The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law or "UST Law" (as distinguished from the Faculty of Canon Law) is a law school in

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. It is administered under the jurisdiction of the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Migue ...

, the oldest and the largest

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

university in the

. It is one of the three law schools of the

in Manila, with the other two being the Faculty of Canon Law and the Graduate School of Law. Established in 1734, it is the first lay law school in the Philippines.Rufus Rodriguez. ''Slaying The Bar Exams Dragon.'' Rex Bookstore, 2002. It is among the top performing and prestigious law schools in the Philippines, consistently topping the Bar Examinations. The faculty has produced numerous alumni in government, public service and the academe globally. USTjf0468 07

History

Known as ''Facultad de Derecho Civil'', the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law is the oldest lay college in the University as well in the Philippines. It was established on September 2, 1734, the same year that the Faculty of Canon Law was founded, with a curriculum identical to that adopted during the time in leading universities in Europe.Official Prospectus, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. 2006 Issue. The number of subjects in the curriculum was later enriched and expanded. During the major part of the Spanish regime the course consisted of twelve semesters (six years), based upon a year of preparatory work. On several occasions during the American regime, the University of Santo Tomas modified the curriculum of the Faculty of Civil Law in order to meet the changing conditions. But firm in the resolve of turning out worthy members of the Bar and practical Catholic lawyers, the University adhered to its basic policy of retaining in its curriculum important subjects introduced during the Spanish regime in order to fully accomplish the aims and purposes of a sound Catholic legal education.

Curriculum

The Faculty maintains a curriculum of mandatory law courses, focusing on the eight subjects covered in the Philippine Bar Examinations. Upon completing all law courses for the first three years in the program, the student is required to engage in an internship program of at least two-hundred hours before being admitted to the fourth and final year.Official Law Curriculum, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, 2006. As a final graduation requirement, a student undergoes a ''Revalida'', an oral recitation covering the most important aspects of every subject in the Philippine Bar Examinations. An applicant for graduation must pass the ''Revalida'', ''Mid-term Examinations'', ''Final Examinations'', daily class recitations, quizzes, and special projects to graduate and be qualified to take the Philippine Bar Exam. The Faculty remains one of the top performing law schools in the national bar exams.

Preparatory legal education

The Faculty requires applicants to hold at least a bachelor's degree in any field, provided they meet certain academic requisites. Majority of graduates have completed preparatory law degrees in Asian Studies, Media Studies,

Sociology Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of empirical investigation an ...

, Legal Management,

Political Science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

Accountancy Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "langua ...

, and Philosophy.Office of the Faculty Secretary, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. Records from 2000 to 2006.

Advanced legal education

Since 2017, University of Santo Tomas started offering higher law degrees through the UST Graduate School of Law. Prior this, the Faculty of Civil Law, through the

University of Santo Tomas Graduate School The University of Santo Tomas Graduate School is the graduate school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines. As early as the seventeenth (17th) century, the University of Santo Tomas (U ...

Law Department administers the program content and delivery of advanced courses in legal education. These postgraduate programs are made available only to holders of

Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Ch ...

and Juris Doctor degrees from accredited law schools in the Philippines and other countries.Official Prospectus, University of Santo Tomas Graduate School. 2006 Issue. The following postgraduate programs were offered: *

Master of Laws A Master of Laws (M.L. or LL.M.; Latin: ' or ') is an advanced postgraduate academic degree, pursued by those either holding an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree, or an undergraduate degree in a related subject. In mos ...

(LL.M.) - postgraduate legal education for holders of basic law degrees (i.e.,

Bachelor of Science in Law The Bachelor of Science in Law (BSL) is a somewhat special-purpose undergraduate degree that is typically intended for students who have completed some undergraduate education, but not received a baccalaureate degree, and are intending to resume th ...

, Juris Doctor, etc.) who are members of the bar and active legal practitioners or academicians in their respective countries. *

Doctor of Civil Law Doctor of Civil Law (DCL; la, Legis Civilis Doctor or Juris Civilis Doctor) is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws (LLD) degrees. At Oxford, the degree is a higher ...

(DCL) - the first and so far only doctoral program in law offered in the Philippines. Notable alumni include Supreme Court Late Chief Justice

Renato Corona Renato Tereso Antonio Coronado Corona (October 15, 1948 – April 29, 2016) was a Filipino judge who was the 23rd chief justice of the Philippines from 2010 to 2012. He served as an associate justice after being appointed by President Gloria ...

, late Manila Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing, Sr. and Sandiganbayan Justice Catalino R. Castañeda Jr.List of members, University of Santo Tomas Law Alumni Association, 2006.

Alumni

This is a list of notable alumni of the school. *

Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina, (; 19 August 1878 – 1 August 1944), also known by his initials MLQ, was a Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier and politician who served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 until his de ...

, 2nd

President of the Philippines The president of the Philippines ( fil, Pangulo ng Pilipinas, sometimes referred to as ''Presidente ng Pilipinas'') is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of t ...

* José P. Laurel, 3rd President of the Philippines *

Sergio Osmeña Sergio Osmeña Sr. (, ; 9 September 1878 – 19 October 1961) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the fourth president of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was vice president under Manuel L. Quezon. Upon Quezon's sudd ...

, 4th President of the Philippines * Diosdado Macapagal, 9th President of the Philippines *

Fernando Lopez Fernando Hofileña Lopez Sr. (April 13, 1904May 26, 1993) was a Filipino statesman. A member of the influential Lopez family of Iloilo, he served as vice president of the Philippines for three terms – under Elpidio Quirino (1949–1 ...

, 4th

Vice President of the Philippines The vice president of the Philippines ( fil, Pangalawang Pangulo ng Pilipinas, also referred to as ''Bise Presidente ng Pilipinas'') is the second-highest official in the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the first in the p ...

Emmanuel Pelaez Emmanuel Neri Pelaez (November 30, 1915 – July 27, 2003) was a Filipino public servant and politician who served as the 6th Vice President of the Philippines from 1961 to 1965. Early life and career Pelaez was born in Medina, Misamis (now ...

, 7th Vice President of the Philippines *

Arturo Tolentino Arturo "Ka Turing" Modesto Tolentino (September 19, 1910 – August 2, 2004) was a Filipino politician and diplomat who served as the Senate president and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He ran as the vice-presidential running mate of Ferdin ...

, 9th Vice President of the Philippines *

Cayetano Arellano Cayetano Simplicio Arellano y Lonzón (March 2, 1847 – December 23, 1920) was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the American Civil Government. Cayetano Arellano had occupied a high position in Aguinaldo's go ...

, former

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines The chief justice of the Philippines ( fil, Punong Mahistrado ng Pilipinas) presides over the Supreme Court of the Philippines and is the highest judicial officer of the government of the Philippines. As of April 5, 2021, the position is cur ...

Victorino Mapa Victorino Montaño Mapa (February 25, 1855 – April 12, 1927) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and later, as the second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the American colonial Insular G ...

, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines * Manuel Araullo, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines * Ramón Avanceña, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines *

Roberto Concepcion Roberto Reyes Concepcion (June 7, 1903 – May 3, 1987) was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from June 17, 1966 until April 18, 1973. He is remembered in the history of the Philippine Supreme Court for protecting the in ...

, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines *

Andres Narvasa Andres dela Rosa Narvasa (November 30, 1928 – October 31, 2013) was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from December 1, 1991, to November 30, 1998. He served as chairman of the Preparatory Commission for Constitutional ...

, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines *

Apolinario Mabini Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (, July 23, 1864 – May 13, 1903) was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government, and then as the firs ...

, former

Prime Minister of the Philippines The prime minister of the Philippines was the official designation of the head of the government (whereas the president of the Philippines was the head of state) of the Philippines from 1978 until the People Power Revolution in 1986. During m ...

Marcelo H. del Pilar Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán (; ; August 30, 1850July 4, 1896), commonly known as Marcelo H. del Pilar and also known by his pen name Pláridel,.''Filipinos in History: Volume II'', National Historical Institute, 1990, p. 101 was a ...

, revolutionary leader of the Philippine Revolution *

Emilio Jacinto Emilio Jacinto y Dizon (; December 15, 1875 – April 16, 1899) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution. He was one of the highest-ranking officers in the Philippine Revolution and was one of the highest-ranking officers of the ...

, revolutionary leader *

Gregorio S. Araneta Don Gregorio Soriano Araneta (born Gregorio Araneta y Soriano; April 16, 1869 – May 9, 1930) was a Filipino lawyer, businessman, and nationalist, during the Spanish and American colonial periods. Early life and career In 1891, he graduated ...

, former member of the Revolutionary Congress, former Associate Justice in the first Supreme Court, former Secretary of Justice * Felipe G. Calderón, known as the "Father of the Malolos Constitution" *

Felipe Agoncillo Don Felipe Agoncillo y Encarnación (May 26, 1859 – September 29, 1941) was the Filipino lawyer representative to the negotiations in Paris that led to the Treaty of Paris (1898), ending the Spanish–American War and achieving him the ...

, representative to the negotiations in Paris that led to the

Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris may refer to one of many treaties signed in Paris, France: Treaties 1200s and 1300s * Treaty of Paris (1229), which ended the Albigensian Crusade * Treaty of Paris (1259), between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France * Trea ...

(1898), ending the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

Epifanio de los Santos Epifanio de los Santos y Cristóbal, sometimes known as Don Pañong or Don Panyong (April 7, 1871 – April 18, 1928), was a noted Filipino historian, journalist, and civil servant.Afan, Carolina L. Epifanio de los Santos y Cristobal. Fili ...

, Filipino historian, literary critic, jurist, prosecutor *

Jose Diokno Jose Wright Diokno (February 26, 1922 – February 27, 1987), also known as "''Ka Pepe''", was a Filipino nationalist, lawyer, and politician. Regarded as the "Father of Human Rights Advocacy in the Philippines", he served as Senator of th ...

, former senator and government minister *

Claro M. Recto Claro Mayo Recto Jr. (born Claro Recto y Mayo; February 8, 1890 – October 2, 1960) was a Filipino politician, jurist, and poet. He is remembered for his nationalism, for "the impact of his patriotic convictions on modern political though ...

, former Senator *

José Avelino José Dira Avelino Sr. (born José Avelino y Dira; August 5, 1890 – July 21, 1986) was the first President of the Senate of the Third Republic of the Philippines and the second President of the Liberal Party. He was Senate President ''pro tem ...

, former Senator *

Arsenio Lacson Arsenio Hilario Sison Lacson Sr. (December 26, 1912 – April 15, 1962) was a Filipino journalist and politician who gained widespread attention as mayor of Manila from 1952 to 1962. An active executive likened by '' Time'' and '' The New Yor ...

, former Mayor of the City of Manila, former Congressman *

Gregorio Aglipay Gregorio Aglipay Cruz y Labayán ( la, Gregorius Aglipay; Filipino: ''Gregorio Labayan Aglipay Cruz''; 5 May 1860 – 1 September 1940) was a former Filipino Catholic priest who became the first head of the '' Iglesia Filipina Independiente'' ...

, first Filipino Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church *

Ladislao Diwa Ladislao Diwa y Nocon (June 27, 1863 − March 12, 1930) was a Filipino patriot who was among the founders of the Katipunan that initiated the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896. Early years He was born in San Roque, Cavite to Mariano ...

, Filipino patriot, one of the founders of the

Katipunan The Katipunan, officially known as the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK; en, Supreme and Honorable Association of the Children of the Nation ...

that initiated the Philippine Revolution against Spain *

Baldomero Aguinaldo Baldomero Aguinaldo y Baloy (February 27, 1869 – February 4, 1915) was a leader of the Philippine Revolution. He was the first cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, as well as the grandfather of Cesar Virata, a ...

, former cabinet member, revolutionary leader of the Magdalo chapter of the

* Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court * Raul Gonzales, Philippine Secretary of Justice, former Iloilo Representative and Special Prosecutor (''Tanodbayan'') *

Diosdado Peralta Diosdado "Dado" Madarang Peralta (born March 27, 1952) is a Filipino attorney and jurist who served as the chief justice of the Philippines from 2019 to 2021. He previously served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines f ...

, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice * Amy Lazaro-Javier, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, former Court of Appeals Associate Justice * Rosalinda Asuncion Vicente, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals * Monina Arevalo Zenarosa, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals *Ernesto L. Pineda, former Undersecretary of the Department of Justice

Faculty

The faculty has a pool of full-time law professors and part-time professorial lecturers from both the public and private sectors. Most have held high positions in the judiciary and other branches of the Philippine government.Faculty list, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, 2006.

References

External links

University of Santo TomasUniversity of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil LawLibertas et Iusticia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santo Tomas Civil Law, University of Civil Law Educational institutions established in 1734 Law schools in the Philippines Graduate schools in the Philippines 1734 establishments in the Spanish Empire