PROFESSOR DATABASE PRIMER

Year Made 2017

FOREWORD

These are just general overview of the professors. This is not 100% reliable because our professors attitude may
vary from time to time these are just compiled experiences from previous batches. It will really help you because
most of them are true. Also, it would be dependent on your attitude and performance as block whether the
professors will like you. Always do your best! When you are chasing excellence and being magis (going beyond
what is expected) all professors may be chill for you.

We compiled all the professors in one document because sometimes we cannot predict who will be for each
block. The professors may shuffle.

FIRST SEMESTER

This will be your adjusting period. You will somehow put stress on the three bar subjects you will have this
semester CRIM1, CONSTI1 and PERSONS. Persons have 4 UNITS wherein it could really affect your QPI.
Unfortunately, some minor subjects will be taxing depending on the professor. Enjoy this semester and study
smart- make a schedule. Always have time for de-stressing! Its really tough but dont let yourself burn out. Dont
compare your progress to others. You individually have your own style and your own threshold. Dont pressure
yourself! It will work out in the end! Goodluck, Freshies!

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 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I

Atty. Ignatius Michael Mickey Ingles

AY2016-17 Block D

Recitation Style
Shuffle. You can get called twice in a class session
Follows the syllabus of Dean Candelaria. He only requires you to read the cases which have asterisks on it.
In 1 hour, he can finish a maximum of 12 cases, so be sure to have prepared at least 15-20 cases per meeting
(just in case).
Allows laptops.

He doesnt usually ask separate opinions, but if the syllabus requires you to read one, then you should read it.
When reciting cases, go straight to the point because he doesnt like wasting time and if you fail to give what he
needs, hell call another student to recite the case. Just recite the facts, issue, ruling of the SC, and the doctrine
related to the topic.

If the provisions are short, as much as possible, MEMORIZE it. Read also the GREEN BERNAS BOOK and the
BLUE BERNAS PRIMER because hell be getting his questions for the provisions there.
We also had quizzes which count as recitation grades.

Midterms and Finals

Essay Questions.
For our midterms and finals, four professors (together with the other profs who follow Candelaria syllabus) made
our exams. His questions are usually one long story that will have 3-4 questions that will total of 30 points of the
exam out of 100.

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Dean Sedfrey Candelaria
AY2016-17 Block A/D

Recitation Style:
Shuffle. You can get called twice, thrice or more in a class session.
Read the cases in the ORIGINAL because he can tell if you only read the digest. He sometimes asks things which
are found in the footnotes.

He doesnt usually ask separate opinions but there was a time when he asked us what the title of the act was and
it wasnt mentioned in the majority opinion (it was in the separate opinions footnote).
Number of cases per meeting depends if the case is a landmark case. We discussed a landmark case for the
whole period, but prepare at least 15-20 cases in case he ups his pace. MEMORIZE THE PROVISIONS AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE. He made almost the whole class recite on 1 provision during the whole period.

We also had a quiz on a topic that we werent supposed to discuss yet so try to read in advance.

Midterms and Finals

Exam Essay Questions.
Dean Candelaria, Atty. Ingles, Atty. Abad-Gamo, and Atty. Wilwayco each contribute in making the exam. Some
of the questions are patterned after the cases so better read the assigned cases. Even sometimes there are not
assigned, it is sometimes asked.

The exam is comprehensive but it focuses more on the discussion during the latter part, but study hard core
articles like Articles VI, VII, and VIII.

Donts:
1. Show up to the class unprepared.
2. Pass. If you pass youll get an automatic 70.
3. Cut/Absent
4. COACH!

Useful Materials
Bernas Green Book
Bernas Blue Primer Book

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 CRIMINAL LAW I

Atty. Jose Arturo De Castro

- We are still looking for information about him since he is unfamiliar to us. He has not taught Criminal Law
I recently. A fourth year student who had him in her elective told us that he is generous in giving grades
(in fact, she got 95)but that was under an elective. According to what she heard, Atty. De Castro is
strict when it comes to core subjects.

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 PERSONS & FAMILY RELATIONS

Atty. Richie Avigale Ramos-Pilares

AY2016-17 Block F

She is really really nice out of all the professors here in law school. She can be your friend after the semester.
She is very prayerful/religious.

Teaching Style:
Recitations with some lectures
Recitations are conducted in rounds and are based on codal provisions and the application of law, which
are all in the Sta. Maria book. Study also the cases in the Sta. Maria book because she also asks to recite
the cases written in the book.
Recitations are fast paced, so most likely you will be called almost every meeting. She can call everyone
in a two-hour
Be sure you know what you are talking about because she asks follow-up questions. a lot of follow up
questions, she will ask you more questions when youre answering it correctly
And when you had a mistake she will just say thank you and ask you to sit down.
She encourages you to justify your answer. She is very cool and calm, so it is hard to tell if you are
correct or not.
Do not attempt to coach your classmates during recitations. She grills the one who is caught coaching.
For those who need to pull their grades up, she may give special reporting assignments and voluntary
recits towards the end of the semester.

Recitations
Understand the codal provisions by heart; it would be better if you memorize them.
Focus on Dean Sta. Marias book remember important points because thats everything you will need in
the semester for PERSONS.
She asks cases in the Dean Mel book - Recite only the relevant facts, issues, and ruling.

Midterms
The exam is commonly essay and enumeration.
Pay attention on the topics that are emphasized in class because these are the ones that will appear in
the exams. The usual topics are, legal separation, annulment, psychological incapacity, family home,
property regimes.
Read the book again. Master the requisites of the topics mentioned above.
The exam is usually mixed with Atty. Ampys questions
Study reviewers like tables made by previous batches and Enumerations (by Clar) enumerations are
pretty useful

Finals
Study Samplexes even the old ones: From Dean Mel, Atty. Ampys questions and also, check out bar
exam questions because she asked one last year.
Unlike the midterms, the finals is purely an essay exam.

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 LEGAL RESEARCH

Atty. Carlo Oscar Caloy Cajucom

AY2016-17 Block F

Teaching Style
Overall teaching style: lectures and recitations
Legal Research is not as taxing compared to the other subjects. This subject focuses more on developing
your writing and research skills.
The required readings and deliverables are reasonable and fair.
Atty. Cajucom is a really nice professor and he gives fair grades.
He usually starts with a lecture and will randomly call around three to five students per meeting.
Read the assigned materials and cases for every meeting. His case load is very light and he is really nice;
so dont be nervous during recitations.
If you had a low recitation grade or did not have the opportunity to recite, he will be assigning you to
report on one of the remaining topics for the semester.

Recommended Books/ Reviewers

Ateneo Law Journal citation guide

Grade Range
mid 80s to 90s
He did not fail anyone last year. This may be an opportunity to pull up your QPI, so do not be lax. He will base the
grades on your and your recitation. He gives heavier weight to papers, as this is a research class.

Grade breakdown:
Recitation 1/3
Midterms 1/3
Finals 1/3

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 PHILOSOPHY OF LAW

Atty. Joaquin Obieta

AY2016-17 Block D and E

Teaching Style
Purely lecture
He discusses class topics and relates them to current events.
He randomly calls people for thoughts and opinion; it is best to show him that you are interested on the
topic.
You can use your gadgets during class, so you can keep up with his discussion and be able to ask
questions.
He assigns readings to be discussed in class. However, his lectures can be about anything under the
sun.
Highlight the texts in the readings whenever he emphasizes on them. Usually, he reads them out loud.
Engage yourself in class discussions and ask him intelligent questions. He will not waste time on shallow
questions; worse, he will make fun of it.
You will automatically fail his class if your exams are low. A lot of people from our batch failed because
they took the exams for granted.
Make sure you attend class regularly. Sometimes he gets upset on students who are frequently absent

Recommended Books/Reviewers
The Idea of Law by Dennis Lloyd
Sids notes
Samplexes Compilation

Grade Range
80smid 90s

Breakdown:
50%-Midterms
50%-Finals

Midterms
Master his sample exams. He usually repeats his questions. However, he adds new questions or he
changes the exam type, so do not get too complacent.
Exams are usually in essay, multiple choice questions, or true or false format.
Try to memorize definitions from the assigned readings, especially the ones he emphasizes in class
He gives perfect essay points to those who are able to answer in verbatim

Finals
Unlike the midterms, his final exams have more new questions and a little more difficult but dont worry
there are sample exam questions however mostly are not for finals.

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 STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

Atty. Ricardo Jun Pilares

AY2016-17 Block D and F

Bio
Husband of Atty. Richie Ramos-Pilares. He is an alumnus of Ateneo Law graduated as their Valedictorian. He
nd
placed 2 in the Bar Exam.

Teaching style
Lectures and Recitations.
His lectures and recitations are based on the assigned cases.
About 10 to 12 cases may be discussed every meeting.
He conducts recitations randomly, so you have to be prepared all the time.
However, toward the end of the semester, recitations will be done in rounds in order to equalize the number of
recitations for each student.
You can recite one to three times for the entire semester. The cases assigned may be about different legal topics, but
he is only concerned on those about statutory construction. Make sure you know the minutest detail on these.
He skips cases at times and he does not follow the order of the cases in the syllabus. Make sure you always read
ahead. You dont want to be caught off guard.
He is very calm in class. If you pass during a recitation, he will just say ok and will mark your class card
accordingly.
Be punctual. The beadle should always have a whiteboard marker for him.

Recommended Books/Reviewers:
Assigned cases.
Statcon Swerte Reviewer
Statcon Finals Reviewer

Recitations
Read the cases and focus on issues that have conflicts on interpretation and determine how these are
resolved.
Your class attendance might affect your grade. He bases his questions on the cases. Sometimes, he will
ask you to apply the rules of construction to hypothetical or actual situations. The depth of your answer
will depend on the time left to discuss all the cases. Near the end of the semester, if there are still a lot of
cases to be tackled, he will only require a fast and direct to the point discussion.
He will sometimes ask trivial questions, just to check if you really read the case in its original.

Midterms/Finals
He will give at least one written exam, either the midterms or the finals. The other one will be a group
assignment.
His exam consists of true or false and essay formats.
Essay questions are usually about the reason behind the basic rules of construction. (Ex: Why do we
have to interpret words in their plain meanings?)
Memorize the rules of statutory construction and the Latin maxims.

Grade Range:
Mid 80s to 90s
Breakdown
Recitation: 1/3
Midterms: 1/3
Finals: 1/3

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 LEGAL PROFESSION
Atty. Tanya Karina Lat
AY2016-17 Block F

Teaching Style:
She starts her class with 15 minutes of meditation.
She is almost always late, thus expect class time extensions and make-up classes.
Unlike your major subjects, preparation for her class will be a breeze. You are only asked to read and
reflect on the assigned readings.
She encourages participation in class discussions because she values your opinion on the topic
discussed. She sometimes asks questions about the reading assignment, just to check if you have read
them. However, these recitations are not as heart pounding as those in your major subjects.
Most of the time, you volunteer to recite. As much as possible, participate in the class discussion as this
will increase the Quiz/Recitation portion of your grade.
Memorize the lawyers oath and expect a quiz about it.
She gets creative with her requirements and she expects you to give your best output. Her requirements
include mind maps, reflection papers, debate, and moot court, among others.
Read the readings for class discussion; so you will not be overwhelmed come exam time. If you cannot
read it ahead of time, divide the readings among yourselves and compile it as a reviewer.
Make sure you prepare ahead of time.

Recommended Books/Reviewers
Assigned readings

Grade Range
70s to 80s
She passed everyone last year, but do not get too complacent because she fails students

Recitation
Recite a lot and take down the dates when you recited because sometimes she forgets to put a grade on
your class cards.

Midterms
2016: midterm exam was a take home term paper.
2017: Sit down exam but she gave pointers to review that actually came out on the Midtems
She does not repeat exam questions and her exams are usually in essay format.
Answer the exams based on the reading assignments and cite these readings to get a higher grade.
It is also important to know her stand on issues surrounding the legal profession.
In order to get good grades, use her stance on a particular matter to answer exam questions.

Finals
Last year, there was no final exam, a comprehensive group report was the final requirement.
We did a couple of things: Jail Visit, Interviews, and Court visits