The Legal Education Board (LEB) stressed that reforms are necessary to keep the country’s legal education system responsive to evolving professional demands and global standards, as it backed a measure seeking a comprehensive overhaul of the framework.
In a press release dated Feb. 25, the Legal Education Board (LEB) backed Senate Bill No. 1844 filed by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, which proposes amendments to Republic Act No. 7662 or the Legal Education Reform Act of 1993.
RA 7662 created the LEB and authorized it to set academic standards for law schools, supervise legal education institutions, and promote improvements in the quality and accessibility of legal instruction nationwide.
According to the LEB, developments in jurisprudence, technology, globalization and professional practice over the past three decades have reshaped the legal education landscape, warranting structural and policy adjustments.
It said reform is necessary to ensure that legal education remains “relevant, rigorous, and aligned with national and global standards”.
One of the bill’s central proposals is the creation of a Commission on Legal Education (CLED), which the Board described as a move to strengthen governance and expand institutional capacity.
The proposed body would support administrative and fiscal reforms and broaden development programs for law schools, including scholarships, research initiatives, performance-based incentives and institutional assistance mechanisms.
The LEB said these reforms are intended to enhance quality assurance while encouraging innovation and long-term sustainability within the sector .
The Board also cited HB Nos. 1804, 2279, 6989 and 7231 pending in the House of Representatives, saying these measures reflect sustained legislative focus on legal education reform and provide an opportunity to clarify institutional authority and strengthen the existing framework under RA 7662.
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