School of Law

SERVING OTHERS AS FUTURE BUILDERS OF THE LAND

Welcome to School of Law

The dream of establishing the University of Makati (UMAK) School of Law started when former Vice-President of the Philippines, now Dean Emeritus, Jejomar C. Binay was still the Mayor of Makati. Fast forward, after several years, the dream is now a reality.

It was through the help of Prof. Tomas B. Lopez that the plan of establishing UMAK’s very own School of Law came into fruition. After careful planning and with the approval of the Board of Regents and the City Government, UMAK filed its application for accreditation with the Legal Education Board (LEB) for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) Program of the UMAK School of Law or “UMAK SOL”.

The J.D. Program of UMAK SOL is supported by the City Government of Makati. The City Government invested in the facilities of UMAK SOL to create an environment conducive to learning. Esteemed and experienced law professors from the different law schools were invited and now compose the faculty roster. The City Government of Makati believes in heavily investing in UMAK SOL law students based on the idea that a full scholarship program will help students focus solely on their studies free from unnecessary distractions. All of these in the hopes of producing lawyers who have a deep understanding of the rule of law, strong sense of fairness and social responsibility, and commitment to public service and the protection of rights.

Guided by the vision and mission of developing future Filipino lawyers who are ethical and excellent in both the theory and practice of the law, UMAK SOL officially opened its doors to its pioneer batch under the JD Program on 07 August 2017.

Vision

In the next decade, we envision the UMak College of Law as one of the top institutions for professional training of future lawyers with deep understanding of the law, strong sense of fairness and unwavering social responsibility and commitment to public service and protection of rights.

Mission

To achieve this vision, the UMak College of Law shall promote excellence in the delivery of quality legal education through teaching, mentorship, scholarship and public service that upholds love of country, supremacy of the rule of law and moral standards, fidelity to truth and justice, adherence to equality and fairness, respect to rights and values, and the alleviation of poverty, in order to bring about an orderly, peaceful and progressive Filipino nation.

School of Law Institutional Functions

To institute the legal education program of the University in accordance with Legal Education Board (LEB) Juris Doctor (Thesis) Curriculum.
To undertake legal research on various subject matters, fields, issues, and development of law.
To establish the centers for excellence and service, namely:
1. Center for Clinical Legal Education and Legal Aid Services
2. Center for Human Rights and Dignity
3. Center for Law and Technology
4. Center for Energy and Environment
5. Center for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
6. Center for Governance and Public Policy

Core Values

To be the center of excellence in legal studies, particularly in the fields of local governance and public policy, energy, and environmental policy, and technology law.
To enhance the legal research abilities of law students to enable them to analyze, articulate and apply the law effectively for counseling, advocacy, and extension undertakings that will significantly contribute to the moral and socio-economic growth of progressive communities in Makati and the country at large;

To develop among the law students core competencies necessary for gainful employment or sufficient foundation for future training beyond the basic professional degree, and to foster in them the desire and capacity for continuing study and self-improvement in the pursuit of life-long academic and professional excellence; and
To inculcate in them the ethics and responsibilities of the legal profession to produce lawyers who conscientiously pursue the lofty goals of the profession, fully adhering to its ethical norms.

Course Offering

Juris Doctor with Thesis

The City Government of Makati believes in heavily investing in UMAK SOL law students based on the idea that a full scholarship program will help students focus solely on their studies free from unnecessary distractions. All of these in the hopes of producing lawyers who have a deep understanding of the rule of law, strong sense of fairness and social responsibility, and commitment to public service and the protection of rights.

View Course Description and Syllabus Enroll to UMak School of Law

College Leadership

Former Vice President Jejomar C. Binay

Dean Emeritus

Atty. Jord Jharoah B. Valenton

OIC-Dean

About Atty. Valenton

Professor Cecilio D. Duka, JD, EdD

Center Chair/Overall Coordinator

About Prof. Duka

College Directors

Directors	Role
Atty. Maria Bernadine H. Madamba	Director Center for Legal Aid and Services (CLAS) Learn More about CLAS >
Atty. Francisco M. Samonte, IV	Director Center for Energy and Environment
Atty. Raquel R. Dujunco	Director Center for Public Policy and Governance
Atty. Jonas Florentino D.L. Cabochan	Director Center for Law and Technology
Atty. Aristotle O. Valera	Director Center for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
Atty. Antony J. Parreño	Director Center for Human Rights and Dignity

College Administrative Staff

Administrative Staff	Role
Grace A. Lorenzo	Administrative Officer
Mark M. Mabalay	Administrative Officer
Mia Frances Diego	Administrative Officer

College Academic Staff

Roster of Faculty

List of Faculty – School of Law (SOL) – As of March 1, 2023

Roster of Faculty

Centralized Bar Operations

Atty. Antony Parreño – Director, Centralized Bar Operation

Academic Staff

Atty. Maria Lourdes Fugoso-Alcain
Judge Selma Alaras
Atty. Victor Alimurung
Atty. Kenji Aman
Atty. Excelsis Antolin
Judge Hannah Arriola
Atty. Ruben Balane
Atty. Melissa Ann Bautista
Atty. Terence Conrad Bello
Atty. Maria Karla Rosita Bernardo
Atty. Jan Derric Briones
Atty. Jonas Florentino Cabochan
Atty. Leon Maria Angel Caguioa
Atty. Deborah Acosta-Cajustin
Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria
Atty. Lovely Concepcion Matillano-Chavez
Atty. Oscar Carlo Cajucom
USec. Jose Arturo De Castro
Atty. Patricia Galang – De Jesus
Atty. Racquel Dujunco
Atty. Erikson Eustaquio A
Atty. Gemy Lito Festin
Fiscal Christopher Garvida
Judge Gener Gito
Atty. David Michael Go
Atty. Filemon Ray Javier
Atty. Antonio La Viña
Atty. Jose Layug, Jr.
Atty. Jose Linsangan, III
Atty. Renato Lopez, Jr.
Atty. Leo Malagar
Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa
Atty. Charissa Eloisa Julia Opulencia
Atty. Mark Xavier Oyales
Judge Renato Pambid
Atty. Antony Parreño
Atty. Neil-San Patag
Atty. Richie Avigale Pilares
Atty. Ricardo Pilares III
Atty. Joy Quicho
Atty. Rodolfo Noel Quimbo
Atty. Czarina Quintanilla
Atty. Joanne Ranada
Atty. Mary Ann Reyes
Atty. Jun Dexter Rojas
Atty. Mara Louise Ruiz
Judge Jackie Crisologo Saguisag
Atty. Rene Saguisag
Atty. Tranquil Gervacio Salvador, III
Atty. Francisco Samonte, IV
Atty. Jonathan Serrano
Dean Ferdinand Tan
Dean Rodel Taton
Atty. Crisostomo Uribe
Atty. Jord Jharoah Valenton
Atty. Angel Chona Grace Valero-Nuñez
Judge Joselito Villarosa
Atty. James Gregory Villasis
Atty. Aislyn Yao
Atty. Judy Ann Yulo
Dr. Samuel Zacate

VISIT SCHOOL OF LAW LIBRARY

School of Law Centers

Through the CLAS, the UMak SOL endeavors to make a significant contribution to the realization of social justice as a part of its public service and full commitment to become a socially responsible institution.

VISIT CCLELAS

Dedicated to empower its law students and its community in promoting climate justice, combating global warming and fostering renewable energy initiatives designed to meet the distinct environmental concerns of Makati City and the Philippines.

VISIT CEE

Student Organizations

UMak School of Law Government

Facebook: @SOLGov
Phone: (02) 8883 1873

University of Makati School of Law Centralized Bar Operations

Facebook: @umakbarops

Anima Legis

Anima Legis is the official socio-civic and student fellowship organization of the University of Makati School of Law. Anima Legis means the soul that embodies the ideals and aspirations of University of Makati School of Law students

Facebook: @AnimaLegisUMAK
E-mail: [email protected]