COURSE SYLLABUS

1. THE JUDICIARY IN A CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Relate the judiciary to the entire political-legal framework of a constitutional democracy;
2. Evaluate the workings of the judiciary in the evolution of democracy in the Philippines; and
3. Identify the role of judges in a constitutional democracy.


2. JUDICIAL AFFIDAVIT RULE

At the end of the session, the participants should be familiar with the highlights of the Judicial Affidavit Rule.



3. CIVIL PROCEDURE

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Identify frequently raised issues in civil procedure;
2. Derive solutions from updates in jurisprudence; and
3. Acquire familiarity with principles of civil procedure necessary for the resolution of motions and of cases.


4. MODES OF DISCOVERY

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Familiarize themselves with the nature, purposes and operation of the modes of discovery;
2. Recognize the significance and importance of the various modes of discovery; and
3. Realize how the modes of discovery can effectively shorten the period of litigation and speed up adjudication.


5. PRE-TRIAL

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Identify the legal, psychological, sociological and anthropological parameters of a trial; and
2. Acquire a broader perspective of a trial and consider incidental or peripheral matters, but in fact are essential to the litigation process.


6. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to refresh themselves on the fine points of procedural laws concerning crimes.



7. EVIDENCE

At the end of the session, the participants should be updated with the latest jurisprudence on the admissibility and foundation of evidence.



8. COURT-ANNEXED MEDIATION AND ENHANCED COURT INVOLVEMENT IN THE MEDIATION PROCESS: The Philippine Practice

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Distinguish mediation from different forms of alternative dispute resolution techniques;
2. Identify its key concepts and components;
3. Apply the rules for mediation and mediators promulgated by the Supreme Court;
4. Lead parties to a negotiated settlement of disputes in sample cases; and
5. Distinguish mediation from arbitration.


9. COMPUTATION OF PENALTIES

At the end of the session, the participants should have a working knowledge of the correct computation of penalties.



10. APPLICATION OF THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE LAW

At the end of the session, the participants should be familiar with the correct application of the indeterminate sentence law.



11. SOCIAL CONTEXT OF JUDICIAL PROCESS: VULNERABLE SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to discuss key principles and concepts in social context and access to justice.



12. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS LAW

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Have an overview of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 2007;
2. Identify the legal issues confronting courts in the application of IPRA; and
3. Discuss relevant jurisprudential development.


13. DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW, AND DOMESTIC ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

At the end of the session, the participants should have a working knowledge of the key principles and concepts in international law and international human rights law, including domestic enforcement.



14. ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH with Computer-Aided Research

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Apply effective and efficient methods of research in the drafting of resolutions and decisions;
2. Use the tools of research locally available, as well as recent technological aids to research; and
3. Solve sample problems calling for a familiarity with research procedure.


15. TECHNOLOGY AND THE COURTS (including THE RULES ON ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE)

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Identify developments in court technology and the relevance of technological developments to the adjudicative as well as managerial tasks of a judge; and
2. Refresh themselves on the salient points of the rules governing electronic evidence.


16. CONTEMPORARY JURISPRUDENCE IN PERSONS AND FAMILY RALATIONS

At the end of the session, the participants should be familiar with key rulings in Persons and Family Relations.



17. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262 (VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN)

At the end of the session, the participants should be familiar with the highlights of Republic Act No. 9262.



18. SELECTED TOPICS IN THE LAW ON SUCCESSION

At the end of the session, the participants will have a refresher on the highlight of the Law on Succession.



19. TRENDS AND UPDATES IN THE LAW ON PROPERTY AND OBLIGATIONS AND CONTRACTS

At the end of the session, the participants should be familiar with updates and trends in the law on property obligations and contracts.



20. JUDICIAL WRITING: Lecture and Critiquing

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Write persuasively argued and succinct judicial writings that comply with constitutional standards;
2. Distinguish between well-written and poorly crafted judicial writings; and
3. Correct common errors in judicial writings.


21. COURT-ANNEXED MEDIATION AND JUDICIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION (JDR) MECHANISMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

At the end of the session, the participants should have a working knowledge of the key principles and concepts in CAM and JDR.



22. THE CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT AND THE BEHAVIOR OF A JUDGE: Rules, Canons and Case Studies

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable conduct for a judge both, in court and out of court;
2. Deduce practical guidelines for their own deportment from the Canons of Judicial Ethics as well as from the goals of competence, credibility and efficiency in the judiciary;
3. Relate the manner of conducting trials to the demands of the administration of justice by the courts; and
4. Solve hypotheticals on judicial conduct.


23. FILIPINO VALUES AND THE JUDGE

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Understand both Filipino social and individual values;
2. Identify those values that explain Filipino behavior; and
3. Determine how these cultural behaviors may affect proper judicial conduct.


24. CRIMES PUNISHED BY THE REVISED PENAL CODE

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

1. Refresh themselves on the fine points of substantive criminal laws;
2. Update themselves on the latest laws and jurisprudence so that they will be abreast with evolving philosophies and new trends on Crimes; and
3. Interface with both members of the Bar and the Bench on said evolving philosophies and trends.


25. CRIMES PUNISHED UNDER SPECIAL LAWS

At the end of the session, the participants should have a increased working knowledge of different crimes punished under Special Laws.



26. TRIAL TECHNIQUES

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to discuss guidelines in the conduct of trial.



27. MOOT COURT: The Conduct of Pre-Trial and Trial

At the end of the session, the participants should be able to apply the necessary pre-trial and trial skills in simulated courtroom proceedings.



28. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW (Republic Act No. 9160)

At the end of the session, the participants should have a working knowledge of the highlights of AMLA and the corresponding procedure and guidelines.