Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila B.M. No.

850 August 22, 2000

MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (MCLE) ADOPTING T E RULES ON MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION !OR MEMBERS O! T E INTEGRATED BAR O! T E P ILIPPINES EN BANC RESOLUTION Considering the Rules on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) for members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), recommended by the IBP, endorsed by the Philippine udicial !cademy, and re"ie#ed and passed upon by the $upreme Court Committee on Legal Education, the Court hereby resol"es to adopt, as it hereby adopts, the follo#ing rules for proper implementation% RULE " PURPOSE S#$t%o& ". Purpose of the MCLE Continuing legal education is e!ui ed of "e"be s of the Integ ated Ba of the Philippines #IBP$ to ensu e that th oughout thei ca ee % the& 'eep ab east (ith la( and )u isp udence% "aintain the ethics of the p ofession and enhance the standa ds of the p actice of la(* RULE 2 MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION S#$t%o& ". Constitution of the MCLE Committee +ithin t(o #,$ "onths f o" the app o-al of these Rules b& the Sup e"e Cou t En Banc% the MCLE Co""ittee shall be constituted in acco dance (ith these Rules* S#$t%o& 2. Re&uirements of completion of MCLE Me"be s of the IBP not e.e"pt unde Rule / shall co"plete% e-e & th ee #0$ &ea s% at least thi t&1si. #02$ hou s of continuing legal education acti-ities app o-ed b& the MCLE Co""ittee* Of the 02 hou s3 #a$ At least si. #2$ hou s shall be de-oted to legal ethics* #b$ At least #4$ hou s shall be de-oted to t ial and p et ial s'ills*

#c$ At least fi-e #5$ hou s shall be de-oted to alte nati-e dispute esolution* #d$ At least nine #6$ hou s shall be de-oted to updates on substanti-e and p ocedu al la(s% and )u isp udence* #e$ At least fou #4$ hou s shall be de-oted to legal ( iting and o al ad-ocac&* #f$ At least t(o #,$ hou s shall be de-oted to inte national la( and inte national con-entions* #g$ The e"aining si. #2$ hou s shall be de-oted to such sub)ects as "a& be p esc ibed b& the MCLE Co""ittee*78P7 P9 RULE ' COMPLIANCE PERIOD S#$t%o& ". Initial compliance period The initial co"pliance pe iod shall begin not late than th ee #0$ "onths f o" the constitution of the MCLE Co""ittee* E.cept fo the initial co"pliance pe iod fo "e"be s ad"itted o ead"itted afte the establish"ent of the p og a"% all co"pliance pe iods shall be fo thi t&1si. #02$ "onths and shall begin the da& afte the end of the p e-ious co"pliance pe iod* S#$t%o& 2. Compliance 'roup () Me"be s in the National Capital Region #NCR$ o Met o Manila shall be pe "anentl& assigned to Co"pliance : oup ;* S#$t%o& '. Compliance 'roup *) Me"be s in Lu<on outside NCR shall be pe "anentl& assigned to Co"pliance : oup ,* S#$t%o& (. Compliance 'roup +) Me"be s in =isa&as and Mindanao shall be pe "anentl& assigned to Co"pliance : oup 0* S#$t%o& 5. Compliance period for members admitted or readmitted after establishment of the program) Me"be s ad"itted o ead"itted to the Ba afte the establish"ent of the p og a" shall be pe "anentl& assigned to the app op iate Co"pliance : oup based on thei Chapte "e"be ship on the date of ad"ission o ead"ission* The initial co"pliance pe iod afte ad"ission o ead"ission shall begin on the fi st da& of the "onth of ad"ission o ead"ission and shall end on the sa"e da& as that of all othe "e"be s in the sa"e Co"pliance : oup*

#a$ +he e fou #4$ "onths o less e"ain of the initial co"pliance pe iod afte ad"ission o ead"ission% the "e"be is not e!ui ed to co"pl& (ith the p og a" e!ui e"ent fo the initial co"pliance* #b$ +he e "o e than fou #4$ "onths e"ain of the initial co"pliance pe iod afte ad"ission o ead"ission% the "e"be shall be e!ui ed to co"plete a nu"be of hou s of app o-ed continuing legal education acti-ities e!ual to the nu"be of "onths e"aining in the co"pliance pe iod in (hich the "e"be is ad"itted o ead"itted* Such "e"be shall be e!ui ed to co"plete a nu"be of hou s of education in legal ethics in p opo tion to the nu"be of "onths e"aining in the co"pliance pe iod* > actions of hou s shall be ounded up to the ne.t (hole nu"be * 78P7 P9 RULE ( COMPUTATION O! CREDIT UNITS S#$t%o& ". 'uidelines The follo(ing a e the guidelines fo co"putation of c edit units #CU$3 PROGRAMS CREDIT UNITS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ;* SEMINARS% CON=ENTIONS% CON>ERENCES% S?MPOSIA% IN1@OUSE EAUCATION PRO:RAMS% +ORBS@OPS% AIALO:UES% ROUNA TABLE AISCUSSIONS B? APPRO=EA PRO=IAERS UNAER RULE / ANA OT@ER RELATEA RULES ;*; PARTICIPANT ; CU PER @OUR CERTI>ICATE O> ATTENAANCE +IT@ NUMBER O> @OURS ;*, LECTURER 5 CU PER @OUR P@OTOCOP? O> PLACUE OR SPONSORDS CERTI>ICATION ;*0 RESOURCE 0 CU PER @OUR P@OTOCOP? O> PLACUE OR SPONSORDS SPEABER CERTI>ICATION ;*4 ASSI:NEA , CU PER @OUR CERTI>ICATION >ROM SPONSORIN: PENALIST8 OR:ANIEATION REACTOR8COMMENTATOR ;*5 MOAERATOR8 , CU PER @OUR CERTI>ICATION >ROM SPONSORIN: COORAINATOR8 OR:ANIEATION >ACILITATOR ,* AUT@ORS@IP% EAITIN: ANA RE=IE+ ,*; RESEARC@8 51;F CREAIT UNITS AUL? CERTI>IEA8PUBLIS@EA INNO=ATI=E TEC@NICAL REPORT8PAPER PRO:RAM8CREATI=E PROGECT

,*, BOOB 5F1;FF PP ;F;H PUBLIS@EA BOOB SIN:LE AUT@OR ;,1;2 CU ;/1,F CU , AUT@ORS ;F1;, CU ;01;2 CU 0 OR MORE 512 CU /1;; CU ,*0 BOOB EAITOR ;8, O> T@E CU O> PUBLIS@EA BOOB +IT@ PROO> AUT@ORS@IP AS EAITOR CATE:OR? ,*4 LE:AL ARTICLE 51;F PP ;;H PUBLIS@EA ARTICLE SIN:LE AUT@OR 2 CU I CU , AUT@ORS 4 CU 2 CU 0 OR MORE , CU 4 CU ,*5 LE:AL 012 CU PER ISSUE PUBLIS@EA NE+SLETTER8GOURNAL NE+SLETTER8LA+ GOURNAL EAITOR 0* PRO>ESSIONAL 2 CU PER C@AIR CERTI>ICATION O> LA+ AEAN C@AIR8BAR ; CU PER LECTURE OR BAR RE=IE+ AIRECTOR RE=IE+8 @OUR LECTURE8LA+ TEAC@IN: S#$t%o& 2. Limitation on certain credit units In nu"be s , and 0 of the guidelines in the p eceding Section% the total "a.i"u" c edit units shall not e.ceed t(ent& #,F$ hou s pe th ee #0$ &ea s* RULE 5 CATEGORIES O! CREDIT S#$t%o& ". Classes of credits The c edits a e eithe pa ticipato & o non1pa ticipato &* S#$t%o& 2. Claim for participatory credit Pa ticipato & c edit "a& be clai"ed fo 3 #a$ Attending app o-ed education acti-ities li'e se"ina s% confe ences% s&"posia% in1 house education p og a"s% (o 'shops% dialogues o ound table discussions* #b$ Spea'ing o lectu ing% o acting as assigned panelist% eacto % co""entato % esou ce spea'e % "ode ato % coo dinato o facilitato in app o-ed education acti-ities* #c$ Teaching in a la( school o lectu ing in a ba e-ie( class* S#$t%o& '. Claim for non,participatory credit

Non1pa ticipato & c edit "a& be clai"ed pe co"pliance pe iod fo 3 #a$ P epa ing% as an autho o co1autho % ( itten "ate ials published o accepted fo publication% e*g*% in the fo " of an a ticle% chapte % boo'% o boo' e-ie( (hich cont ibute to the legal education of the autho "e"be % (hich (e e not p epa ed in the o dina & cou se of the "e"be Ds p actice o e"plo&"ent* #b$ Editing a la( boo'% la( )ou nal o legal ne(slette * RULE ) COMPUTATION O! CREDIT S#$t%o& ". Computation of credit hours C edit hou s a e co"puted based on actual ti"e spent in an acti-it& #actual inst uction o spea'ing ti"e$% in hou s to the nea est one1!ua te hou * RULE * E+EMPTIONS S#$t%o& ". Parties e-empted from the MCLE The follo(ing "e"be s of the Ba a e e.e"pt f o" the MCLE e!ui e"ent3 #a$ The P esident and the =ice P esident of the Philippines% and the Sec eta ies and Unde sec eta ies of E.ecuti-es Aepa t"entsJ #b$ Senato s and Me"be s of the @ouse of Rep esentati-esJ #c$ The Chief Gustice and Associate Gustices of the Sup e"e Cou t% incu"bent and eti ed "e"be s of the )udicia &% incu"bent "e"be s of the Gudicial and Ba Council and incu"bent cou t la(&e s co-e ed b& the Philippine Gudicial Acade"& p og a" of continuing )udicial educationJ #d$ The Chief State Counsel% Chief State P osecuto and Assistant Sec eta ies of the Aepa t"ent of GusticeJ #e$ The Solicito :ene al and the Assistant Solicito :ene alJ #f$ The :o-e n"ent Co po ate Counsel% Aeput& and Assistant :o-e n"ent Co po ate CounselJ #g$ The Chai "en and Me"be s of the Constitutional Co""issionsJ #h$ The O"buds"an% the O-e all Aeput& O"buds"an% the Aeput& O"buds"en and the Special P osecuto of the Office of the O"buds"anJ OURS

#i$ @eads of go-e n"ent agencies e.e cising !uasi1)udicial functionsJ #)$ Incu"bent deans% ba e-ie(s and p ofesso s of la( (ho ha-e teaching e.pe ience fo at least ;F &ea s acc edited la( schoolsJ #'$ The Chancello % =ice1Chancello and "e"be s of the Co ps of P ofesso s and P ofesso ial Lectu es of the Philippine Gudicial Acade"&J and #l$ :o-e no s and Ma&o s* S#$t%o& 2. .ther parties e-empted from the MCLE The follo(ing Me"be s of the Ba a e li'e(ise e.e"pt3 #a$ Those (ho a e not in la( p actice% p i-ate o public* #b$ Those (ho ha-e eti ed f o" la( p actice (ith the app o-al of the IBP Boa d of :o-e no s* S#$t%o& '. 'ood cause for e-emption from or modification of re&uirement A "e"be "a& file a -e ified e!uest setting fo th good cause fo e.e"ption #such as ph&sical disabilit&% illness% post g aduate stud& ab oad% p o-en e.pe tise in la(% etc*$ f o" co"pliance (ith o "odification of an& of the e!ui e"ents% including an e.tension of ti"e fo co"pliance% in acco dance (ith a p ocedu e to be established b& the MCLE Co""ittee* S#$t%o& (. Change of status The co"pliance pe iod shall begin on the fi st da& of the "onth in (hich a "e"be ceases to be e.e"pt unde Sections ;% ,% o 0 of this Rule and shall end on the sa"e da& as that of all othe "e"be s in the sa"e Co"pliance : oup* S#$t%o& 5. Proof of e-emption Applications fo e.e"ption f o" o "odification of the MCLE e!ui e"ent shall be unde oath and suppo ted b& docu"ents* RULE 8 STANDARDS !OR APPRO,AL O! EDUCATION ACTI,ITIES S#$t%o& ". !ppro"al of MCLE program Sub)ect to the ules as "a& be adopted b& the MCLE Co""ittee% continuing legal education p og a" "a& be g anted app o-al in eithe of t(o #,$ (a&s3 #;$ the p o-ide of the acti-it& is an app o-ed p o-ide and ce tifies that the acti-it& "eets the c ite ia of Section 0 of this RulesJ and #,$ the p o-ide is speciall& "andated b& la( to p o-ide continuing legal education*

S#$t%o& 2. $tandards for all education acti"ities All continuing legal education acti-ities "ust "eet the follo(ing standa ds3 #a$ The acti-it& shall ha-e significant cu ent intellectual o p actical content* #b$ The acti-it& shall constitute an o gani<ed p og a" of lea ning elated to legal sub)ects and the legal p ofession% including c oss p ofession acti-ities #e*g*% accounting1ta. o "edical1legal$ that enhance legal s'ills o the abilit& to p actice la(% as (ell as sub)ects in legal ( iting and o al ad-ocac&* #c$ The acti-it& shall be conducted b& a p o-ide (ith ade!uate p ofessional e.pe ience* #d$ +he e the acti-it& is "o e than one #;$ hou in length% substanti-e ( itten "ate ials "ust be dist ibuted to all pa ticipants* Such "ate ials "ust be dist ibuted at o befo e the ti"e the acti-it& is offe ed* #e$ In1house education acti-ities "ust be scheduled at a ti"e and location so as to be f ee f o" inte uption li'e telephone calls and othe dist actions*78P7 P9 RULE APPRO,AL O! PRO,IDERS S#$t%o& ". !ppro"al of pro"iders App o-al of p o-ide s shall be done b& the MCLE Co""ittee* S#$t%o& 2. Re&uirements for appro"al of pro"iders An& pe sons o g oup "a& be app o-ed as a p o-ide fo a te " of t(o #,$ &ea s% (hich "a& be ene(ed% upon ( itten application* All p o-ide s of continuing legal education acti-ities% including in1house p o-ide s% a e eligible to be app o-ed p o-ide s* Application fo app o-al shall3 #a$ Be sub"itted on a fo " p o-ided b& the IBPJ #b$ Contain all info "ation e!uested on the fo "J #c$ Be acco"panied b& the app o-al feeJ S#$t%o& '. Re&uirements of all pro"iders All app o-ed p o-ide s shall ag ee to the follo(ing3 #a$ An official eco d -e if&ing the attendance at the acti-it& shall be "aintained b& the p o-ide fo at least fou #4$ &ea s afte the co"pletion date* The p o-ide shall include

the "e"be on the official eco d of attendance onl& if the "e"be Ds signatu e (as obtained at the ti"e of attendance at the acti-it&* The official eco d of attendance shall contain the "e"be Ds na"e and nu"be in the Roll of Atto ne&s and shall identif& the ti"e% date% location% sub)ect "atte % and length of the education acti-it&* A cop& of such eco d shall be fu nished the IBP* #b$ The p o-ide shall ce tif& that3 #;$ This acti-it& has been app o-ed fo MCLE b& the IBP in the a"ount of KKKKKKKK hou s of (hich hou s (ill appl& in #legal ethics% etc*$% as app op iate to the content of the acti-it&J #,$ The acti-it& confo "s to the standa ds fo app o-ed education acti-ities p esc ibed b& these Rules and such egulations as "a& be p esc ibed b& the IBP pe taining to MCLE* #c$ The p o-ide shall issue a eco d o ce tificate to all pa ticipants identif&ing the ti"e% date% location% sub)ect "atte and length of the acti-it&* #d$ The p o-ide shall allo( in1pe son obse -ation of all app o-ed continuing legal education acti-ities b& "e"be s of the IBP Boa d of :o-e no s% the MCLE Co""ittee% o designees of the Co""ittee and IBP staff fo pu poses of "onito ing co"pliance (ith these Rules* #e$ The p o-ide shall indicate in p o"otional "ate ials% the natu e of the acti-it&% the ti"e de-oted to each de-oted to each topic and identif& of the inst ucto s* The p o-ide shall "a'e a-ailable to each pa ticipant a cop& of IBP1app o-ed Education Acti-it& E-aluation >o "* #f$ The p o-ide shall "aintain the co"pleted Education Acti-it& E-aluation >o "s fo a pe iod of not less than one #;$ &ea afte the acti-it&% cop& fu nished the IBP* #g$ An& pe son o g oup (ho conducts an unautho i<ed acti-it& unde this p og a" o issues a spu ious ce tificate in -iolation of these Rules shall be sub)ect to app op iate sanctions* S#$t%o& (. Rene#al of pro"ider appro"al The app o-al of a p o-ide "a& be ene(ed e-e & t(o #,$ &ea s* It "a& be denied if the p o-ide fails to co"pl& (ith an& of the e!ui e"ents of these Rules o fails to p o-ide satisfacto & education acti-ities fo the p eceding pe iod* S#$t%o& 5. Re"ocation of pro"ider appro"al

The app o-al of an& p o-ide efe ed to in Rule 6 "a& be e-o'ed b& a "a)o it& -ote of the IBP Boa d of :o-e no s% upon eco""endation of the MCLE Co""ittee% afte notice and hea ing and fo good cause* RULE "0 ACTI,ITY AND PRO,IDER APPRO,AL !EE S#$t%o& ". Payment of fees Application fo app o-al of an education acti-it& o as a p o-ide e!ui es pa&"ent of an app op iate fee* RULE "" GENERAL COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES S#$t%o& ". Compliance card Each "e"be shall secu e f o" the MCLE Co""ittee a Co"pliance Ca d befo e the end of his co"pliance pe iod* @e shall co"plete the ca d b& attesting unde oath that he has co"plied (ith the education e!ui e"ent o that he is e.e"pt% specif&ing the natu e of the e.e"ption* Such Co"pliance Ca d "ust be etu ned to the add ess indicated the ein not late than the da& afte the end of the "e"be Ds co"pliance pe iod* S#$t%o& 2. Member record /eeping re&uirement Each "e"be shall "aintain sufficient eco d of co"pliance o e.e"ption% cop& fu nished the MCLE Co""ittee* The eco d e!ui ed to be p o-ided to the "e"be s b& the p o-ide pu suant to Section 0#c$ of Rule 6 should be sufficient eco d of attendance at a pa ticipato & acti-it&* A eco d of non1pa ticipato & acti-it& shall also be "aintained b& the "e"be % as efe ed to in Section 0 of Rule 5* RULE "2 NON.COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES S#$t%o& ". 0hat constitutes non,compliance The follo(ing shall constitute non1co"pliance #a$ >ailu e to co"plete the education e!ui e"ent (ithin the co"pliance pe iodJ #b$ >ailu e to p o-ide attestation of co"pliance o e.e"ptionJ #c$ >ailu e to p o-ide satisfacto & e-idence of co"pliance #including e-idence of e.e"pt status$ (ithin the p esc ibed pe iodJ

#d$ >ailu e to satisf& the education e!ui e"ent and fu nish e-idence of such co"pliance (ithin si.t& #2F$ da&s f o" eceipt of a non1co"pliance noticeJ #e$ An& othe act o o"ission analogous to an& of the fo egoing o intended to ci cu"-ent o e-ade co"pliance (ith the MCLE e!ui e"ents* S#$t%o& 2. 1on,compliance notice and 23,day period to attain compliance A "e"be failing to co"pl& (ill ecei-e a Non1Co"pliance Notice stating the specific deficienc& and (ill be gi-en si.t& #2F$ da&s f o" the date of notification to e.plain the deficienc& o othe (ise sho( co"pliance (ith the e!ui e"ents* Such notice shall contain% a"ong othe things% the follo(ing language in capital lette s3 ?OUR >AILURE TO PRO=IAE AAECUATE GUSTI>ICATION >OR NON1 COMPLIANCE OR PROO> O> COMPLIANCE +IT@ T@E MCLE RECUIREMENT B? #INSERT AATE 2F AA?S >ROM T@E AATE O> NOTICE$% S@ALL BE A CAUSE >OR LISTIN: AS A AELINCUENT MEMBER* The Me"be "a& use this pe iod to attain the ade!uate nu"be of c edit hou s fo co"pliance* C edit hou s ea ned du ing this pe iod "a& onl& be counted to(a d co"pliance (ith the p io co"pliance pe iod e!ui e"ent unless hou s in e.cess of the e!ui e"ent a e ea ned% in (hich case% the e.cess hou s "a& be counted to(a d "eeting the cu ent co"pliance pe iod e!ui e"ent*la#phil)net RULE "' CONSE/UENCES O! NON.COMPLIANCE S#$t%o& ". 1on,compliance fee A "e"be (ho% fo (hate-e eason% is in non1co"pliance at the end of the co"pliance pe iod shall pa& a non1co"pliance fee* S#$t%o& 2. Listing as delin&uent member An& "e"be (ho fails to satisfacto il& co"pl& (ith Section , of Rule ;, shall be listed as a delin!uent "e"be b& the IBP Boa d of :o-e no s upon the eco""endation of the MCLE Co""ittee% in (hich case% Rule ;061A of the Rules of Cou t shall appl&* RULE "( REINSTATEMENT S#$t%o& ". Process The in-olunta & listing as a delin!uent "e"be shall be te "inated (hen the "e"be p o-ides p oof of co"pliance (ith the MCLE e!ui e"ent% including pa&"ent of non1co"pliance fee* A "e"be "a& attain the necessa & c edit hou s to "eet the e!ui e"ent fo the pe iod of non1

co"pliance du ing the pe iod the "e"be is on inacti-e status* These c edit hou s "a& not be counted to(a d "eeting the cu ent co"pliance pe iod e!ui e"ent* C edit hou s attained du ing the pe iod of non1co"pliance in e.cess of the nu"be needed to satisf& the p io co"pliance pe iod e!ui e"ent "a& be counted to(a d "eeting the cu ent co"pliance pe iod e!ui e"ent*la#phil)net S#$t%o& 2. 4ermination of delin&uent listing administrati"e process The te "ination of listing as a delin!uent "e"be is ad"inist ati-e in natu e but it shall be "ade (ith notice and hea ing b& the MCLE Co""ittee* RULE "5 MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE S#$t%o& ". Composition The MCLE Co""ittee shall be co"posed of fi-e #5$ "e"be s% na"el&3 a eti ed Gustice of the Sup e"e Cou t% as Chai % and fou #4$ "e"be s% especti-el&% no"inated b& the IBP% the Philippine Gudicial Acade"&% a la( cente designated b& the Sup e"e Cou t and associations of la( schools and8o la( p ofesso s* The "e"be s of the Co""ittee shall be of p o-en p obit& and integ it&* The& shall be appointed b& the Sup e"e Cou t fo a te " of th ee #0$ &ea s and shall ecei-e such co"pensation as "a& be dete "ined b& the Cou t* S#$t%o& 2. 5uty of the Committee The MCLE Co""ittee shall ad"iniste and adopt such i"ple"enting ules as "a& be necessa & sub)ect to the app o-al b& the Sup e"e Cou t* It shall% in consultation (ith the IBP Boa d of :o-e no s% p esc ibe a schedule of MCLE fees (ith the app o-al of the Sup e"e Cou t* S#$t%o& '. $taff of the IBP The IBP shall e"plo& such staff as "a& be necessa & to pe fo " the eco d1'eeping% auditing% epo ting% app o-al and othe necessa & functions* S#$t%o& (. $ubmission of annual budget The IBP shall sub"it to the Sup e"e Cou t an annual budget fo a subsid& to establish% ope ate and "aintain the MCLE P og a"* This esolution shall ta'e effect in Octobe ,FFF% follo(ing its publication in t(o #,$ ne(spape of gene al ci culation in the Philippines* Adopted this ,,nd da& of August% ,FFF*

5a"ide, r), C) ), Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, 6itug, 7apunan, Mendo8a, Panganiban, 9uisumbing, Purisima, Pardo, Buena, 'on8aga,Reyes, :nares,$antiago and 5e Leon, r), ),concu *