Republic of the Philippines Legal Education Board LEB MEMORANDUM ORDER (LEBMO) No: 03 Series of 2016 Subject: POLICIES, STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF LAW SCHOOLS TO OFFER AND OPERATE REFRESHER COURSES. Pursuant to the mandate and authority under the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 7662, otherwise known as the Legal Education Reform Act of 1993, and by virtue of Resolution No. 2016-23 of the Legal Education Board (LEB), these Policies, Standards and Guidelines are hereby adopted, as follows: I, Statement of Policies Pursuant to the declared policy of the state to uplift the standards of legal education in the country, the LEB shall 1, Ensure the quality of refresher courses offered and conducted for graduates of the law program by licensing for the purpose Law Schools that have demonstrated a track record of credible performance in the annual bar examinations; 2. Provide appropriate incentives through the issuance of permits to operate refresher courses to Law Schools that have shown continuous improvement in providing quality legal education; and 3. Establish reasonable regulation for the offering and operation of refresher courses by Law Schools. ll, Scope These policies, standards and guidelines shall govern the issuance by the LEB of Special Government Permit to Law Schools to offer and operate refresher courses starting in Academic Year 2016-2017. Ill. Authority to Issue Special Government Permit The LEB Chairman shall exercise the authority to issue the Special Government Permits pursuant to these policies, standards and guidelines. IV. Content The refresher course shall cover all the review classes required in the fourth year levels of both the Bachelor of Laws (LI.B.) and the Juris Doctor (J,D.) programs presoribed in the Model Law Curricula, as amended. In particular, the subjects included Suite 1102 Ermita Center Building, 1369 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, 1000 ctype Telefax No.: (02) 567-4995, Email Adress: Sam wonin the refresher course shall consist of Civil Law Review | (3 units), Civil Law Review II (3 units), Commercial Law Review (4 units), Constitutional Law Review (3 units), Criminal Law Review (4 units), Labor Law Review (3 units), Remedial Law Review | (3 units), Remedial Law Review II (3 units), and Taxation Law Review (2 units) V. Requirements/Qualifications To qualify for a Special Government Permit to offer and operate a refresher course, a Law School must meet the following requirements: 1. Has a valid Government Recognition (GR) for the basic law course; 2. Has produced graduates of the basic law course for at least consecutive three (3) academic years; 3. Has maintained a passing rate in the bar examinations of at least ten percent (10%) annually for new or first-time examinees based on the latest 3 years of the bar examinations statistical data released by the Supreme Court preceding the filing of the application for a Special Government Permit; and 4. Is not under, or has not been imposed within the last 3 years prior to the filing of its application, any sanction or admonition by the Legal Education Board VI. Duration The Special Government Permits issued to Law Schools qualified to offer and operate refresher courses pursuant to these policies, standards and guidelines shall have a duration of: 1. Three (3) Academic Years - for Law Schools that maintained a passing rate for its new or first-time examinees equal to, or higher than, the national passing rate every year based on the latest 3 years bar examinations statistical data released by the Supreme Court prior to the filing of the application; or 2. One (1) Academic Year - for Law Schools that had a passing rate for its new or first-time examinees less than the national passing rate in any one or all years based on the latest 3 years of the bar examinations statistical data Teleased by the Supreme Court prior to the filing of the application. Should there be justifiable reason(s) as determined by the LEB to cancel or suspend the Special Government Permit issued pursuant to this LEBMO, such decision shall be made known in writing to the Law School, provided that the implementation thereof shall apply after an ongoing course is completed, Vil. Application Procedure 1. The written application for Special Government Permit to offer and operate a refresher course must be received by the LEB Chairman not later than April 30 preceding the start of the academic year during which the applicant Law School intends to offer the refresher course. ee 2 SSThe Law School shall set forth in the application — i. Its intent to offer and operate a refresher course; ii. The Government Recognition number and the issuing agency for its basic law course, copy of which shall be attached to the application; iii, Its passing rate for new or first-time examinees in the bar examinations covered in the latest 3 years of the bar examinations statistical data issued by the Supreme Court; and iv. The fact that it is not under, or has not been imposed within the preceding 3 years from the application date, any sanction or admonition by the LEB. 2. The application shall be addressed to the LEB Chairman, and jointly signed and ‘sworn to by the President of the higher education institution and the Dean of the Law School 3. The LEB Chairman shall issue the appropriate Special Government Permit before the start of each School Year to the applicant Law School if it meets all the requirements set in this policies, standards and guidelines. Otherwise, the application shall be denied. 4. The applicant Law School has fifteen (15) days from receipt of the denial of its application to file a Motion for Reconsideration with the LEB, citing therein all its justifications in support of its motion. 5. The LEB shall decide on the Motion for Reconsideration in its meeting immediately following the receipt of the motion. The LEB's decision shalll be final. VIll. Revocation The Special Government Permit issued to any Law School pursuant to these policies, standards and guidelines shall be automatically revoked in case: 1. The Law School incurs a zero passing rate for its new or first-time examinees in any subsequent bar examinations; or 2. No new or first-time examinee from the Law School takes a ‘subsequent bar examinations; or 3. The LEB imposes a sanction on the Law School for a clear violation of the provisions of this LEBMO or other LEB issuances IX. Applicabi These policies, standards and guidelines shall be applicable to all public and private Law Schools in the Philippines. X. Transitory Provision For the Special Government Permits to be issued starting AY 2016-2017, the applications shall be accepted until July 31, 2016 and the bar examinations statistical data for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 issued by the Supreme Court shall be used for = 3 spurposes of the latest 3 years bar examinations statistical data under this policies, standards and guidelines. Xl. Effectivity This LEBMO shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. Manila, Philippines. May 23, 2016. Chairman