Words by Art Luciene Fuentes and Maria Georgina Silva
San Beda University College of Law held a Juris Doctor Conferment at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last November 28, 2023, to confer the graduates of the College of Law who still have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
More than 500 Bedan lawyers, justices, judges, and legal luminaries were officially designated with the Juris Doctor title during the said event, including Dean Marciano Delson, Dean Ulpiano Sarmiento III of the San Beda Alabang School of Law, and Justice Mario Lopez, the 2024 Bar Chairperson.
In December 2018, the Legal Education Board (LEB) released a memorandum aligning the Philippine legal education system with worldwide trends by adopting the Juris Doctor title as the universal academic degree for all graduates of the basic law course in the Philippines. The memorandum was issued to resolve the confusion in using both Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor degrees when referring to the academic degree of those who finished the basic course of law. Thus, the title “Juris Doctor” is now the final and proper designation of the law degree. Accordingly, the said title shall be conferred by law schools to all graduating students in the basic law course beginning the second semester of the academic year 2018-2019.
The shift from LLB to Juris Doctor, the latter being a degree recognized internationally, can be said to be a greater level of academic achievement that places Philippine law graduates on the same level as their counterparts in other jurisdictions. It singles out the notion of finishing law school as a sublime accomplishment as it distinguishes the law degree from other educational degrees. The Doctoral title commands headline attention on how noble the legal education is.
The Juris Doctor Conferment not only marks an important milestone in the growth of legal education, but also represents a commitment to excellence, adaptability, and global standards. It acknowledges all the efforts of great Bedan lawyers who continually engage in research and contribute to the pursuit of the higher calling of truth and justice. It is the convention that enkindles the desire of Bedan lawyers to serve by reminding them that Bedan lawyers are one in spirit.
THE BARRISTER 