CNU now offering Law

CEBU, Philippines — Aspiring lawyers in Cebu now have a more affordable and accessible option for legal education as Cebu Normal University (CNU), officially launches its Juris Doctor (JD) program for the School Year 2025-2026.

After obtaining a government permit from the Legal Education Board (LEB), legal hopefuls can now enroll in a more affordable Law school, with tuition fees starting at approximately ?22,000 per semester.

During a press conference yesterday, CNU President Dr. Daniel Ariaso Sr. said the JD program aligns with CNU’s vision of providing high-quality yet affordable education, making legal studies within reach for many students who may have been deterred by financial constraints.

CNU received the Certificate of Government Permit Level I, Number 2, Series of 2025, from LEB chairman Jason Barlis last March 11. The certificate allows CNU to offer and operate the first year of the JD program.

Ariaso said they submitted their application to the LEB last September 2024 and underwent an ocular inspection last November.

CNU was required to submit the curriculum up to the fourth year to give the board a comprehensive understanding, which proved successful as their application was approved promptly.

With a tuition fee of ?1,000 per unit and a miscellaneous fee of ?5,000, students for instance who will be taking a 17-unit semester will only pay ?22,000.

“We will make the program accessible, reasonable, cheaper amount of the higher education institutions not only in Central Visayas but in the entire country,” he said.

CNU vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Joseph Elvir Tubilan, said the program will be housed on the fourth floor of the Teacher and Arts Center (TAC) for which CNU has allocated eight rooms --four rooms foradministrative purposes, including the Office of the Dean and a moot court, while the other four will be dedicated lecture rooms.

A separate library intended for only Law students will also be available.

Class schedules will be determined based on a survey among applicants. Options include a Monday-to-Friday schedule plus Saturday after-office hours or an executive weekend class format.

CNU already requested the LEB to allow an executive class format, which includes Saturday and Sunday classes with one weekday session on either Friday or Monday.

Despite being a new law school, CNU is confident in producing top-performing graduates.

“Normal maging topnotcher dito, so normal din maging top 1,” Ariaso proudly announced.

Rather than competing with long-established Law schools, CNU aims to complement existing institutions by catering to financially challenged students who are passionate about justice.

CNU is also currently exploring scholarship options, with a proposal for full scholarships to students who ranked first in their undergraduate board exams.

Tubilan encouraged professionals in government offices who wish to pursue a Law degree after years of service.

CNU is open to expanding its JD program to other CNU campuses depending on the number of applicants. If enrollment demand exceeds capacity, the university will consider expansion plans.

Admission process

CNU will accept applications from April 15 to May 31. Applicants can choose between walk-in or online submission, with a testing fee of ?400 for the pre-qualifying examination. As part of its admission process, CNU will implement a ranking system for applicants. Meaning, if there are 1,000 applicants, only the top 100 will be admitted.

Some of the application requirements include being a Filipino citizen and submitting a copy of the Transcript of Records reflecting the applicant’s obtained Bachelor's Degree or higher.

If the graduation date isn’t yet reflected in the transcript, a certified true copy of grades up to the most recent term may be submitted.

Applicants must have a minimum general average of 2.0 or 85 in their undergraduate studies, those with lower grades will not be eligible for enrollment.

CNU College of Law OIC dean Atty. Lury Yray, clarified that a pre-Law degree isn’t required for admission, as long as the applicant has completed at least 12 units of English in their undergraduate studies.

New tracks

Meanwhile, Ariaso said what sets CNU apart from other Law schools is the addition of new tracks for aspiring lawyers. CNU will introduce new specializations in its JD program, including the Civil Registration Track, Government Procurement Track, and International Track.

He added these specializations after observing a shortage of lawyers in these fields and aimed to fill this gap.

The JD curriculum will consist of a total of 140 units, comprising 120 units of mandated core courses, five units of mandated non-core courses, five units of institutionally required courses, and 10 units of electives or specialized tracks.

In addition to the three newly added tracks, CNU also offers specializations in Litigation, Governance, Taxation, Public Interest, and Corporate Law.

To attract a strong faculty for the College of Law, Ariaso said that during their 11th Special Administrative Council Meeting on Friday, they endorsed the qualification standards for hiring professors and instructors to the Board of Regents and the Civil Service Commission.

They approved four Associate Professor V positions for Law professors and established the qualification standard for a teaching position with an academic rank of Professor V.

The program will have highly-respected and experienced faculty members who are not only seasoned educators but also active legal practitioners.

Ariaso vowed that the newly-introduced program will uphold the CNU’s high standards and excellence, which have already been demonstrated in its existing academic offerings. — BRP (FREEMAN)