The vision of establishing a law school at Biliran Province State University is steadily moving toward reality, following a recent seminar workshop that discussed the application process and requirements for offering the Juris Doctor (JD) program at the university.

A Technical Working Group (TWG), composed of selected university officials, faculty members, and unit heads from various schools and offices, participated in an intensive four-day training from April 8 to 11, facilitated by resource persons from the Arellano University School of Law (AUSL).

The training aimed to equip BiPSU’s TWG with in-depth knowledge of law school administration, curriculum development, faculty training, and the operational standards set by the Legal Education Board (LEB) for JD programs. The activity also provided insights and best practices from AUSL, a renowned institution in legal education.

Founded in 1938, AUSL is recognized as one of the country’s premier law schools and ranked third among the top ten legal education institutions with the highest number of successful bar examinees from 2011 to 2022.

The AUSL delegation was led by Atty. Gabriel dela Peña, executive director of the Arellano Law Foundation, along with Lorina Pascasio, dean of Student Affairs; Atty. Maureen Kay E. Patajo, head of Administrative and Legal Affairs and Data Privacy officer; Jasmin P. Horlina, finance director; and Ronald M. Aguvida, supervisor at the Dean’s Office.

The three-day training, spearheaded by BiPSU’s Legal Officer Atty. Dick Guiller Delfin, provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the critical operational, administrative, and academic frameworks required for opening a law school.

Discussions focused on financial management and sustainability, institutional governance, administrative structures, formulation and implementation of academic policies, strategic program management, and compliance with regulatory requirements for securing permits and licenses. The training also addressed qualifications and responsibilities of deans and faculty members, effective curriculum delivery strategies, and the development of vital facilities and library resources essential for supporting quality legal education.

University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. expressed gratitude to the officials from Arellano University School of Law (AUSL) for their support in “BiPSU’s journey toward realizing its goal of establishing a law school.”

Meanwhile, in his message during the closing ceremony of the seminar, Atty. Gabriel dela Peña narrated the challenge the AUSL had to go through and endure over the years including “remaking the school and reviewing the policies after a significant decline of student population, in order to regain our stature and position amongst all other law schools in Metro Manila.”

“Where we are right now is a product of not just years, but decades of trying to pursue excellence in the field of legal education,” the AUSL executive director said. “The challenge also cascades to our BiPSU family for you to ensure that the program does not exist temporarily as a trending thing but actually as a move of transferring knowledge to the next generation.”

Atty. dela Peña also emphasized that BiPSU’s initiative to offer a Juris Doctor program will answer the drought of lawyers in the country. “With BiPSU’s move to start a law school, we can see more lawyers in Biliran.”

A vision materializing

In his message during the opening of the three-day training, Dr. Cañezo emphasized that the plan to establish a law school in the province is not just a dream of the university, but a shared aspiration of young Biliranons who envision a future in the legal profession and are committed to serving their community.

“This is more than just a milestone for BiPSU; it is a door of opportunity for our youth,” Dr. Cañezo said. “Through this initiative, we are empowering future lawyers from Biliran to achieve their dreams and serve our province.”

Dr. Cañezo also reiterated the impact that opening a law school would have on the province of Biliran, especially its potential to transform the local legal landscape.

A recently conducted feasibility study affirmed the growing demand for legal education in the province, with 74% of respondents expressing strong interest in pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree at BiPSU.

To further understand its prospective students, the study collected demographic data. Results showed that 37.4% of respondents are aged 20 years or younger, while 26% fall within the 21–25 age range. Another 14.6% are between 26–30 years old, with the remaining respondents spanning older age groups.

Occupational data revealed that 37.8% of respondents are full-time college students, while 30.1% are professionals working in government roles. 74.3% of those in government service hold permanent positions, indicating a stable pool of potential enrollees.

Atty. Delfin revealed that a significant majority—78.2%—of respondents expressed willingness to remain and work in the province after completing their law degree. This suggests that BiPSU's planned JD program could play an important role in strengthening the local legal profession and expanding professional opportunities within the region.

Meanwhile, during the training workshop, Dr. Cañezo shared that the university is targeting to submit its application for the Juris Doctor program on or before June this year.

Learning from reputed institutions

From September 4 to 5, a team from BiPSU, led by University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr., conducted a series of benchmarking activities and consultations with law schools and regulatory institutions in Manila to gather insights and best practices in legal education. 

The delegation sought to deepen their understanding of law school administration, operational strategies, facilities management, faculty recruitment, curriculum design, and student support systems.

As part of their benchmarking activity, the BiPSU team visited Arellano University School of Law and the San Sebastian College-Recoletos College of Law (SSC-R Law). They also conducted a consultation with the Legal Education Board (LEB) to gain clear guidance on the application process for establishing a law school, including the specific requirements and procedures mandated by the LEB.

In line with their goal of ensuring that the proposed law program aligns with the needs of the local legal community, the team engaged with Atty. Raul S. Grapilon, President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) — Biliran Chapter, to seek endorsement and support from the province’s legal practitioners.

[This aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions]