School of Law
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Courses

To complete the Program, a student must complete thirty-six (36) credit units, distributed as follows:

  • Basic Courses            6 units
  • Major Courses          15 units
  • Elective Courses        9 units
  • Thesis                         6 units

Basic Courses

Methods of Research and Statistics (1 unit)
Advanced knowledge on research methods and statistics is vital for every lawyer – those in litigation, in the corporate world, and in the academe, among others. This course offers graduate students a combination of the advanced knowledge and skills in research and statistics.  It is designed to enable the students to apply what they learn about legal research in their theses as well as in their work place. A general framework of research integrates Lonergan’s basic principles of the dynamic structure of human knowing with research process, functions of theory and ethics. This gives students opportunities to learn and apply different types of research designs. The course guides the students on how to select and use the appropriate methods of collecting, processing, and analyzing data to meet research objectives.  Additionally, the course provides a refresher on legal research basic and the Uniform System of Citation (Bluebook System).  Also, it seeks to equip students with the skills necessary to navigate online legal research tools and databases for both local and foreign sources.  The ALS Rules of Plagiarism is also discussed in the course. 
 
Fundamentals of Thesis Writing (1 unit)
This is the introductory course on thesis writing for LL.M. students. The course is similar in content with the courses Fundamentals of Thesis Writing I and II that are offered to JD students. However, this course is suited to the needs and demands of a graduate degree in law. This course is an instructional guide to the preparation and writing of a thesis, with the objective of choosing a subject and drafting a thesis proposal. This course also facilitates the transition from preliminary and introductory work to the deeper substance of the LL.M. Thesis. It guides students as they research and formulate their arguments in order to defend their chosen thesis.
 
Seminar on Comparative Legal Studies (2 units)
This course provides students with an overview of the different legal systems operating in various countries and multinational territories. Focus will be on the legal systems of the United States, European Union, and the ASEAN region.
 
Seminar on Contemporary Developments in International Law (2 units)
The course provides a thorough discussion of general principles of international law, of the relationship between international law and municipal law, and of the significance of international law in domestic legal orders, taking into account the specifics of various branches of international law. The focus of the course lies on the application of the rules of state responsibility for internationally wrongful acts and on dispute settlement procedures for international claims before international courts and tribunals in various branches of international law. Thematic issues are chosen based on current significance.
 
Introduction to the Philippine Hybrid Legal System (for foreign students only – 1 unit)
This course is intended to facilitate an understanding of the role and significance of the Philippine hybrid legal system (a mixture of the civil law and the common law systems) in relation to the Judiciary. An overview of substantive areas of Philippine laws will also be discussed, such as: the structure of the government and judiciary, contract law, property ownership and bankruptcy, and constitutional interpretation.

Major Courses

Intellectual Property Law Track

  • Copyright and Related Rights
  • Emerging Issues in Intellectual Property Law
  • Information Technology Law and High-technology Transactions
  • Intellectual Property Law, Licensing, and Competition Policy
  • Management and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
  • Patent Law, Industrial Design, and Plant Variety Protection
  • Robots, Artificial Intelligence, and the Law
  • Seminar on Emerging Issues in Sports Law
  • Trademark Law, Unfair Competition, and Trade Secrets
  • Treaties and other International Agreements
  • UN and Other International Organizations

 
International Corporate and Business Law Track

  • Bank Conservatorship, Receivership, and Liquidation
  • Banking Law
  • Consumer Protection Laws
  • Corporate Finance
  • Corporate Governance
  • Energy Law and Practice
  • Entertainment Law
  • European Business Law
  • Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Law
  • Foreign Investments and Investment Incentives Law
  • International Commercial Arbitration
  • International Commercial Transactions
  • International Competition Laws
  • International Labor Law
  • International Taxation
  • Law and Economics of Antitrust Regulations
  • Local Government Finance
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Negotiation Seminar
  • Public-Private Partnership
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Securities Regulation
  • Securities, Public Offerings, and Stock Exchange Listings
  • Seminar on Comparative Legal Studies
  • Tax on Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Telecommunications Practice
  • Treaties and other International Agreements

 
International Economic Law Track

  • ASEAN Economic Relations, Law, and Policy
  • European Business Law
  • Fundamentals of European Union
  • International Competition Laws
  • International Trade Issues
  • Introduction to ASEAN Economic Law
  • Introduction to International Economic Law
  • Law and Economic Development
  • Law and Economics of Antitrust Regulations
  • Public-Private Partnership
  • Treaties and other International Agreements 
  • UN and Other International Organizations

 
International Human Rights Law Track

  • Children’s Rights and the Law
  • Clinical Legal Education 102: The Criminal Justice System and the Rights of the Accused
  • Comparative Environmental Law
  • Emerging Issues in Human Rights
  • Environmental Rights and Legal Remedies in the Philippines
  • European Human Rights and Non-discrimination Law, Systems and Remedies
  • Evolving Norms of Business Responsibilities for Human Rights
  • Foundational Course on Women’s Rights
  • Gender and the Law
  • Human Rights and Comparative International Disaster Law
  • Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts
  • Indigenous Peoples and the Law
  • Institutions and Mechanisms for Human Rights Promotion and Protection
  • Interdisciplinary Course on Corruption, Impunity, and Governance
  • International Criminal Law
  • International Environmental and Climate Change Law
  • International Labor Law
  • Laws on Anti-discrimination and Equality
  • Laws on Refugees, the Internally-displaced, and Stateless Persons
  • Peace Process and Peace Agreements
  • Rights-based Constitutional Review
  • Treaties and other International Agreements 
  • UN and Other International Organizations

 
Note: The list above is only indicative. The ALS reserves the right to not offer courses and to introduce new ones.

Elective Courses

An LL.M. student is required to complete a total of nine (9) units of elective courses. The elective courses may be taken from courses listed in tracks other than the student’s chosen track. A student may also take additional courses falling under his or her track to be credited as electives after completing the 15 units of major courses required. Each elective course is given three (3) academic credit units.