Before law students are permitted to engage in any of the activities under the CLEP, they must secure certification which are categorized as Level 1 and Level 2.
Law students who meet the qualifications under Section 3 of Rule 138-A and have successfully completed their first-year law courses can apply for the level 1 certification.
Those law students who meet the qualifications under Section 3 of Rule 138-A and have successfully completed all the courses required during the first, second, and third-year law courses of the College of Law can apply for level 2 certification. Thus, the College of Law must see to it that the student is enrolled in all courses required in the second semester of the third year, and the Certification will be used only upon completion of all the requisite courses. In this regard, it is advisable for the Level 2 Certification to be applied for towards the end of the second semester.
A law student can practice as soon as he or she obtains the Level 2 certification and is enrolled in the CLEP Course.
The certifications for level 1 or 2 shall be valid until the student has completed the required number of courses in the clinical legal education program unless sooner revoked for grounds stated under the rule.
The law student shall pay the certification fee in the sum of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00) as provided under Rule 141, Section 21 (l) as amended.
Level 1 Certification is not a prerequisite for Level 2 Certification. The College of Law may offer CLEP only under Level 1 Certification, only under Level 2 Certification, or both.
The College of Law as far as practicable shall submit the student applications by batch.
For certification level 1, it is the Executive judge of the RTC having jurisdiction where the College of Law is located who has the authority to approve and issue the said certification. For certification level 2, the Executive judge of the RTC having jurisdiction where the College of Law is located shall recommend to the appropriate Deputy Court Administrator for the approval and issuance of the certification (A.O. No. 132-2019 dated June 25, 2019).
Upon proper coordination with the College of Law and the Office of the Executive Judge, a Law Student Practitioner (LSP) may take the oath as soon as a certificate is issued but before performing any of the activities allowed in the Student Practice Rule.