7. Research and digest three cases on bar
integration.
8. Research and digest one case where a
lawyer was reprimanded.
9. Research and digest one case where a
lawyer was suspended.
10. Research and digest one case where a
lawyer was disbarred.
Library work
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 Learning Objectives Content/Topics Activities
10 Students know the Different Choices of a New Lawyer Interview with lawyers
different options of a new and Getting Started Preparation of Reports
lawyer, determine which
options suit his/her
purpose, personality and
characteristics
11 Students build a cohesive, Movie / film watching and review
lucid and integrative
summary of learnings and
insights from the subject
12 Students observe and gain Court observation
insights on the workings of
the judiciary and legal
system

Class Requirements:

Activity Points
 Midterm and Final Exams 40%
 Interview with Lawyers & Court Observation 30%
 Individual or Group work /reaction papers/case studies 30%

Textbook:
Legal Profession by Edgardo M. Villareal II

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