DAVAO City may lose to other cities in the country in terms of taller buildings and wider roads but never in the field of education. In fact, it is home to universities that have produced the nation's brightest lawyers and efficient leaders.
And as time passes by, the demand for lawyers has increased and so the city gave birth to more law schools, each with different key learning points to cater to the variety of students who wishes to grow in different areas.
Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) Law School
The Ateneo de Davao Law School is recognized as the fifth top performing law school in the Philippines by the Legal Education Board during their fifth anniversary on December 2015.
The recognition was due to their 53.02 percent passing rate. The result was based on the cumulative bar exam results of different law schools from 2012 to 2014 as certified by the Office of the Bar Confidante of the Supreme Court.
Since the school of law opened in June 1961, it has produced many topnotchers, who now are notable in their profession. Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, to name one, graduated in the university and placed 10th in the bar exams when he took it on 1973.
University of Mindanao (UM) College of Law
The oldest law school in the city was established in 1948. Known for a lot of things, the university has also offered a great deal to its students who wish to become lawyers.
Scholarships and affordable tuition can be accessed in this college, there are detailed instructions and requirements available to read on their online platform at the UM website.
Recently, the University Of Mindanao College Of Legal Education debating team and essayist shone their skills in competitions among law schools in the country. The debating team snagged first runner up in the 2nd Teehankee Center for the Rule of Law Moot Court Competition held last November 25 at the Ateneo de Manila University, which was also the school’s first time in joining the prestigious competition.
Jose Maria College (JMC) School of Law
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, dean of JMC College of Law, said that according to 2010 census, the city has a population of 1,513,365 and Jose Maria College has seen the need to produce more lawyers and decided to put up another one.
After 54 years, on February 29, 2016, a new law school was approved in the city.
JMC College of Law is the first law school in Mindanao to offer a four and five year program to cater the needs of working students by providing them the convenience of working at their own pace. Tuition fee for school year 2016 to 2017 is pegged P750 per unit for Bachelor of Laws (first year) while miscellaneous fees at P7,200.