ALL aspiring law students must take the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhilSAT). It is a requirement for admission to law school. And just last year, I had a column about this.
I discussed the nature of the exam and how this system works. I also discussed the exemptions to be excused from taking the exams.
I am writing about this again because the next PhiLSAT is schedule this weekend, on April 8, 2018. However, I will only discuss more on the exemptions.
I met a friend in a bank because both of us were there to pay for the registration fee required in taking the PhiLSAT. No, we are not the ones who will take the exams, rather our younger siblings.
We talked about the PhiLSAT and the newly released guidelines for application for exemption. The purpose of this article is to add awareness and enlighten those who want to study in law school. This is for their information and guidance.
On March 14, 2018, the Legal Education Board (LEB) release guidelines for application for exemptions pursuant to Section 10 of LEB Memorandum Order No. 7, S.2016.
First, to qualify for the exemption from PhiLSAT, the applicant must be an honor graduate of a bachelorās degree or awarded with honor graduate eligibility by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 907 and/or enrolling in a law program leading to the basic law degree of a law school within two academic years from date of graduation.
Second, the applicant must submit the two original copies of fully accomplished and duly notarized PhiLSAT Application Form; one original copy of the Certification issued by the Registrar of the school where he or she graduated with a bachelorās degree; and one certified copy of the Honor Graduate Eligibility (HE) Certificate issued by the CSC.
Lastly, the applicant must submit to the LEB Receiving Section all the documentary requirements and wait to be issued the Payment Referral Slip (PRS) needed for the payment of application fee. The PRS and official receipt must be presented to the LEB Receiving Section.
The submission of documentary requirements and payment of application fee may be done either personally or by mail/courier.
When all of these are submitted and done, the applicant is exempted from taking the exam. He or she may claim the result of his or her exemption application from the LEB Receiving Section.
Taking the exam marks as your first step to becoming a lawyer. I hope that those aspiring to be lawyers would be consistent in the next four or five years in law school. It will be a tough journey, but you will get there eventually.
I hope you will all succeed in your chosen profession. See you on the other side someday!
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(Atty. Ayin Dream D. Aplasca practices her profession in Iloilo City. She may be reached thru ayindream.aplasca@gmail.com/PN)
