What Is a Law Degree in the Philippines?
Individuals who wish to practice law in the Philippines are easily able to do so. There are various law schools in the country. These are supervised under the Legal Education Board. The law degree programs include a bachelor's degree and a graduate level degree. Options in legal degrees include the professional law degree, the graduate law degree, the honorary law degree, and the practicality and ecclesiastical law degrees.
Law Higher Education in the Philippines
The undergraduate programs, which are required as an initial step into getting a legal degree, take about four years to complete. Students can enroll in a law school, which generally requires four years to complete. Then, the next step for the student is to take a Bar exam. This is governed by the Philippine Bar Association, which is directly regulated by the Supreme Court in the country. Once the student completes his or her Bar entrance example, they will then work in legal practice while obtaining mandatory continuing legal education.
Ultimate, the goal of higher education is to obtain the Bachelor of Laws, or LI.B. or the Juris Doctor, JD, degree in this field. Students can enroll in law schools directly, even as international students. International students are accepted into many of the country's schools. However, the university must first accept the individual's application for admission and then he or she must be given an educational visa to study in the country.
The overall cost of studying legal aspects in the country ranges widely. Though schooling is readily available, law schools tend to be hard to get into and only the very top of classes will receive entrance into these programs. The costs of such programs can be prohibitive to some domestic students. Openings for international students are often available, but this also requires a high level of education.
After completing his or her education, the student must enroll in the Bar exam. These are completed as a national exam in November. It is not until the next spring that students will learn if they've passed after the release of this information from the Philippine Supreme Court's Office List of Successful Bar Examinees. If so, the student is then able to take the Oath of Office in May of that year and begin working as a lawyer in the country.
There are opportunities for individuals who wish to work in this field in the Philippines. Salaries are not as high as in some other countries, but those who work in this field often move into politic offices or judicial roles later.