Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING PARALEGAL PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES, 
CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF 
PARALEGALS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In Article II, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that "The States 
values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights." Access 
to justice is one of the crucial guarantees in realizing this mandate, yet the legal system in the 
Philippines remains costly and inaccessible for many Filipinos. While lawyers carry the principal 
responsibility of legal representation, they cannot address solely the increasing demands for legal 
assistance across courts, communities, government institutions, and the private sector. This gap 
has long been bridged by the presence of paralegals, who provide support in research, 
documentation, case preparation, and assist the lawyers in both court preparation and access to 
justice.  
Despite their importance, paralegals in the Philippines remain largely unregulated. This 
lack of professional standards has left the public vulnerable to unauthorized practice of law and 
deprived the legal system of a fully developed corps of trained paralegals. 
In many jurisdictions worldwide, paralegals are formally recognized and regulated. For 
instance, in the United States, the American Bar Association oversees paralegal standards; in the 
United Kingdom, paralegals are organized under professional associations; and in countries such 
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5:07 pm
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as Japan and South Korea, licensure examinations administered by the state ensure competence 
and accountability. 
This bill seeks to professionalize paralegal practice in the Philippines through the creation 
of a Professional Regulatory Board of Paralegals, the establishment of a national licensure 
examination, and the adoption of a Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. These 
measures will raise the quality of legal services, expand access to justice, and protect the public 
from unqualified practitioners. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING PARALEGAL PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES, 
CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF 
PARALEGALS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, AND OBJECTIVES 
SECTION 1. Short Title. —This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Paralegal Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the importance of professional 
paralegals in nation-building and development, and their importance in aid of the rule of law and 
the administration of justice. Hence, it shall develop and nurture a corps of professional, 
technically competent, efficient, and ethical paralegals through proper and effective regulation of 
its standards of practice, employment, education, and training, and through honest and credible 
national licensure examinations for paralegals as a distinct group of professionals and a crucial 
sector in the delivery of paralegal services. 
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SEC. 3. Objectives. —This Act shall govern the following: 
a)​
National licensure examination, registration of paralegals, and issuance of certificates of 
registration and professional identification cards; 
b)​
Supervision, control, and regulation of paralegal practice; 
c)​
Integration of paralegals under one national organization;  
d)​
Development of professional competence of paralegals; and 
e)​
Protection of the public against unauthorized and unscrupulous practice of law by persons 
claiming to be paralegals or who have not otherwise been qualified and licensed as paralegals 
pursuant to this Act. 
ARTICLE II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS, AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE 
SEC. 4. Definition of terms. As used in this Act:  
a)​ Attorney or interchangeably, lawyer, refers to a person who having obtained the necessary 
academic degree in the study of law and having successfully passed the bar examination, 
has been duly admitted as a member of the bar by the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 
and who is in good and regular standing, and therefore, with all the qualifications to 
practice law anywhere in the Philippines. 
b)​ Paralegal refers to person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who has 
been licensed as a professional paralegal pursuant to the provisions herein, who works 
independently or contracts with, is employed, or retained by a lawyer, law office, 
corporation, governmental agency, non-government organizations, civil society 
organizations, trade unions, and labor organizations, or any other entity in the private 
sector, to perform specifically substantive paralegal work or render paralegal services as 
defined herein. A professional paralegal may be an assistant, associate, specialist, or 
officer, depending on the type of license issued by the Supreme Court, where applicable, 
and the Council under CHED and DOJ. 
c)​ Paralegal consultant refers to a paralegal with specific specialization, such as in 
alternative dispute resolution, real estate, corporate law, litigation, Intellectual property, 
immigration, insurance, and other key areas. 
d)​ Paralegal services refer, in general, to the rendition of substantive paralegal work by a 
professional paralegal as defined and authorized by this Act and under such related laws, 
rules and regulations, whether as an independent licensed paralegal or in representation 
or as agent of a lawyer, law office, corporation, government agency, non-government 
organizations, civil society organizations, trade unions, and labor organizations, or any 


private sector entity in the delivery of paralegal services or as an essential tool and 
important aid in the administration of justice. Such services include those enumerated in 
Section 5 hereof. 
e)​ Practice of law or interchangeably, Law practice, refers to the rendition of legal services 
by a lawyer or attorney requiring the knowledge and the application of legal principles 
and techniques to serve the interest of another, usually a client, with his consent. It is not 
limited to appearing in court, or advising and assisting in the conduct of litigation, but 
embraces the preparation of pleadings, and other papers incident to actions and special 
proceedings, conveyancing, the preparation of legal instruments of all kinds, and the 
giving of all legal advice to clients. It embraces all advice to clients and all actions taken 
for them in matters connected with the law.  
f)​ Paralegal Practice or interchangeably, Practice of Paralegal Profession, refers to the 
paralegal services rendered by a professional paralegal pursuant to this Act either 
independently or under the supervision of a lawyer or as a representative of the lawyer, 
law office, corporation, government agency, non-government organization, trade unions, 
and labor organizations, or any private sector entity in the delivery of paralegal services 
or as an essential tool and important aid in the practice of law or in the administration of 
justice. 
SEC. 5. Scope of the Practice of Paralegal Service. A paralegal service shall deal with the 
performance of the functions of paralegals, which shall include the following, 
a)​ Preparation and review of legal documents such as affidavits, motions, and contracts; 
b)​ Legal research; 
c)​ Development and review of organizational policies, procedures, programs, and other 
legal matters; 
d)​ Providing immediate legal intervention in emergency situations such as during instances 
of warrantless arrests, warrantless searches and seizures, extrajudicial detentions of 
alleged crime suspects, environmental law violations such as illegal logging and illegal 
poaching, human trafficking, violent crimes and domestic relations, human rights 
violations, and other similar analogous instances  
e)​ Coordination with courts, administrative tribunals, and government agencies; 
f)​ Legal support to the public,  lawyers, clients, and stakeholders; 
g)​ Case planning, development, and management;  
h)​ Interviewing clients; and/ or otherwise performing useful, preliminary or contributory 
work prior to client’s referral of case to a lawyer; 
i)​ Fact finding, gathering, and retrieving information; 
j)​ Custodianship, archival, and retrieval of evidence; 
k)​ Drafting and analyzing legal forms, papers, deeds, and documents; 
l)​ Collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent 
decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and 


m)​Representing clients in appropriate labor cases subject of mandatory mediation and 
arbitration before the Department of Labor and Employment, and such other 
administrative tribunals in which the representation by a professional paralegal is allowed 
and not otherwise prescribed by any statute, court procedure, or administrative rule or 
regulation. 
ARTICLE III 
CREATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD FOR PARALEGALS 
SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Professional Regulatory Board for Paralegals. 
There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board for Paralegals, hereinafter called the 
Board, under the administrative supervision and control of the Supreme Court, where applicable, 
and the Council under CHED and DOJ. The Board shall comprise of a Chairperson and four (4) 
Members of the Board who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from among a 
list of three (3) recommendees for each position submitted by the Supreme Court, where 
applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ from among a list of five (5) nominees for 
each position submitted by the Accredited and Integrated Professional Organizational  (AIPO) of 
paralegals who quality under Section 7 of this Act. The new Board shall be constituted within 
three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Qualification of the Chairperson and Members of the Board. The Chairperson and 
Members of the Board, at the time of their appointment, shall possess the following 
qualifications: 
a)​ Must be a natural-born citizen and a resident of the Philippines; 
b)​ Must be of good reputation and moral character; 
c)​ A holder of a bachelor’s degree related to paralegal services and the paralegal profession, 
including a degree in Juris Doctor (JD); 
d)​ Must be a paralegal as defined in Section 4 hereof, subject only to the provisions of Sec. 
15 of this Act; 
e)​ Neither  a member of the faculty of a university, college, school or institution conferring 
the academic degree on legal studies, legal management, paralegal studies or any similar 
analogous academic degrees, or with direct or indirect pecuniary interests in any 
institution or association where review classes or lectures in prteparation for the licensure 
examination being offered; and 
f)​ Must not be an incumbent officer of the AIPO of paralegals; and 
g)​ Must not have been convicted by final judgment by a competent court of a crime or 
criminal offense involving moral turpitude. 
SEC. 8. Tenure of office for the Chairperson. The Chairperson and the Members of the Board 
shall hold office for a term of three (3) years from the date of their appointment or until their 


successors shall have been qualified and appointed: Provided, That the members of the first 
appointed Board shall hold office for the following terms: one (1) member as Chairperson, to 
serve for three (3) years; two (2) members, to serve for two (2) years; and (2) members, to serve 
for one (1) year. The Chairperson and Members of the Board may be reappointed for a second 
term but in no case shall they serve continuously for more than six (6) years. Any vacancy in the 
Board shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term of the member who vacated the 
position. On the constitution of the first board, the Chairperson and the Members of the Board 
shall automatically be registered and issued certificates of registration and professional 
identification cards. Each member of the Board shall take proper oath office prior to the 
assumption of duty. 
SEC. 9. Meetings of the Board. The Board shall have a regular meeting once a month. Special 
meetings may also be held upon the call of the Chairperson or by request of three (3) of its 
members. A reasonable notice of all meetings shall be given in the manner prescribed by the 
rules of the Board. 
SEC. 10. Compensation and allowances of the Chairperson and Members of the Board. The 
Chairperson and the Members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances 
comparable to the compensation and allowances received by the chairperson and the members of 
existing professional regulatory boards under the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the 
Council under CHED and DOJ, as provided for in the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 11. Powers, Functions, and Duties of the Board. The Board shall exercise executive, 
administrative, rule-making, and quasi-judicial powers in carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
It shall be vested with the following specific powers, functions, duties and responsibilities: 
a)​ Provide comprehensive policy guidelines for the promotion, training, professionalization, 
and development of paralegals and paralegal services as an essential and complementary 
part of the legal profession and an important sector of the legal service industry;  
b)​ Conduct licensure examinations for the practice of the paralegal profession and prescribe 
the appropriate syllabi of the subjects for examination; 
c)​ Issue, suspend, revoke or reinstate, after due notice and hearing, certificates of 
registration or professional identification cards for the practice of the paralegal 
profession;  
d)​ Maintain a comprehensive and updated register of professional paralegals; 
e)​ Monitor the conditions affecting the rendition of paralegal services and thus, the practice 
of paralegal profession and adopt such measures as may be proper for the enhancement of 
the profession and the maintenance of high professional, technical, and ethical standard in 
the practice of the paralegal profession;  
f)​ Adopt a national Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities to be strictly observed 
by all licensed professional paralegals;  


g)​ Hear or investigate any violation of this Act, its implementing rules and regulations, and 
the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities for paralegals and issue subpoena 
and subpoena duces tecum to secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of 
documents in connection therewith;  
h)​ Safeguard and protect legitimate and licensed professional paralegals and, in coordination 
with the AIPO of paralegals, monitor all forms of advertisements, announcements, 
signboards, billboards, pamphlets, brochures and others of similar nature concerning the 
rendition of professional paralegal services, where necessary, exercise its quasi-judicial 
and administrative; 
i)​ Prepare, adopt, issue or amend the syllabi or terms of specification of subjects for the 
paralegal licensure examination consistent with the policies and standards set by CHED 
in consultation with University of the Philippines, Law center  and the Legal Education 
Board  (LEB); 
j)​ Promulgate, administer, and enforce rules and regulations necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act; 
k)​ Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of paralegals in the 
Philippines; 
l)​ Assess and fix the rate of reasonable regulatory fees; 
m)​Administer oaths, and issue certificates of registration and the professional identification 
card to persons admitted to the practice of the profession of paralegal; 
n)​ Adopt an official seal of the Board; 
o)​ Evaluate periodically the status of paralegal education, training and profession, and 
recommend and adopt measures to upgrade  and maintain its high standard; 
p)​ Evaluate and approve applications for licensure examination; 
q)​ Prescribe guidelines and criteria for the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 
education program for paralegals in consultation  with the AIPO of paralegals; 
r)​ Screen, issue and monitor permits to organizations of professional paralegals in the 
conduct of seminars and accredit such seminars pursuant to the CPD education program, 
as well as the instructors or lecturers therin, for the purpose of upgrading the quality and 
knowledge of the profession; 
s)​ Monitor and supervise the activities of AIPO and other associations of real estate service 
practitioners; 
t)​ Conduct inspection and monitoring of establishments where paralegal is practiced, and of 
higher educational institutions where paralegal courses are being offered, in coordination 
with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), to ascertain that professional 
standards are complied with; 
u)​ Ensure, in coordination with the CHED, and in consultation with the UPLC and LEB that 
all institutions offering law, legal management, and paralegal studies comply with 
prescribed standards for curriculum, faculty, and facilities; 
v)​ Adopt a program for the full computerization of the licensure examination for paralegals; 


w)​ Issue, reinstate, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration and professional 
identification card or grant or cancel a temporary/special permit; 
x)​  Issue certificates of recognition for advanced studies, researches and accomplishment 
that contribute to the enrichment of the profession; 
y)​  Adopt policies and set the standards for all types of paralegals; 
z)​ To discharge other powers and duties as the Board may deem necessary for the paralegals 
and paralegal education in the Philippines. 
As may be required and necessary, the policies, resolutions and rules and regulations issued or 
promulgated by the Board shall be subject to the required consultations with stakeholders, 
particularly the University of the Philippines Law Center on the matter of design, formulation, 
and conduct of the certificate course, training programs and other learning strategies and 
platforms to professionalize the paralegal practice and the corps of professional paralegals.  
Additionally, said policies, resolutions, rules and regulations shall be subject to the review and 
approval by the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ.  
However, the Board’s decisions, resolutions or orders which are not interlocutory, rendered in an 
administrative case, shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the 
Council under CHED and DOJ only on appeal. 
SEC 12. Removal or Suspension of the Chairperson or Members of the Board. The 
Chairperson or any Member of the Board may be suspended or removed upon due notice and 
hearing by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court, 
where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ, for neglect of duty; abuse of power; 
oppression; incompetence; unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct; 
commission or toleration of irregularities in the conduct of examination or tampering of the 
grades therein, or for any final judgment or conviction of any criminal offense involving moral 
turpitude. The rights of the Chairperson and Members to be heard, to defend oneself, and to 
assisted by counsel shall be respected in the proper administrative investigation to be conducted 
for the purpose. 
SEC. 13. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of the Records, Secretary, and Support 
Services. The Board shall be under the general supervision and administrative control of the 
Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ.   All records of the 
Board, including applications for examination, examination papers and result, minutes of 
deliberations, administrative, and other investigative cases involving paralegals, shall be kept by 
the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ.   The Supreme 
Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ shall designate the secretary of 
the Board and shall provide the secretariat and other support services to implement the 
provisions of this Act subject to the usual government accounting and auditing rules and 
regulations. 


SEC 14. Annual Report. The Board shall, at the close of each calendar year, submit an annual 
report to the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ,  giving a 
detailed account of its proceedings and accomplishment during the year and recommending 
measures to be adopted with the end-in-view of upgrading and improving the conditions 
affecting paralegal practice in the Philippines. 
ARTICLE IV 
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION 
SEC. 15. Licensure Examination. The applicants for registration, except those specifically 
allowed under Sections 8 and 22 of this Act, shall be required to undergo a written licensure 
examination to be given by the Board in such places and dates the Supreme Court, where 
applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ may designate subject to compliance with the 
requirements prescribed by the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED 
and DOJ. 
SEC.16. Qualifications for Examination. The applicants for licensure examination must meet 
the following qualification at the time of filing of application: 
a)​ A citizen and resident of the Philippines;  
b)​ A holder of a relevant Bachelor’s degree from a state university, recognized and duly 
accredited by the Commission on Higher Education, and degree leading in  Legal or 
Paralegal Studies, Legal Management, or any such undergraduate degree preparatory to 
taking the  Juris Doctor (JD) degree, or otherwise having  completed at least seventy-two 
(72) academic credit units for a JD degree: 
c)​ With at least ten (10) cumulative years of actual experience as a paralegal retained or 
under contract by a  lawyer, law office, or a relevant government or private sector 
employment, contract or consultancy; and 
d)​ Of good moral character, and must not have been convicted by final judgment by a 
competent court of any crime or criminal offense involving moral turpitude. 
All application for examination shall be filed with the Board which shall assess and 
approve said applications and issue to the qualified examinees the corresponding permits to take 
such examination. 
SEC. 17. Scope of Examination. The licensure examination shall include the following 
subjects: 
a)​ Philippine Constitution; 
b)​ Administrative Law and Local Government Code; 
c)​ Philippine Judiciary and the Judicial System; 


d)​ Judicial and Legal Ethics, and Code of Professional Responsibility for Judges, Lawyers, 
and Paralegals; 
e)​ Persons and Family Relations, including gender issues, women and children rights;  
f)​ Basics of Law on Obligation, and Civil and Commercial Contracts; 
g)​ Taxation and other commercial/mercantile laws; 
h)​ Labor law and labor relations;  
i)​ Pleadings, Civil Procedures, and Trial Practice; and 
j)​ Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure  
SEC. 18. Rating in the Examination. To pass the licensure examination, a candidate must 
obtain a passing rating seventy five percent (75%) in each subject given during the examination: 
Provided, However, That an examinee who obtains a passing rating in the majority of the 
subjects but obtains rating in the other subjects below seventy five percent (75%) but not lower 
than sixty percent (60%), shall be allowed to take one removal examination on the subjects 
where the passing rating was not obtained: Provided, finally, That should the examinee fail to 
obtain a passing rating in the removal examination, the examinee shall be considered as having 
failed the entire licensure examination. 
SEC. 19. Report of Results of Examination. The Board shall report to the Supreme Court, 
where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ the results of the examination and the 
ratings of the examinees within ten (10) days after the examination. 
SEC. 20. Oath of Profession. All successful examinees qualified for registration and all 
qualified applicants for registration without examination shall be required to take an oath of 
profession before any Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ 
officer, or Member of the Board or any government official authorized to administer oaths, prior 
to entering into paralegal practice in the Philippines. 
SEC. 21. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. The 
Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ, on the 
recommendation of the Board, shall issue a certificate of registration and professional 
identification card to each person who passed the licensure examination for paralegals and to 
those who are registered without examination under this Act and shall enter name of the 
registered professional in the Roster of Paralegals. The certificate of registration shall bear the 
signature of the Chairperson of the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under 
CHED and DOJ and the Chairperson and Members of the Board, stamped with official seals of 
the Board and Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ 
indicating that the person named therein is entitled to the practice profession shall remain in full 
force and effect until suspended or revoked in accordance with this Act. A professional 
Identification card bearing the name and signature of the registrant, registration number, date of 
issuance, expiry date, duly signed by the Chairperson of the Supreme Court, where applicable, 


and the Council under CHED and DOJ, shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid 
the prescribed fee. 
SEC. 22. Registration Without Examination. Upon application and payment of the required 
fees, the following shall be registered and shall be issued by the Board and the Supreme Court, 
where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ a Certificate of Registration and a 
Professional Identification Card without taking the prescribed examination. 
a)​ Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, have been issued  a certificate of 
completion of the Paralegal Training Program offered by the University of the Philippines 
Law Center and been a member of good standing of the Paralegal Training Program 
Alumni Association, Inc., for at least (two) 2 years; 
b)​ Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, have been issued a certificate of 
completion of OPLAN Jail Decongestion Project spearheaded by the National Committee 
on Legal Aid (NCLA) of the Integrated Bar of the  Philippines (IBP) and have been 
providing paralegal services for  NCLA -assisted inmates for at least (2) years;  
c)​ Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, have been issued a certificate of 
completion of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology  (BJMP) paralegal program 
and have been BJMP paralegal officers for at least two (2) years; and  
d)​ Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, are civil servants or public officers 
holding permanent appointmens, with actual experience in performing or providing  
providing paralegal services to the public for at least two (2) years; and  
e)​ Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, are employees of or under contract 
or otherwise retained in private enterprises or companies, non-government organizations, 
civil society organizations, trade unions, and labor organizations as partalegals or 
otherwise tasked to render and provide paralegal services to their clients and stakeholder 
for at least two (2) years, as duly certified by the employer.Those so exempt under the 
aforementioned categories shall file their application within two (2) years from the 
effectivity of the implementing rules and regulations: Provided, That the renewal of the 
professional identification card is subject to the provisions of Section  21 hereof. 
SEC. 23. Refusal to Issue Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. 
The Board shall not register any successful examinee nor any applicant for registration without 
examination if one has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal 
offense involving moral turpitude or has been found guilty of immoral and dishonorable conduct 
after investigation of the Board, or has been declared to be unsound mind. The reason for the 
refusal shall be set forth in writing. 
SEC. 24. Revocation and Suspension of Certification of Registration and Professional 
Identification Card or Cancellation of Temporary/Special Permit. The Board has the power, 
after due notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the certificate of registration or cancel a 


temporary or special permit of any paralegal on any ground stated under Section 23 of this Act, 
or for any of the following: unprofessional or dishonorable conduct in paralegal practice; fraud; 
deceit or falsification in obtaining a certificate of registration, professional identification card, or 
temporary or special permit; abatement of illegal practice by allowing illegal use of one's 
certificate of registration, or professional identification card, or temporary or special permit; 
practice of profession during the period of suspension; or any violation of this Act, its 
Implementing Rules and Regulations the Code Ethics or the Code of Technical Standards for 
paralegals, or Board policies. The respondent may appeal the Board's decision, order resolution 
to the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ within fifteen 
(15) days from receipt thereof. 
SEC. 25. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration and Replacement of Lost 
Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. The Board after two (2) 
years from the date of revocation of the certificate of registration may reissue a certificate upon 
proper application. A new certification of registration and professional identification card, or 
temporary or special permit, which has been lost, destroyed or mutilated, may be reissued after 
payment of the required fee prescribed by the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council 
under CHED and DOJ. 
SEC. 26. Roster of Paralegals. The Board, in coordination with the AIPO of paralegals, shall 
maintain an up-to-date, complete and properly organized Roster containing the following data: 
a)​ Alphabetical list by surname of paralegals with their addresses and license numbers; 
b)​ The list of licensees, numerically arranged by license numbers; and 
c)​ Such other lists which the Board may deem necessary. 
The copies of the Roster, which shall be provided to the National Library, the Civil 
Service Commission, and the AIPO of paralegals, shall be kept permanent record. 
ARTICLE V 
PARALEGAL PRACTICE 
SEC. 27. Prohibitions and Limitations in the Paralegal Practice. No person shall practice or 
offer to practice paralegal in the Philippines or offer oneself as a paralegal, or use the title, word, 
letter, figure, or any sign tending to convey the impression that one is a paralegal or advertise or 
indicate in any manner whatsoever as qualified to perform the work a paralegal unless the person 
satisfactorily passed the licensure examination given by the Board, except as otherwise provided 
in this Act, and is a holder of a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license or 
a valid temporary special permit duly issued by the Board and the Supreme Court, where 
applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ 


SEC. 28. Other Prohibited Acts. No person shall: 
a)​ Represent oneself as a paralegal during the time that the professional license is not valid, 
or that the certificate of registration has been suspended or revoked, or that the temporary 
special permit is cancelled; 
b)​ Allow another person to use one's certificate of registration or professional license or 
temporary special permit as a paralegal to enable the person to engage in the practice of 
paralegal; 
c)​ Use the certificate of registration or professional license or special temporary permit of 
another paralegal. 
SEC. 29. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program. The CPD guidelines shall 
be prescribed and promulgated by the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under 
CHED and DOJ upon consultation with the Board, which shall consult the  AIPO of paralegals, 
affiliated association of paralegals, and other concerned sectors. The Board shall create a CPD 
Council that shall be composed of a Chairperson coming from the Board, a member from the 
AIPO of paralegal and a member from the academe. 
SEC. 30. Integration of Paralegals. All paralegals shall be integrated into one (1) national 
organization, which shall recognized by the Board and by the Supreme Court, where applicable, 
and the Council under CHED and DOJ as the one and only accredited integrated professionals 
organizations (AIPO) of paralegals. A paralegal duly registered with the Board shall 
automatically become a member of the  AIPO of paralegals, and shall receive the benefits and 
privileges and privileges thereto, upon payment of the required fees and dues. Membership in the 
AIPO shall not be bar to membership in other association of paralegals. 
SEC. 31. Indication of License and Professional Tax Receipt.  A paralegal shall be required to 
indicate the registration/professional number and date of issuance, the duration of validity, 
including the Professional Tax Receipt number on the documents one signs, or issues in 
connection with the practice of the profession. 
ARTICLE VI 
PENAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 32. Penal Provisions. Any violation of this Act, including violations of implementing 
Rules and Regulations, shall be meted the penalty of a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
(Php. 50,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php. 500,000.00) or 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than four (4) years, or both, such fine 
and imprisonment upon the discretion of the court. In case the violation is committed by an 
unlicensed paralegal, the penalty shall be double the aforesaid fine and imprisonment. 


​
In case the violation is committed by a partnership, corporation, association, or any other 
juridical person, the partner, president, director, or manager who has committed or consented to 
or knowingly tolerated such violation shall be held directly liable and responsible for the acts as 
principal or a co-principal with the other participants, if any. 
SEC. 33. Appropriations. The Chairperson of the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the 
Council under CHED and DOJ shall immediately include in the Supreme Court, where 
applicable, and the Council under CHED and DOJ’s programs the implementation of this Act, 
the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and thereafter. 
SEC. 34. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within (6) months after the effectivity of this 
Act, the Board shall in consultation with the  CHED, LEB and the U.P. Law Center, and subject 
only to the approval of the Supreme Court, where applicable, and the Council under CHED and 
DOJ, shall promulgate, adopt, and issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, 
including the Code of Ethics and and Professional Responsibility for Paralegals.  Such 
implementing rules and regulations and Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility shall be 
effective fifteen (15) days following their publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of 
general circulation. 
Sec. 35. Transitory Provision. All incumbent paralegals in both the public and private sector not 
otherwise certified as paralegals by virtue of this Act shall be given six (6) years temporary 
certificates from the time the Board is organized within to qualify as required of this Act in the 
Roster. 
Sec. 36. Saving Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall restrict, diminish, or supersede the 
constitutional powers of the Supreme Court under Article VIII, Section 5(5) of the 1987 
Constitution. The regulation of the practice of law remains exclusively within the authority of the 
Supreme Court. 
Sec. 37. Separability Clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Act shall be 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid 
and subsisting. 
Sec. 38. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, letters 
of instruction, administrative orders, proclamations, charters, rules or regulations and parts 
thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of his Act are hereby repealed, modified, 
or amended accordingly. 
Sec. 39. Effectivity Provision. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 


  
Approved, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List