ORIENTATION

HANDBOOK
 Hello Freshman!
Congratulations, you’re on the right track in the pursuit
of the Study of Law.
This handbook is a basic guide on how to appease the
jealous mistress, Law School. We encourage you to acquaint
yourselves to the contents of this lifesaver as you start your
journey in the Study of Law.
In this handbook, you will learn:
o The general DOs and DON’Ts of Law School;
o The course outline of the Study of Law;
o The pre-requisite subjects as mandated by the
LEB;
o The proper dress code and sanctions for violation
thereof;
o How to:
o Make case digests
o Ideally answer exam questions;
o General Calendar of Activities.
Best of luck and welcome to the Liceo de Cagayan
University College of Law.
- The Law Student Organization
 What to do? What NOT to do?
“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal
of true education.”.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as

you go through law school (and even life):

✓ DO be respectful to EVERYONE regardless of their race, creed,

or belief. This applies everywhere, not just in school.
✓ DO act kind, you do not know what the others are going
through. Seriously, encountering nice people is a breath of fresh air.
✓ DO use respectful language at all times. No, we’re not suppressing
your freedom of expression. However, the use of foul or inappropriate
language is discouraged.
✓ DO observe CLAY-Go [Clean As You Go] wherever you are.
✓ DO observe university and college policies accordingly.
✓ DO come to class on time and strive for complete
attendance. Some professors put a premium on attendance, so make
them count.
✓ DO participate in the College of Law’s activities. Law students
know how to party, too.
✓ DO use BLACK or BLUE (depending on the professor’s
preference) sign pens and/or fountain pens during exams
and other school writing requirements. And always bring spare
pens during exams because law school exams can get quite lengthy.
✓ DO wear appropriate attire in school [see Dress Code, p. ]
✓ DO look presentable. A lot of us want to express ourselves with our
physical features, whether it’s for the sake of fashion or bad-[bleep]ery or
plain ‘ol laziness. However, some professors do not appreciate men
wearing long hair, full-on beards, and facial piercings. Some professors are
 also put off by shocking hair color and vibrant make-up among women.
Just to be safe, keep it neutral in the classroom.
✓ DO your assigned and even advanced readings for your
classes. Unless you have photographic memory, this shouldn’t bother you.
✓ DO carefully read, understand, and follow instructions in
exams/quizzes/homework. Some professors like to mix things up a bit.
✓ DO practice good handwriting. We’re serious, it really matters.
✓ DO pay your school dues accordingly. Unfortunately, we have this
obligation to do such as paying our tuition and other necessary fees.
 DO NOT (ever think, consider, or attempt to) cheat. FYI: When you’re
caught cheating in an exam, some professors will discreetly submit your
name to the Law Educational Board, which would perpetually bar you from
taking the Bar. Imagine, you’d be struggling through law school without
knowing that you’ll never be allowed to take the Bar, thus never become
a lawyer. Karma is a [bleep].
 DO NOT challenge/humiliate a professor in front of their class.
Unless you want instant fame in the law community. . . no, just don’t do it
please. If you have a dissension with your professor, do it discreetly or in
private.
 DO NOT answer during recitations/exams starting with “I think,”
“In my opinion,” or “I believe” UNLESS if the professor is asking
for your personal thoughts on the matter.
 DO NOT engage in boisterous conversation in the library or in
a place where people are studying. Unless you have a death wish
from fellow law students, so just keep it down or move someplace else.
 DO NOT openly engage in gossip. Whether we’re aware or not, we
sometimes get caught up in the drama [and law school has a lot of it]. And
that’s okay, just be discreet about it.
 DO NOT bring alcoholic beverages in the university premises.
Never mix business with pleasure, ever.
 DO NOT engage in any violent, wrongful, or inappropriate
activities that will place you, the college, and the university to
shame.
Nota Bene: This list is not exclusive. We encourage everyone to please observe proper etiquette and
decorum. As future lawyers, the highest level of decency is expected of us, thus we must behave
accordingly at the earliest instance.
THE LAW COURSE OUTLINE
a.k.a. “Subject Tracker”
 LEB MEMORANDUM ORDER (LEBMO)
No. 5 Series of 2016
Subject: Guidelines for the Pre-Requisite Subject in the Basic Law
Courses.

SUBJECT PRE-REQUISITE SUBJECT(S)

Administrative and Election Laws Constitutional Law I

or
Administrative Law, Law on Public Officers and
Election Law

Agency, Trust and Partnership Obligations and Contracts

Civil Law Review I Persons and Family Relations

Property
Succession

Civil Law Review II Civil Law Review I

Commercial Law Review Agency, Trust and Partnership

Transportation
Credit Transaction
Corporation Law
Negotiable Instrument
Insurance

Constitutional Law Review Constitutional Law I

Constitutional Law II

Criminal Law Review Criminal Law I

Criminal Law II

Credit Transaction Obligations and Contracts

Criminal Law II Criminal Law I

Criminal Procedure Criminal Law I

Criminal Law II

Evidence Criminal Procedure

Civil Procedure
Human Rights Law Constitutional Law II

Insurance Obligations and Contracts

Labor Law II Labor Law I

Labor Law Review Labor Law I

Labor Law II

Legal Forms Obligations and Contracts

Property
Sales
Credit Transactions
Negotiable Instruments
Agency, Trust, and Partnership
Land, Titles, and Deeds
Criminal Procedure
Civil Procedure

Legal Counseling and Social Responsibility Basic Legal Ethics

Problem Areas in Legal Ethics
Criminal Procedure
Civil Procedure
Evidence

Legal Medicine Criminal Law II

Obligations and Contracts Persons and Family Relations

Practice Court I Criminal Procedure

Civil Procedure
Evidence
Special Proceedings
Legal Forms

Practice Court II Practice Court I

Problem Areas in Legal Ethics Basic Legal Ethics

Property Obligations and Contracts

Remedial Law Review I Criminal Procedure

Civil Procedure
Evidence
Special Proceedings
Remedial Law Review II Remedial Law Review I

Sales Obligations and Contracts

Special Proceedings Succession

Succession Persons and Family Relations

Property

Taxation I Constitutional Law I

Taxation II Persons and Family Relations

Taxation I
Succession

Torts and Damages Obligations and Contracts

Transportation Obligations and Contracts

 Dress Codes

SCHEDULE:
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays

N.B.: Also, on Wednesdays, if the prescribed Polo Shirt is not

available.
 SCHEDULE:
Fridays

N.B.: Student may opt Business Casual on Wednesdays

IF paired with the prescribed polo shirt. However, maong
pants and T-shirts are discouraged.
 SCHEDULE:
Saturdays and Sundays

N.B.: Spartan slippers, tattered jeans, sleeveless [ignore the model above]
tops/dresses, skirts/shorts more than three (3) inches above-the-
knee short are not allowed.
 MORE CLARIFICATIONs on the Dress Code

1. If you have no scheduled classes, no need to wear the dress

code.
2. Dress codes are suspended during major exam season
[there are only two: Midterms and Finals].
3. In cases of injuries/disabilities, the dress code will be
suspended/will not apply accordingly.
4. For violation of the prescribed dress code: when caught,
violators shall pay a fine of Php50.00 per piece of
inappropriate clothing, OR Php150.00 for the entire
inappropriate wardrobe.
5. Other specifications on the dress code regarding:
a. Necktie with long sleeve – You may not wear a tie;
unless the professor demands, or we have an official
activity with guests and visitors.
b. Pants – Strictly no jeans [no denim/maong].
c. Footwear – Strictly no rubber, sneakers or boat shoes
on formal days, only formal leather shoes whether
black or brown, at the preference of the student.
d. Upper wear – Strictly no polo shirts or sport shirts during
formal days, only long/short-sleeved barong/ or long-
sleeved button-ups.
e. Blazers (for women) – Blazers are not necessary if you
are wearing a formal blouse but is encouraged.
f. Regarding skirts – Any skirt is allowed, provided that it is
not a short, mini, and/or micro skirt [all of which are
more than three (3) inches above the knee].
 Making case digests can be a daunting task
especially for a first timer. It’s tempting to just grab
those micro digests you see on the internet just to
get through all the assigned readings. We won’t
blame you if you take that route, especially when it’s
crunch time; better read something than nothing,
right? But we discourage this mindset. Learn to study
smart but know that there are no shortcuts to
success.
We’ll cite you a general idea on how to
digest a case from the text “Introduction to Law” by Atty. D.R.C. Aquino, CSEE:

“The first thing you do is to get the Proper Citation and then proceed to
retrieve the entire text of the decision either through the following ways:
1. Photocopy the decision from the SCRA [Supreme Court Reports
Annotated];
2. Download a copy from the internet available from several websites.
[There’s LawPhil, ChanRobles, sc.judiciary.gov, eSCRA,
elibrary.judiciary.gov]
Upon securing a copy of the entire text, read the decision first. Do not
peak at the dispositive portion so as to allow you to appreciate the manner and
approach utilized by the Supreme Court in resolving the issue raised before it.
Atty. David Robert Aquino, CSEE, believes that it takes at least two
readings. The first reading should at least give you a gist of the case as well as
familiarize you with the issues raised. The second reading, done more slowly this
time, allows you to appreciate the novelty of the issues, the arguments presented
as well as how the Supreme Court resolves the same. After reading you are now
ready to begin digesting your case.
First, list down the material and pertinent facts. Disregard unnecessary
information as they will just clutter your work. If the assignment is about the
relationship between the employer-employee – then focus on facts that have a
bearing on the same.
Second, list down the issues raised as well as the arguments that support
it.
Finally, note down how the Supreme Court resolved each issued raised
taking into consideration the pertinent law and applicable jurisprudence it used.
Once you have done all the above, you are now ready to begin your
summary. The style, however, is unique to each individual. For new students, it is
highly advised that you follow as a guide the writing styles of your judicial writer.
So long as you have aptly digested a case in an orderly and presentable manner –
it doesn’t matter if your style is different from your classmate. Each one of us has
our own way of telling a story and digesting cases is one of them. “
The general format for case digests that is usually followed goes like this:

Title of the case: [ex. Chi Ming Tsoi vs. Court of Appeals and Gina
Lao-Tsoi]
Docket No.: [ex. G.R. 119190]
Date: [ex. 16 January 1997]
Topic: Psychological Incapacity

Facts of the case: [What happened in this case?]

Issue/s: [ex. Whether petitioner is psychologically
incapacitated.]
Ruling: [What was the Supreme Court’s decision?]
Rationale: [What was the Supreme Court’s reason for making
such decision?]

IF the professor is asking that you include concurring and

dissenting opinions, put it after the Rationale part of your digest.
 Battling with Examinations
Exams will always be a part of a
student’s life. For a Law Student, it’s a
living nightmare.
Law School exams are the
culminating events for your neurons,
your caffeine-induced circulatory
system, your dominant hand, and your sanity. Don’t worry, you’ll get
used to it . . . eventually.
So, we’ll try to help you limber up with the following tips in how
to prepare and answer law school exams:
1. Practice or maintain good handwriting. Professors greatly
appreciate neat, consistent, and large handwriting. If
you feel like you have chicken scratches for handwriting,
we advise you to do the American Cursive Handwriting
drills you can download from the Internet.
2. Read ahead or keep track of the required reading. We
can’t stress this enough. For full/part-time employees or
family people or a combination of both, we advise you
to keep your codals or reviewers handy any time so you
can sneak some reading during idle time.
3. Use black or blue sign/fountain pens. Although ballpoint
pens are permissible but since you are training for the Bar,
might as well get used to using sign/fountain pens now.
4. Keep your answers concise and precise. Although this
rule is dependent on your professors, some have a knack
for kilometric answers. But the general rule is to get
straight to the point, answer only what is asked, and never
question a question. Make use of the CLAC method in
answering. Opting for kilometric answers to impress your
prof is plain time consuming.
CLAC Method [Categorical and direct answer; Legal basis;
Application of the rule to the situation presented; Conclusion]

Example
Question: Joe was 17 years old when he committed homicide in 2005. The
crime is punishable by reclusion temporal. After two years in hiding, he was
arrested and appropriately charged in May 2007. Since R.A. 9344 (Juvenile
Justice and Welfare act of 2006) was already in effect, Joe moved to avail
of the process of intervention or diversion.
Suppose Joe’s motion for intervention or diversion was denied, and
he was convicted two (2) years later when Joe was already 21 years old.
Should the judge apply the suspension of sentence? Explain.

Plausible Answer:
[Categorical and direct answer] No, the application of
sentence may only be availed of BEFORE the accused turns 21
years old. [Legal basis] Although it is stated in Sec. 38 of R.A. 9344
that suspension of sentence may be availed even if the accused
is beyond 18 years old PROVIDED that the accused was a minor
when he committed the offense; however, recent jurisprudence
has provided that once these kind of offenders turn the age of 21,
they can no longer avail suspension of sentence. [Application of
the rule] In the situation presented, Joe may have been a minor
when he committed homicide and at the time of his arrest, RA 9344
already took effect and he was no longer a minor. [Conclusion]
Thus, on the basis of recent jurisprudence, the judge should not
apply the suspension of sentence on Joe’s case.

Nota Bene: Not all essay questions are to be answered using

the CLAC method, so be mindful of what is being presented
in the situation and what is asked in the question before
answering accordingly.
 Prepared by:

Academic Year 2019 – 2020