TIPS IN MAKING CASE-DIGESTS
A_SEMINAR FOR FU-CLJ
FRESHMEN & TRANSFERREES
prepared_by
EDCARL REALIZA CAGANDAHAN,
LL.B.(III)
Program Flow:
I. Introduction & Welcome Remarks
II. College Grading System
Rules/Policies
III. Case Pools (Optional)
IV. Case-Digest-Making and the SCRA
V. Recitation Etiquette (Introduction of
IRAC/CRA)
VI. Understanding Bar Questions for
Exams and/or Quizzes
VII. Lawschool and Bar Exam
Prohibitions -plagiarism -unnecessary
markings -tearing/folding of page/s in
the exam booklets -“beating around the
bush”; unnecessarily long answers
VIII. Establishment of a Buddy System
PARTS OF A CASE
1. Facts/Factual Antecedents
2. Procedural Narrative (what were the
legal actions presented in the
MTC/RTC/CA and how they ruled)
3. Legal Issue/s (May be substantive or
procedural in matter and form)
4. Ruling (the decision of the Supreme
Court pertaining the legal issues raised)
5. Rationale (the legal reason for the
decision of the Supreme Court; usually
consists of laws and jurisprudence in
which the decision was based upon)
6._Dispositive_portion
(“WHEREFORE………….So ordered.”)
1. READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE CASE.
Refrain from copying and pasting ready-
made digests from the internet. You
may read from lawphil.net,
scjudiciary.com, or from the Supreme
Court Reports Annotated (SCRA) found
in the law library.
2. SPOT THE LEGAL ISSUE FIRST. In
and some cases (especially recent ones circa
2015-2018), the Justices would write in
a manner whereby the Actual
Antecedents/Facts, Issue/s, Ruling, and
Rationale are written in such order,
making comprehension over the case
easier.
3. THE SUMMARY OF THE FACTS MUST
REVOLVE AROUND THE LEGAL ISSUE.
Refrain from including facts like dates,
complete names, name of the LGU,
name of the lawyer/judge, and other
facts that are obviously not necessary to
the issue presented. Refrain from going
beyond two (2) paragraphs. Some
instructors will ask as to how the lower
courts (MTC, MCTC, MeTC, RTC, and
CA) ruled over the case, so briefly
include the said rulings (optional).
4. DO NOT PARAPHRASE THE
RATIONALE OF THE RULING.
Paraphrasing is risky because one might
end up losing or changing the substance
of the reason of the SC’s decision. The
rationale should consist of the
laws/jurisprudence used by the
Supreme Court and why they are
applicable to the instant case.
5. CASE DIGEST FORMAT:
Facts – a brief summary of the factual
antecedents
Issue/s –the legal question; may be in
question form (EX: is Sec.16 of R.A.
6657 unconstitutional for being violative
of one’s right to due process?) or in
traditional form (EX: whether or not
Sec. 16 of R.A. 6657 is unconstitutional
for being violative of one’s right to due
process.)
Held –the answer to the question; if in
question form, only write/answer with a
YES, NO, or QUALIFIED (Yes, up to a
certain extent; otherwise, no) (EX: No,
Sec. 16 of R.A. 6657 is not question presented and backing it up
unconstitutional); but if in traditional with “Under R.A.___” “Under Sec. ___
form, affirm or disaffirm the question of Art. ___ of the Constitution” “Under
presented (EX: Sec. 16 of RA 6657 is Art. ____ of the RPC/NCC” et al and
not unconstitutional and is not violative why the law you cited is applicable.
of one’s right to due process.)
11. Refrain from being constantly
Rationale –the reason behind the absent.
decision
12. Always bring your own pen and
6. CASE DIGEST SHOULD NOT EXCEED paper and refrain from constantly asking
1 PAGE. Otherwise, it would be hard to for the same from your classmates.
comprehend for being lengthy in form
and defeats the purpose of creating it. 13. READ YOUR BOOKS AS
FREQUENTLY AS YOU CAN because
#GradesMatter.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE AND

RECITATION TIPS
1. Refrain from talking with your
seatmate while the instructor is talking
in front or when a classmate is reporting
on an assigned topic.
2. If called to recite, stand up.
3. If you have a question, raise your
hand and wait to be acknowledged.
4. Take down notes.
5. Refrain from eating foul-smelling
and/or noisy food inside the classroom.
6. Refrain from being tardy.
“Pain is temporary; but a Law degree is
forever.” –somebody who cried due to
lawschool woes lol
“You should learn how to multi-task:
studying while uyab-ing.” –Judge L.
Bancorro
“Your answers should always be like
bikinis: long enough to cover the
essential parts but short enough to keep
things interesting.” –some male law
professors
“Holy ____ what have I gotten myself
into.” –you, in the next 4 years or so 

7. Always respond using the English

language.

8. If you don’t know the answer to the

question, refrain from saying “I don’t
know.” Do your best to rack your brain
for answers, and if all else fails, cite the
constitutional provision relating to the
matter.

9. Some laws and jurisprudence may be

against your philosophy or principles,
but refrain from applying your
religion/race/personal beliefs/emotions
in answering questions about them.

10. Unless you are asked for your

personal opinion, never answer with “I
think” or “I believe.” Always have a legal
basis for your answers by answering the