By Jesslyn Keith Valite 

Fourteen sophomore students from MMSU College of Law (COL) were officially granted Level I certification as law student practitioners (LSPs) by the Supreme Court. They took oath before Judge Maria Corazon Labrador, the executive judge of the Regional Trial Courts in the City of Batac, today, September 18.

The LSPs comprised of Alyssa Abdala, Fernando Fernandez Jr., Xennia Keizia Fernandez, Edimar Joshua Friala, Neil Archie Garcia, Ma. Genivieve Luna, Johanna May Mata, Roman Alejandro Nalupta, Dennies Aira Omli, Raymart Peralta, Aljon Tugaoen, Jireh Czarina Tolentino, Charmaine Ventura, and Tiana May Villaluz. They were accompanied by COL dean Atty. Brian Jay Corpuz and MMSU legal officer Atty. Ma. Saniata Marcos.

Mr. Garcia, also a faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences, expressed his enthusiasm for gaining practical experience, emphasizing that the hands-on learning from the externship will significantly enhance his role as an educator.  “It will not only deepen my own understanding but also enrich the students’ education by providing them with real-world insights and examples from the externship,” he said.

The LSPs are expected to undergo limited law practice in a 100-hour externship, gaining practical experience at the Public Attorney’s Office, Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, and Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Ilocos Norte Chapter. 

The Level I certification of law students serves as a permit to enter the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) as mandated by the Rule 138-A. In this rule, particularly in Sections 5 and 9,  LSPs are allowed to interview prospective clients, provide legal advice, draft legal documents, represent parties before quasi-judicial or administrative bodies, offer public legal orientation, and assist in formulating and implementing public interest policies.