Atty. Christopher John P. Lao I.

What is Law
II. Sources of Law
Legal Technique and Logic: A Syllabus a. Custom
Course Code: LAW028M b. Religion and Morality
DLSU College of Law c. Legislation; classification
c.1. supreme/primary legislation
Grading: c.2. subordinate/delegated legislation
Recitation – 20% c.2.1. municipal legislation
Midterms – 40% c.2.2. executive legislation
Finals – 40% d. Jurisprudence
e. Equity
f. Generally Accepted Principles of International Law
References: g. Quasi-Legal sources
h. Contracts
For Legal Technique:
III. Categories of Law
a. Robert S. Summers, The Technique Element in Law, a. public and private law;
59 CAL. L. REV. 733 (1971). a.1. public law key branches: constitutional law,
b. Morris R. Cohen, The Place of Logic in the Law, 29 administrative law, criminal law
HARV. L. REV. 622 (1916). a.2. private law key branches: contract law, delict
c. Dale McFadzean& Gareth Ryan, Law Essentials, law, family law
Legal Method, Dundee University Press (read b. civil, criminal, administrative; overlap
chapters 1, 5, 6, & 7) b.1. different standards of proof
For Logic: b.2. different courts and rules of procedure
d. Irving M. Copi& Carl Cohen, Introduction to Logic, b.3. different reliefs and foci
PEARSON EDUCATION (ASIA) PTE LTD., 11th c. grievance-remedial technique; penal technique;
Edition (2002) or later administrative-regulatory technique; public benefit conferral
technique; private arranging technique
A. LEGAL TECHNIQUE
IV. Common Law and Civil Law Systems; Hybrid
 a. The Philippine type of hybrid system as distinguished Case: G.R. No. 170352 Megan Sugar Corporation v. RTC of
from other jurisdictions Iloilo
b. hierarchy of courts for case/common law Marcos, Jr. v. Republicof the Philippines G.R. No. 189434
c. whether common law/case law or civil law: (2012)
a.1. whether law has come into force f. Prescription of Actions & Statute of Limitations
a.2. whether law is still in force—whether Case: GR No. 200558 Consuelo Pangasinan v.
amended/repealed in case of statutes; whether principle of Disongloalmazora
law or construction has been g. Jurisdiction
modified/abandoned in case of common law/case law. Case: GR No. 161771 BPI v. Eduardo Hong
d. judicial legislation h. Due Process
A.M. No. 18-07-05-SC, Rule on Precautionary Hold Case: G.R. No. 167614 (2009)Serrano v. Gallant Maritime
Departure Order; read Dissenting Opinion, J. Leonen Services, Inc.

B. LOGIC
V. Principles of Law
a. Stare Decisis: “to stand by decisions”; exceptions I. Logic and the Law
a.1. Ratio Decidendi: point of law or legal principle Logic and Due Process of Law:Serrano v. Gallant
upon which decision is based Maritime Services, Inc. G.R. No. 167614 (2009)
a.2. Obiter Dictum: hypothetical comments made “by
the way;” merely persuasive II. Basic Logical Concepts
a.3. pro hac vice: “for or on this occasion only” a. Propositions
Case: G.R. No. 147097 Lazatin v. Desierto b. Arguments
b. Res Judicata c. Deduction and Validity
Case: G.R. No. 175151 Selga v. Brar d. Induction and Probability
c. Law of the Case e. Validity and Truth
Case: G.R. No. 163103 Vios v. Pantangco
d. Laches III. Informal Fallacies
Case: G.R. No. 156882 ALU v. CA a. Fallacies of Relevance
e. Estoppel i. Requirements for Admissibility of Evidence
 1. Rule 128 Sections 1, 3 & 4, Rules of Case Law
Court b. Appraising Analogical Arguments
2. Rule 130 Sections 20, 21, 48, 49 & 50 c. Refutation by Logical Analogy
ii. Character Evidence
1. Rule 130 Section 51
2. Rule 132 Section 14
iii. Similar Acts as Evidence
1. Rule 130 Section 34
b. Fallacies of Presumption
Negative pregnant: Marcos, Jr. v. Republicof the
Philippines G.R. No. 189434
(2012)
c. Fallacies of Ambiguity

IV. Deduction (Aristotelian)

a. Theory
b. Categorical Propositions and Classes
c. Quality, Quantity and Distribution
d. The Traditional Square of Opposition
e. Categorical Syllogisms

V. Deduction (Symbolic Logic)

a. Connectives
b. Argument Forms
c. 19 Rules of Inference
d. Formal Proof of Validity

VI. Induction
a. Argument by Analogy