SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF LAW
COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE CODE: LEGTECH

COURSE TITLE: LEGAL TECHNIQUE

COURSE CREDIT: 2 UNITS

FACULTY:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

TERM/ACADEMIC YEAR: SECOND SEMESTER SCHOOL YEAR 2020-2021

COURSE DELIVERY MODE: FULL ONLINE

CONSULTATION DAY/TIME:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

An evaluation of the basic principles of logic or legal reasoning in order to

impart skills necessary for the effective practice of law.

COURSE GOALS: Expected College of Law Graduate Attributes (“ELGAs”)

(A) Develop: (i) critical and analytical thinking; (ii) proficiency in written and
oral communication; and (iii) logical reasoning and sound judgment; and (B)
Exercise proper professional and ethical responsibilities

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES (“LOs”):

1. Comprehension/Understanding: describe, explain, identify, recognize

2. Application/Applying: choose, demonstrate, implement, perform
3. Analysis/Analyzing: analyze, categorize, compare, differentiate
4. Evaluation/Evaluating: assess, critique, evaluate, rank, rate
5. Synthesis/Creating: construct, design, formulate, organize, synthesize

Upon completion of the Course Title course, the student is expected to be able to:

ELGAs LEARNING OUTCOMES (LOs)

Critical and analytical LO1. Explain how Philippine legal system works.
thinking LO2. Analyze the practical and policy implications of current and
Effective in written and proposed statutes, regulations, judicial rulings, legal arguments, and
oral communication strategies in preparing a case.
Logical reasoning LO3. Assess a case of a party and develop legal arguments and
Sound judgment strategies.
Exercise of proper LO4. Utilize legal research tools to gather pieces of information that
professional and ethical aid in the analysis of legal issues in drafting a research or position
responsibilities paper or pleading

ASSESSMENT/GRADING SYSTEM:

The student will be graded according to the following:

Scope of Work Percentage

Requirements Based on the Learning Outcomes (Individual) (Weight is based

1
 (“LO”) on the
importance of
the LO)
LO1 Recitations, Quizzes, Reporting, Research Paper,
Individual
Exams
LO2 Recitations, Quizzes, Reporting, Research Paper,
Individual
Exams
LO3 Recitations, Quizzes, Reporting, Research Paper,
Individual
Exams
LO4 Recitations, Quizzes, Reporting, Research Paper,
Individual
Exams

Class standing before Midterms Individual 16.67%

Midterm Exams Individual 16.67%
Class Standing after Midterms Individual 33.33%
Final Exams Individual 33.33%
TOTAL 100%

LEARNING PLAN:

LEARNING
WEEK/
METHODS
LEARNING DATE
(activities
RESOURCES (Schedule
designed or
TOPIC/CONTENT (print and non- of each
deployed by
(arrangement or sequence of the major topics is print materials Topic,
the teacher to
based on a logical order) and online/ Assign,
bring about,
open-access Exam for
or create the
resources) the entire
conditions
semester)
for learning)

Course Introduction
Ÿ Course Overview First Lecture
Syllabus
Ÿ Course Assignments Meeting
Ÿ Course Requirements Discussion

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION

I. What is Legal Technique? Syllabus Recitation

II. Civil Law vs. Common Law Tradition Textbooks Case Study

III. Overview of Philippine Legal System Supreme Court Discussion

Decisions
A. Judicial Hierarchy 1st week to
3rd week
B. Important Legal Concepts

a. Jurisdiction

b. Venue

c. Summons

d. Warrant of Arrest

2
 LEARNING
WEEK/
METHODS
LEARNING DATE
(activities
RESOURCES (Schedule
designed or
TOPIC/CONTENT (print and non- of each
deployed by
(arrangement or sequence of the major topics is print materials Topic,
the teacher to
based on a logical order) and online/ Assign,
bring about,
open-access Exam for
or create the
resources) the entire
conditions
semester)
for learning)

e. Subpoena

f. Bench Warrant

g. Deposition

C. How to File a Criminal Complaint?

D. How to File a Civil Complaint?

MODULE 2: FUNDAMENTALS OF LEGAL

REASONING

I. Preliminaries

A. Logic

B. Role of Logic in Law

C. Propositions and Sentences

D. Arguments, Premises, and

Conclusions Syllabus
Recitation
E. Recognizing an Argument Textbooks 4th week to
Case Study
6th week
II. Fundamental Concepts in Legal Reasoning Supreme Court
Discussion
Decisions
A. Burden of Proof

B. Evidence

C. Admissibility and Relevance

D. Testimony of Witnesses

a. Judicial Affidavit Rule

E. Expert Testimony

F. Examination

3
 LEARNING
WEEK/
METHODS
LEARNING DATE
(activities
RESOURCES (Schedule
designed or
TOPIC/CONTENT (print and non- of each
deployed by
(arrangement or sequence of the major topics is print materials Topic,
the teacher to
based on a logical order) and online/ Assign,
bring about,
open-access Exam for
or create the
resources) the entire
conditions
semester)
for learning)

MODULE 3: THE DECISION

I. Judicial Review

II. Stare Decisis

III. Res Judicata and Double Jeopardy

IV. Law of the Case

V. Form and Parts of Decision

A. Dispositive Portion
Syllabus
Recitation
B. Syllabus
Textbooks 7th week to
Case Study
C. Certification 9th week
Supreme Court
Discussion
VI. Kinds of Decision Decisions

A. Per Curiam

B. Minute Resolutions

C. Memorandum Decision

VII. Ratio Decidendi and Obiter Dictum

VIII. Appeals and Other Remedies

IX. Execution

MID-TERM EXAMINATIONS [April 12, 2021 to April 17, 2021]

MODULE 4: DEDUCTIVE REASONING

I. Categorical Propositions Recitation

Syllabus 11th week
II. Categorical Syllogisms to 13th Reporting
Textbooks week
III. Arguments in Ordinary Language Discussion

IV. Symbolic Logic

4
 LEARNING
WEEK/
METHODS
LEARNING DATE
(activities
RESOURCES (Schedule
designed or
TOPIC/CONTENT (print and non- of each
deployed by
(arrangement or sequence of the major topics is print materials Topic,
the teacher to
based on a logical order) and online/ Assign,
bring about,
open-access Exam for
or create the
resources) the entire
conditions
semester)
for learning)
V. The Method of Deduction

VI. Quantification Theory

MODULE 5: INDUCTIVE REASONING

I. Inductive Generalizations Recitation

Syllabus 14th week
II. Analogy and Probable Inference to 16th Reporting
Textbooks week
III. Causality Discussion

IV. Probability

MODULE 6: FALLACIES

I. What is a Fallacy? Recitation

th
Syllabus 17 week
II. Formal Fallacies to 19th Reporting
Textbooks week
III. Informal (Material) Fallacies Discussion
IV. Avoiding Fallacies

FINAL EXAMINATIONS [June 21, 2021 to June 26, 2021]

TEXTBOOKS:

1. Legal Logic (Revised Edition) by Dr. Francis Julius Evangelista and Atty. David Robert C.
Aquino
2. Introduction to Logic by Irving M. Copi and Carl Cohen
3. Legal Method Essentials by Dante Gatmaytan

POLICIES:

1. Attendance will be checked every meeting.

2. Students are prohibited from recording the online class as this is a violation of the intellectual
property rights of the Professor.

Prepared by:

5
Faculty, College of Law

Approved by:

Atty. Marciano G. Delson

Dean, College of Law