ARELLANO UNIVERSITY

School of Law
First (1st) Semester A.Y. 2020-2021
Legal Research
Course Syllabus

Professor:
Atty. Angel Chona Grace I. Valero-Nuñez
0917-8305319
angel.valero@umak.edu.ph
avnlaw1975@gmail.com

Room and Schedule: Consultation Hours:

Every Sunday By appointment
10:00AM-12:00NN

I.COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course will introduce students to the methodology of legal research or the search for applicable
authorities to certain sets of facts and issues. It seeks to enable students to (a) understand the importance
of legal research and other intertwining ethical responsibilities; (b) obtain fundamental research skills that
they will need as students and young legal practitioners; (c) recognize the different sources of law in
relation to their weight, reliability, and persuasiveness; (d) learn how to use available resources and know
the advantages of the different methods of finding information; and (e) become familiar with the legal
citation rules.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To provide the students the working knowledge and fundamental skills for legal research and legal
writing;
2. To guide the students in the conduct of their legal research and to enhance their analytical and legal
writing skills;
3. To help the students prepare their research plan in the process of thesis writing;
4. To further develop their analytical skills, oral and written communication skills;
5. To stimulate their creativity and resourcefulness in accomplishing tasks;
6. To better improve their ability to work with others, whether by partners or in tandems, or within a large
group;
7. To harness their potential for excellence, and at the same time instill ethics and values such as
commitment, responsibility, diligence, cooperation, honesty, patience, accountability, among others;
8. To enable the students to do scholarly research accessing both local and foreign sources and in both
published or printed and electronic or digital forms, with the proper citations and acknowledgement of
authorities;
9. To require students to produce their respective legal research and legal writing outputs.
10. To foster a positive class environment conducive to learning.

III.COURSE METHODOLOGY
1. Socratic Method and Interactive Discussions;
2. Practice Exercises, Class Workshop Activities, Case Briefing;
3. Special Oral and Written Reports/Presentation Based on Legal Research
4. Exam/Special Project and Other Written Requirements;
5. Synchronous and Asynchronous.

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SYSTEM:

MIDTERM GRADE:
Class Standing – Attendance, Quizzes, 50%
Recitations, Activities and Exercises
Midterm Examination 50%
TOTAL 100%
FINAL GRADE:
Midterm Grade 30%
After Midterms Class Standing – Attendance, 35%
Quizzes, Recitations, Activities and Exercises
Final Examination 35%
TOTAL 100%
V. COURSE OUTLINE
CLASS TOPIC
1 Class Overview and Policy
2, 3, 4 I. Preliminaries
A. Overview of the Law
a) Definition
b) Kinds/ Classifications1
c) Sources
d) Interpretation and Construction
B. Philippine Legal System 2
a) Historical Background
b) Branches of Government
c) Legislative Process
C. Philippine Law
d) Constitution3
e) Statute4
f) Case Law5
g) Treaties
h) Ordinances6
i) Administrative Issuances, Rules and Regulations
j) Presidential Issuances
k) Lack of Applicable Law7
5, 6, 7 II. Legal Research
A. Definition/Concept
B. Significance8
C. Principles
D. Sources/Authorities and Tools
E. Steps/Process
G. Citation9 and Bibliography
H. Anti-Plagiarism10 and Ethical Considerations11
F. Case Briefing and Synthesis of Cases
Exercises
8 MIDTERMS
9 III. Popular Foreign Research Materials and Common International
Documents
10, 11 IV. Legal Writing
A. Characteristics of a Good Writer/Good Writing
B. Principles in Legal Writing
C. Technical Aspects
1. Spelling and Grammar
2. Margins and Spacing
3. Font Size and Style
4. Paragraphs
D. Technique and Process

1 Bustos v. Lucero, G.R. No. L-2068, October 20, 1948.

2
In re: Application of Max Shoop, 41 Phil. 213 (1920).
3 Angara v. Electoral Commission, G.R. No. L-45081, July 15, 1936; In the matter of Petitions for Admission to the Bar, 94 PHIL 534

(1954); Serrano vs. Gallant, G.R. No. 167614, Mar. 24, 2009; Sameer Overseas Placement Agency v. Cabiles, G.R. No. 170139, Aug. 5,
2014; Manila Prince Hotel vs. GSIS, G.R. No. 122156, Feb. 3, 1997.
4 Tañada v. Tuvera, G.R. No. L-63915, December 29, 1986; Tawang Multipurpose Cooperative v. La Trinidad Water District,G.R. No.

166471, March 22, 2011.

5 De Castro v. JBC, G.R. No. 191002, etc., April 20, 2010; Philippine Health Care Providers, Inc. v. CIR, G.R. No. 167330,Sep. 18, 2009;

Florentino v. Rivera, G.R. No. 167968, Jan. 23, 2006; Pagsibigan v. People, G.R. No. 163868, June 4, 2009.
6 White Light Corp. v. City of Manila, G.R. No. 122846, Jan. 20, 2009.
7 Silverio v. Republic, G.R. No. 174689, Oct. 19, 2007.
8 Bengzon v. Drilon, G.R. No. 103524, April 15, 1992.

9
Ateneo Law Journal, Legal Citation Guide 66-74 (2011).
10
In the Matter of Charges of Plagiarism, etc. Against Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo, A.M. No. 10-7-17-SC,
October 12, 2010 & February 8, 2011.
11
Hipos v. Bay, G.R. No. 174813-15, March 17, 2009; Allied Banking Corporation v. C.A., G.R. No. 144412, November
18, 2003; COMELEC v. Noynay, G.R. No. 132365, July 9, 1998.
 1. Formulating an Outline or Mind Map
2. Organizing and Writing the Content
3. Citing the Sources
4. Reviewing and Editing
5. Finalizing the Output
12, 13, 14 Research and Writing Exercises and/or Activities
15 FINALS

VI. CLASS POLICIES:

1. Roll Call. Attendance will be checked at the start of the class.
2. Handwritten policy: All written exercises must be in your hand writing.
3. Dress Code and Proper Grooming: Follow dress code.
4. Mobile Phone: Mobile phones should be in silent or vibration mode.
5. Laptops and tablets: Only for Zoom and not for searching answers during recitations and
quizzes/exams.
6. Restroom break: 5 minutes after an hour of class.
7. Honor Code applies: Any form of cheating is prohibited. Apply proper citation. Plagiarism
shall be dealt with accordingly.

VII. READINGS AND CASES12

• Introduction to Law, any author;
• Legal Research and Legal Citations for the Philippines, Milagros Santos-Ong;
• The Elements of Style, William Strunk and E.B. White;
• Clarity: Journal of the International Association Promoting Plain Legal English, No. 66, November 2011,
available at http://clarity-international.net/journals/66clarityjournal.pdf, last viewed 25 June 2014;
• How to Brief a Case, available at https://www.law.uh.edu/lrw/casebrief.pdf, last viewed 25 June 2014;
• ATENEO LAW JOURNAL, Legal Citation Guide;
• Francisco, Jr. v. The House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, 10 November 2003;
• The Province of North Cotabato v. The Government of the Republic of The Philippines Peace Panel on
Ancestral Domain, G.R. No. 183591, 14 October 2008;
• Echegaray v. Secretary of Justice, G.R. No. 132601 January 19, 1999
• Bayan Muna v. Alberto Romulo, G.R. No. 159618, Feb. 1, 2011;
• Commissioner of Customs v. Hypermix Feeds, G.R. No. 179579,Feb. 1, 2012;
• Reyes v. Lim, G.R. No. 134241, Aug. 11, 2003;
• Poe-Llamanzares v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 221697 (2016);
• Permanent Court of Arbitration Ruling on the West Philippine Sea Dispute;
• Additional Readings to be announced.

12 The professor has the prerogative to revise the list.