The College of Law

The College of Law of the USC School of Law and Governance is among the law schools in the country conferred by the Legal Education Board with Award for Excellence in Legal Education. Its passing percentage in the Bar  Examinations is consistently high. The College has also produced bar topnotchers over the years. In the 2016 Bar Examinations, the College registered a 100% passing mark for its 2016 graduates, and occupied the first, third, seventh and eighth places.

It aims to develop competent and socially responsible lawyers and lifelong learners in an environment that fosters excellence in the academic core processes of teaching-learning, research, and community extension service within a Catholic education that embodies the principles of academic discipline of San Carlos Borromeo and the missionary charism of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). It is presently offering Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor programs on a semestral basis. Paralegal Certificate is conferred to those who are able to complete the second year of any of the two degrees, thereby making the College the first in the country to offer enhanced law degrees bearing features of a ladderized program.

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Its facilities include spacious fully air-conditioned library with computer room and perk area; fully air-conditioned classrooms equipped with multi-media instructional facilities; wi-fi connection; two (2) moot courts; separate Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) and student organizations office; law conference room and faculty lounge. Its law library was named one of the Model Law Libraries in the country by the Supreme Court, and is the first law school in the country to provide the bundled services of CD Asia Online and Lexis Nexis to its students.

The College of Law is also among the largest law schools in the country, with an average enrollment of close to seven hundred students, male and female in almost equal proportion. Approximately thirty (30%) percent of its students are working in public or private offices. It also welcomes foreign students and faculty under its various exchange programs. The College is the only one with Staff and Student Exchange Program with Stockholm University, Sweden.

It also has a Supreme Court- accredited Clinical Legal Education Program, and is an accredited MCLE provider.

The College has also distinguished itself in various competitions, both in the Philippines and abroad. Among its distinctions are: fourth time champion in the ANC Square Off: The Firm Debates, back-to-back champions in the Philippine Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Southeast Asian Regional Rounds Champion in Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, Champion in the International Round of Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition held in Gulfport, Florida, USA, Octo-finalist and Best New Team in the 2015 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, and Champion in the Asia- Pacific Round of the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition held in Beijing, China. It likewise ranked third in the recently- concluded International Rounds of Price Media Law Moot Court Competition in University of Oxford, England.

Programs offered

Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Juris Doctor with thesis
J.D. with tracks in: litigation, government service, business and corporate practice
(All J.D. programs come with a Certificate in Paralegal Studies upon completion of the second year of studies.)

Experiential learning

Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP)

Available scholarships

Academic scholarship
Board topnotchers scholarship program
VRV and Sons Foundation Scholarship Grant
Jesus P. Garcia Sr. Endowed Scholarships
Faculty scholarships

“Carolinian Bar Topnotchers Through the Years”

COLLEGE OF LAW
SCHOOL OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE
UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS
Cebu City

Topnotchers

YearNamesPlace
1951Pablo Garcia3rd
1951Fortunato Vailoces5th
1960Valerio Salazar10th
1960Manuel Valenzuela13th
1961Filemon Fernandez7th
1965Pio Go9th
1965Roberto Palmares11th
1970Isaias Dicdican11th
1976Arturo Villamor6th
1976Federico Cabilao10th
1977Joel Famador Jr.9th
1977Littie Sara Agdeppa11th
1980Vicky Go-Borromeo14th
1980Gerardo Cerna Jr.16th
1981Arthur Lim3rd
1981Omar Redula8th
1981Joseph Cohon11th
1986Leo Hapitan17th
1990Melina Almase20th
1993Geraldine Faith Econg15th
YearNamesPlace
1994Joan Dymphna Saniel20th
1998Gregorio Diaz8th
2004Ma. Cristina Larrobis4th
2004Ma. Melissa Jamero10th
2006Karen Gaviola7th
2007Jennie Aclan4th
2010Glenn C. Carampatana10th
2013Tercel Maria Mercado- Gephart5th
2015Athena C. Plaza2nd
2015Jecca B. Jacildo8th
2016Karen Mae C.Calam1st
2016Fiona Cristy D. Lao3rd
2016Anne Margarette Momongan7th
2016Jefferson Gomez8th
2017Christianne Mae C. Balili2nd
2017Ivanne D’ Laureil I. Hisoler3rd
2017Rheland S. Servacio7th
2018Markley Augustus D. Natu-el2nd
2018Mark Lawrence C. Badayos3rd
2018Jebb Lynus Q. Cane9th
2018Alen Joel R. Pita10th

For more details, visit this link: View More

News and information

Enrollment Guide for the School of Law

Learn more about how to enroll in our Law programs.

USC Law qualifies for global rounds of 2023 Jessup

The USC College of Law Mooting Team qualified for the Global Rounds of the 2023 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition after making it to the Finals in the Jessup national rounds held on February 28, 2023 at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

topnotchers

Three grads in top 10 of 2017 Bar Exams

Three Carolinians placed in the top 10 of the 2017 Bar Examinations, continuing the remarkable run of topnotchers for the School of Law. Click here for the full story.

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USC Law bags top International Moot Court Prize