Top Law School commended

City officials commended and congratulated the St. Louis University (SLU) School of Law for being the top law school in the country under Category 2 in the 2020-2021 bar examinations, for being a bar examination testing center, and for its invaluable service to the Baguio community through its legal aid services.

In a resolution, city legislators underscored that the SLU School of Law has brought immense pride and contributed valuable help to the city residents through its various services.

Earlier, the SLU School of Law was hailed as the top law school in the country for Category 2 in the 2020-2021 bar examinations held in February 2022 with a passing rate of 98.66 percent for its first takers, 12 percent of which were cited for their exemplary performance in the examination garnering a bar rating of at least 85 percent.

Further, the SLU School of Law also proved itself as one of the top law schools in the country and has shown its steadfast commitment in the development of ethical and competent lawyers who uphold the rule of law and respect to judicial institutions.

The body stipulated that the citations of the SLU School of Law as the top law school in the country has brought honor to the city and its constituents, proving that the city is home to the top institution for the study of law.

Moreover, the SLU School of Law has served as bar examination testing center for 2 years as of the present time serving not only the law students and bar takers of the city but also of Northern Luzon in general.

Because of the SLU School of Law’s designation as a testing center, the bar examinations has become more accessible and equitable in accommodating examinees from the city and Northern Luzon and has become instrumental in the implementation of bar examination reforms.

According to the council, the designation of the SLU School of Law as a testing center paved the way for the city’s opportunity to lend valuable assistance and contribution to the growth of future lawyers and legal officers.

The SLU School of Law also hosts the Chief Justice Manuel V. Moran Community Legal Assistance Office (CJ Moran CLAO) which is the official legal aid office of the school and is the first legal aid office established north of Manila.

The CJ Moran CLAO has actively championed the causes of the poor, marginalized, and indigent sectors of the community of the city and Northern Luzon by actively conducting information seminars across different barangays in the city, empowering alternative dispute resolution mechanisms among communities and providing legal aide, legal assistance, and free notarization services to the constituents of the city.

The Legal Education Board of the Philippines conferred to the SLU School of Law various awards during the legal education summit held recently such as the Chief Alexander G. Gesmundo Virtual Legal Advocate Award; CLEP Community Advocate Award and the Pioneer Law Student Practitioner Award.

The council asserted that the SLU School of Law has raised the bar in the conduct of legal aid to ensure access to justice for everyone regardless of economic or social positions, and has given the city residents an adequate, competent, and cost-free space for the redress of the community members’ grievances. – Dexter A. See