By Aljon P. Tugaoen

Setting the bar as a leading law schools, Mariano Marcos State University - College of Law was recognized by the Legal Education Board for its stellar performance in the 2020/2021 Bar Examinations. Yielding 100 percent passing rate, MMSU ranked first in the roster of top-performing law schools with 11 to 50 takers in both its overall performance and first-time candidates performance.

Atty. Brian Jay Corpuz, COL dean, received the award during the LEB’s Year-End Stakeholders’ Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, yesterday, December 13.

“This feat of the MMSU College of Law is a product of synergy and collaboration,” Dean Corpuz shared in a Facebook post thanking the MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis, COL founding dean Atty. Ramon Leaño, the hardwokring professors and the alumni who hurdled the exam.

“With all humility, this is for everyone. I am fortunate to receive it at the PICC tonight,” he added.

In the 2020/2021 Bar Examinations dubbed the “Best Bar Ever,” the university produced 12 now-lawyers, with two of them making it to the list of exemplary passers. MMSU’s perfect percentage surpassed the national passing rate of 72.28. (Read: https://www.mmsu.edu.ph/news/rank-1-mmsu-posts-100-in-bar-exams)

MMSU also placed as third top-performing school in 2020 and 10^th in 2018. Earlier this year, LEB recognized MMSU as Ilocos Region’s top law school based on the bar examinations’ results from 2011-2020.

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis expressed jubilation for the college’s streak of awards. “Our law school remains in the forefront as we journey to become a premier university, and, with our high-caliber law professors, we continue to make our mark in Philippine legal education.”

The LEB is mandated to uplift the standards of legal education in the country through its major policy directions, thrusts, programs and projects. (JVBT/HYL, StratCom)