Brief History of the College of Law

In June 1954, then St. Louis College started offering first year law courses as authorized under temporary permit No. 365 s. 1954 dated issued by P.M. Endencia, Secretary of Education and recommended by Daniel M. Salcedo, Assistant Director of Private Schools. There were only 12 enrollees during their first year of operation.

In the succeeding years, the college was authorized to offer higher law courses. Thus, the college offered the second year law course in 1955, first to third year courses in 1956 and the fourth year law course in 1957. It was only in 1957, however, that the college was granted government recognition for the first to third year law course. In 1958, the college was granted government recognition to offer the full four-year course.

The first graduates of the College of law were conferred their respective degrees in March 1958 and they were the following: Atty. Felix B. Claustro, Atty. Alberto Crespillo Jr., Atty. Antonio de Guzman, Atty. Wenceslao Villanueva, and Atty. Daniel M. Zarate.

During its first year of operation in June 1954, the law professors of the College included Dean Francisco Reyes, Judge Federico Cabato, Atty. Fernando R. Romero, Atty. Conrado S. Sabelino, Atty. Bernardo C. Ronquillo, Judge Jesus de Vera. At one time, the college prides itself to have in the faculty line-up legal giants in the persons of Chief Justice Manuel V. Moran and former Chief Justice Rob...