PRIME BAR METHOD

Welcome to Prime Bar Method's 2026 Introduction to Law Course.

Listed below is an outline of our Modules and schedule of Lectures. Please note that sub-topics may be adjusted throughout the course based on the evolving needs of our students.

MODULE 1 — FOUNDATIONS OF LEGAL STUDY

Using the SCRA, Philippine Reports, and Other Citations
Common Examples of Faulty citations
How to Digest Cases
Common Mistakes in Case Digests
Sample Case Digest
Methods of Answering Legal Questions
Sample Legal Question and Answers
How to Ace law school recitations
Examples usint jurisprudence and ALAC
Practical tips for law school
Law School Subjects Overview

MODULE 2 — GENERAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Branches of the government
How a Bill becomes a Law
Statutory construction
Ordinary Meaning Rules
Interpretation and Construction of laws
Effectivity and Application of laws
The Legal Profession
Practice of Law
Bar Examination
Discipline of lawyers
Integrated Bar of the Philippines

Lecture to be released on July 10.

MODULE 3 — POLITICAL LAW & PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW

1. POLITICAL LAW

· Political law

· State and its Elements

· Systems of Government

· Inherent powers

· Constitution

· Citizenship

· President and Executive Department

· Judicial power and judicial review

· Bill of rights

2. PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW

· Incorporation of Philippine law to International law

· Sources

· Treaties

· Subjects

· Sovereignty and non-intervention

· Jurisdiction

· Peaceful settlement

· United Nations

· Right of Legation

· International Humanitarian law

Lecture to be released on July 17.

MODULE 4 — LABOR LAW AND SOCIAL LEGISLATION

DEFINITION OF LABOR LAW

CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES ON LABOR

LABOR CODE OBJECTIVES ON LABOR

LABOR STANDARDS

• Normal Hours of Work

• Meal Periods

• Night Differential

• Overtime

• Undertime

• Weekly Rest Periods

• Holidays

• Service Incentive Leaves

• 13th Month Pay

MANAGEMENT PREROGATIVE

EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP

KINDS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Probationary Employment

• Regular Employment

• Project Employment

• Casual Employment

• Fixed Term Employment

• Field Personnel

• Managerial Employee

LABOR RELATIONS

SOCIAL LEGISLATION

THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND THE DOLE

• Powers of the Secretary of Labor

THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION

Lecture to be released on July 24.

MODULE 5 — CIVIL LAW

PRELIMINARY CHAPTER

• Preliminary Chapter and Human Relations

• Human Relations

• Prejudicial Question

• Natural Persons

• Civil Personality

FAMILY CODE

Marriage

• Marriage

• Legal Separation

• Rights and Obligations Between Husband and Wife

• Property Relations Between Husband and Wife

Marriage Settlements and Property Regimes

• Donations by Reason of Marriage

• System of Absolute Community

• Conjugal Partnership of Gains

• Separation of Property of the Spouses and Administration of Common Property by One

Spouse During the Marriage

• Regime of Separation of Property

• Property Regime of Unions Without Marriage

Family Relations

• The Family

• The Family Home

• Paternity and Filiation

• Legitimation

Adoption

• Domestic Adoption under the Family Code and R.A. No. 11642

• Body with Jurisdiction Over Administrative Adoption

• Rights of an Adopted Child

• Rescission of Adoption

• Procedure for Rescission of Administrative Adoption

• Inter-Country Adoption Act

Parental Authority

• Parental Authority

• Suspension or Termination of Parental Authority

MODULE 6 — TAXATION & COMMERCIAL LAW

DEFINITION OF TAXATION

NATURE AND BASIC CHARATERISTICS

• Enforced Contribution

• Legislative Prerogative

• High Prerogative of Sovereignty

• Proportionate

• Pecuniary

BASIC THEORIES ON TAXATION

• Necessity Theory

• Benefit Theory

• Lifeblood Theory

• Domiciliary Theory

• Nationality Theory

DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL LAW

CORPORATION LAW

BANKING LAW

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Lecture to be released on August 7.

MODULE 7 — CRIMINAL LAW

DEFINITION OF CRIMINAL LAW

• Sources of Criminal Law

• Characteristics of Criminal Law

• Application of Criminal Law

FELONIES

CRIMINAL LIABILITY

STAGES OF EXECUTION

QUALIFYING CIRCUMSTANCES

• Justifying Circumstances

• Exempting Circumstances

• Mitigating Circumstances

• Aggravating Circumstances

• Alternative Circumstances

DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION

• Principals

• Accomplices

• Accessories

PENALTIES

• Extinction of Criminal Liability

Lecture to be released on August 14.

MODULE 8 — REMEDIAL LAW & LEGAL ETHICS

1. Remedial Law

• What is Remedial Law?

• What is Substantive Law?

• Difference Between Substantive Law and Remedial Law

• Sources of Philippine Remedial Law

• What is Procedure?

• Object of Procedure

• Rule-Making Power of the Supreme Court

2. Jurisdiction

• What is Jurisdiction?

• Jurisdiction vs. Venue

• Jurisdiction is Conferred by Law

• Elements of Jurisdiction

o Jurisdiction over the Subject Matter

o Jurisdiction over the Parties

o Jurisdiction over the Res

• Kinds of Jurisdiction

• How Jurisdiction is Determined

• Jurisdiction Cannot Be Acquired by Agreement

• Estoppel as an Exception

• Jurisdiction is Vested in the Court, Not in the Judge

• Equity Jurisdiction

• When Jurisdiction Attaches and When It May Be Lost

3. The Philippine Court System

• Classification of Courts

• Municipal Trial Courts

• Regional Trial Courts

• Court of Appeals

• Supreme Court

• Family Courts

• Hierarchy of Courts

• Concurrent Jurisdiction

• Importance of Filing in the Proper Court

4. Barangay Conciliation

• What is Barangay Conciliation?

• Objectives of Barangay Conciliation

• Importance of Barangay Conciliation

• Benefits of Barangay Conciliation

• When a Case May Proceed to Court

5. Civil Procedure: Basic Concepts

• What is Civil Procedure?

• What is a Civil Action?

• Parties in a Civil Action

• Purpose of Civil Procedure

• Civil Cases and Criminal Cases

• Role of the Court in Civil Cases

• Importance of Civil Procedure

6. Cause of Action

• What is a Cause of Action?

• Elements of a Cause of Action

• Importance of a Cause of Action

• Cause of Action vs. Right of Action

• One Cause of Action, One Civil Action

7. Parties to a Civil Action

• Who are the Parties to a Civil Action?

• Real Party in Interest

• Natural and Juridical Persons

• Importance of Identifying the Proper Parties

• Good Faith in Filing Civil Actions

8. Venue of Actions

• What is Venue?

• Venue vs. Jurisdiction

• Purpose of Venue

• Agreement on Venue

• Importance of Filing in the Proper Venue

9. Alternative Dispute Resolution

• What is Alternative Dispute Resolution?

• Purpose of ADR

• Mediation

• Arbitration

• ADR vs. Court Litigation

• Importance of ADR

10. Access to Justice

• What is Access to Justice?

• The Rule of Law

• Peaceful Resolution of Disputes

• Role of the Courts in Protecting Rights

Lecture to be released on August 21.