LEGAL METHOD

Most of what is taught about investing in school is theoretical nonsense. There are
very few rich professors. - unknown

Performance Indicators:

Class Participation 50%

- On-deck Recitations, volunteering, attendance in designated
activities, group/online discussions, etc.

Final Examination 50%

Additional Requirements
Students are expected to follow current events- including court cases- and be
prepared to incorporate them in class discussions.
Online Discussions will be conducted through a portal to be agreed upon by
the class. Each student is expected to participate by posting or commenting.
Students must strive to attend a Supreme Court or Court of Appeals hearing
and/or oral argument

Session 1 Preliminary Readings

A. The Rule of Law, Why We Are Here, Managing Expectations
- Sen. Jose W. Diokno's Letter to His Son see
http://abogadoparasabayan.blogspot.com/2005_05_01_archive.html
- Which President Caused the Downfall of the Philippine Economy? - see
http://www.ourknowledge.asia/our-knowledge-blog/which-philippine-president-
caused-the-downfall-of-the-philippines-economy
- Forbes: The World's All-time Corrupt Leaders see
http://www.forbes.com/2004/03/25/cx_vc_corruptslide_2.html
- To Young Filipinos, Benjamin Pimentel -
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/49932/to-young-filipinos-who-never-knew-
martial-law-and-dictatorship
- What They Don't Teach Law Students see
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/business/after-law-school-associates-
learn-to-be-lawyers.html?_r=0

B. Thinking and Reading Like a Lawyer

- How To Read A Judicial Opinion: A Guide For New Law Students, Orin Kerr
- The Character of Legal Reasoning, Brett G. Scharffs Washington and Lee Law
Review, Spring 2004
- Legal Reasoning and Legal Writing - Structure Strategy & Style, Richard K.
Neumann
- Logic and Legal Reasoning a Guide for Law Students

Session 2 Foundations of Our Legal System Part 1

- Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances
o Youngstown v. Sawyer
o Bush v. Gore (skim)
o Belgica v. Executive Secretary (PDAF Case)
o Carolina P. Araullo v. President Benigno Aquino (DAP Case)
- Rights and/or Privileges
o Imbong v. Ochoa (RH Law Case)
o Sherbert v. Verner (excerpts);
 o Minersville v. Gobitis; West Virginia v. Barnett; Morse v. Frederick
Session 3 Doctrinal Foundations of Our Legal System - Part 2
Stare Decisis, Res Judicata, and Law of the Case
o Stare Decisis and Techniques of Legal Reasoning and Legal Argument,
Paul Perell
o Villena v. Spouses Chavez, 415 SCRA 33 (2003);
o Agustin v. CA, 338 Phil. 171 (1997);
o Ang Bagong Bayani v. Comelec, G.R. No. 147589, June 26, 2001
o Atong Paglaum v. Comelec, GR No. 203766, 02 April 2013

Limitations and Scope of Laws

o Endencia v. David, 93 Phil. 696 (1953);
o Angara v. Electoral Commission, 63 Phil. 139 (1936);

Session 4 - Parts of A Decision

In General
o Velarde v. Social Justice Society, 428 SCRA 283 (2004);
o Wilson Ong Ching Kien Chung v. Director of the National Library, 333
SCRA 390 (2000);
The Dissent
o Meralco v. Castro-Bartolome, 114 SCRA 779 (1962);
o The Director of Lands v. IAC, 146 SCRA 509 (1986);
Ratio and Obiter dictum
o Mercado v. People, 392 SCRA 87 (2002);
o Villanueva v. CA, 379 SCRA 463 (2002);

Session 5 Laws about Laws

Presumption of Constitutionality
- Art. VIII, Section 4, Constitution
- Alba v. Evangelista, 100 Phil. 683 (1957)
- Morfe v. Mutuc, 22 SCRA 424 (1968)

When laws, Presidential issuances, local ordinances, take effect

- Article 2, Civil Code
- Section 18, Chapter 5, Book I of the 1987 Administrative Code
- Tanada v. Tuvera, 146 SCRA 446 (1986)
- Section 3, Chapter 2, Book VII, 1987 Administrative Code
- Section 4, Chapter 2, Book VII, 1987 Administrative Code

Continue to be in force until repealed

Co Kim Chan v. Valdez Tan Keh, 75 Phil. 113 (1945)

Computation of time
- Article 13, Civil Code
- PNB v. CA, 222 SCRA 134 (1993)
- Vir-Jen v. NLRC, 15 SCRA 347 (1982)

Session 6 Our Constitution

Purpose, Objective
- Nitafan v. CIR, 152 SCRA 284 (1987)
- Filoteo v. Sandiganbayan, 263 SCRA 222 (1966)

Language and Text

- J.M. Tuason and Co., Inc. v. LTA, 31 SCRA 413 (1970);
 - Civil Liberties Union v. Executive Secretary, 194 SCRA 317 (1991);
- Sarmiento v. Mison, 156 SCRA 549 (1987);
- IBP v. Zamora, 338 SCRA 81 (2000);
- Marcelino v. Cruz, 121 SCRA 51 (1983);
- Vera v. Avelino, 77 Phil. 192 (1946);

Policy Matters and Self-Executing Provisions

- Taada v. Angara, 272 SCRA 18 (1997);
- Manila Prince Hotel v. GSIS, 267 SCRA 408 (1997);
- Oposa v. Factoran, 224 SCRA 792 (1993);

Session 7 Constitutional Interpretation

Read-up on the following topics:

- Originalism v. Living Constitution
o Textualism, Strict Constructionism v. Pragmatism, Prudentialism
- Functionalism v. Structuralism
- Judicial Activism v. Judicial Restraint

Identify Philippine Cases which might fall under the categories mentioned above

Session 8 Statutory Construction

Definition, Concept and Purpose
- Caltex v. Palomar, 18 SCRA 247 (1966);
- General v. Barrameda, 69 SCRA 182 (1976);

Aids to Construction
Generally
- Ebarle v. Sucaldito, 156 SRA 803 (1987);
- People v. Purisima, 86 SCRA 542 (1978);
Legislative History
- Song Kiat Chocolate Factory v. Central Bank, 102 Phil. 477 (1957);
- Francisco v. Bosier, 332 SCRA 792 (2000);
Contemporary Construction
- Nestle Philippines v. CA, 203 SCRA 504 (1991);
- Philippine Scout Veterans Security and Investigation Agency, Inc. v. NLRC, 262
SCRA 112 (1996);
Statutory Directives
- Valderama v. NLRC, 256 SCRA 467 (1996);
- RA 6938, sec. 126 (1990); RA 8792, sec. 37 (2000); RA 9285, secs. 8, 20, 25
(2004);

Session 9 - Interpretation of Words and Phrases, Part 1

General and Particular Use of Words
- Matuguina Integrated Wood Products, Inc. v. CA, 263 SCRA 490 (1996);
- Tan v. People, 290 SCRA 117 (1998);
- Bernardo v. Bernardo, 96 Phil. 202 (1954);
- Malanyaon v. Lising, 106 SCRA 237 (1981);

Associated Words
(a) Noscitur a sociis
- Aisporna v. CA, 113 SCRA 459 (1982);
- Dai-Ichi Electronics Manufacturing Corporation v. Villarama, 238 SCRA 267
(1994);
(b) ejusdem generis
- Magtajas v. Pryce Properties Corporation, Inc., 234 SCRA 255 (1994)
- PBA v. CA, 337 SCRA 358 (2000);

(c) Expressio unius est exclusion alterius

- Centeno v. Villaton-Pornillos, 236 SCRA 197 (1994);
- Malinias v. COMELEC, 390 SCRA 480 (2002);

Session 10 - Interpretation of Words and Phrases, Part 2

(d) Dissimilum dissimilis est ratio
- Garvida v. Sales, 271 SCRA 767 (1997) ;

(e) Casus omissus

- COA of the Province of Cebu v. The Province of Cebu, 371 SCRA 196 (2001);

(f) Ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debmos

- Ramirez v. CA, 248 SCRA 590 (1995) ;
- Cebu Institute of Medicine v. CIMEU-NFL, 360 SCRA 515 (2001);

(g) Redeendo singular singulis

- People v. Tamani, 55 SCRA 153 (174);
- Amadora v. CA, 160 SCRA 315 (1988);

(h) Doctrine of Necessary Implication

- National Association of Trade Union-Republic Planters Bank Supervisors
Chapter v. Torres, 239 SCAR 546 (1994);

Provisos, Exceptions and Savings Clauses

- See Agpalo, Statutory Construction, 236-246 (2003);

Construction of Statute as a Whole

- JMM Productions & Management, Inc. v. NLRC, 228 SCRA 129 (1993) ;

Construction in relation to Other Statutes

- Akbayan-Youth v. Comelec, 355 SCRA 318 (2001);

Session 11 Other Matters of Construction

Strict and Liberal Construction
- Pena v. House Electoral Tribuna, 270 SCRA 340 (1997);
- CIR v. B.F. Goodrich Philippines, Inc. 303 SCRA 546 (1999);
Philex Mining Corporation v. CIR, 306 SCRA 126 (1999);

Mandatory and Directory Statutes

o Philippine Consumers Foundatiion, Inc. V. National Telecommunications
Commission, 131 SCRA 200 (1984);
o Director of Lands v. CA, 276 SCRA 276 (1997);
o Philippine Registered Electrical Practitioners, Inc. v. Francia, Jr. 322
SCRA 587 (2000);

Session 12 Why Laws are Prospective; Changing the Law

Prospective and Retroactive Statutes
o Subido, Jr. v. Sandiganbayan, 266 SCRA 379 (1997);
o Zulueta v. Asia Brewery, 354 SCRA 100 (2001);
o Republic of the Philippines v. CA, 399 SCRA 277 (2003);
 Amendment, Revision, Codification and Repeal
Agpalo, Statutory Construction
Mecano v. COA, 216 SCRA 500 (1992);
Lambino, et al. v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 174153, October 25, 2006;

Section 13 Outsider Views of the Profession and the Law

Shadow of Doubt and Hour Before Dawn Marites Vitug
Pork and Other Perks, Corruption and Governance in the Philippines
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Session 14 The Changing Face of the Profession

o The End of Lawyers, Richard Susskind, Oxford University Press
o Wrongful Death Wolfe-Block, Philadelphia Magazine
o Dinovitzer & Garth, Not That Into You: American Lawyer, 2009
o Why Women Are Leaving Big Firms, Malaika Costello-Dougherty, California
Lawyer (2007)
o Taking the Power Back -http://www.thelawyer.com/shell-taking-the-power-
back/3011742.article

Session 15 Paths in the Profession

Private Practice
Single practitioners, Firms, In-house Counsel, LPOs, Consultants

Session 16 Paths in the Profession

Government
Executive, Legislative, Judiciary