FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS RE: RULES ON UNIFIED LEGAL AID SERVICE (ULAS) and MANUAL ON THE RULES ON ULAS

 

 

A.M. No. 22-11-01-SC

 

RE: RULES ON UNIFIED LEGAL AID SERVICE (ULAS)

and

MANUAL ON THE RULES ON ULAS

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

 

These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) serve as a comprehensive guide to assist lawyers in understanding the Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) Rules and its Manual. Lawyers are advised to review this document in full and thoroughly before directing any queries to the ULAS Office or the ULAS Secretariat. Please regularly monitor the ULAS microsite for updates to this document and other relevant advisories, in response to policy and operational developments.

 

        I.      General Information

 

Q1: When is the first ULAS Compliance Period? Can Covered Lawyers and ROs already render pro bono legal aid services to the Qualified Beneficiaries now?

 

The first compliance period began on January 1, 2025 and will end on December 31, 2027.

[Section 6, ULAS Rules]

 

Yes, Covered Lawyers and ROs may already render pro bono legal aid services starting last January 1, 2025. Covered Lawyers and ROs must keep records and proof of such services rendered in favor of Qualified Beneficiaries, so these may be properly credited as ULAS compliance once reporting is allowed by the ULAS Interim Board.  

 

Q2: What is the ULAS Portal? Is it already operational?

 

The ULAS Portal refers to the centralized online portal that will be used for purposes of reporting and monitoring compliance with the ULAS Rules and the Manual. [Section 3(c)(c), Rule 1, Manual]  

 

The ULAS Portal is not yet operational at this time and is still undergoing development.

 

Q3: How will reporting of compliance with the ULAS Rules and Manual be done?

 

Reporting of services rendered under the ULAS Rules and Manual, as well as exclusions and other compliances with the Rules and its Manual, shall be primarily done online through the ULAS Portal, which is intended to streamline submissions and reduce manual paperwork. All Covered Lawyers and ROs intending to aggregate must register and create an account on the ULAS Portal. [Sections 1 & 2, Rule 8, Manual; Sections 1 & 2, Rule 9, Manual]

 

Q4: How can lawyers report pro bono work performed prior to the launch of the ULAS Portal?

 

Even as the ULAS Portal is not yet operational and launched, Covered Lawyers and ROs may already render pro bono legal aid services to the Qualified Beneficiaries.  

 

While the system is pending, the following supporting documents must be kept on file for mandatory uploading once the ULAS Portal becomes operational:

 

o Qualified Beneficiary Declaration and Covered Lawyer’s Certification; and o Counsel de Officio Order, where applicable.

 

Other documents, such as court submissions, certificates of appearance, and court orders confirming appearances, must also be retained by the Covered Lawyer or RO until the Certificate of Compliance becomes final. [Section 3, Rule 10, Manual] The same shall be uploaded to the ULAS Portal when the ULASO requires the Covered Lawyer or RO to do so.

 

Please await advisories from the ULAS Interim Board on when account registration will be available via the ULAS Portal, as well as on when to begin uploading documents, logging hours, making financial contributions, and generating Compliance Reports.

 

      II.      Covered Lawyers; Exclusions  

 

Q1: Who are Covered Lawyers under the ULAS Rules?

 

Covered Lawyers are members of the Philippine Bar who:

•      have not had their IBP membership terminated,

•      are not retired in accordance with IBP By-Laws, and

•      are not excluded under the ULAS Rules. [Section 4(b), ULAS Rules]

 

Q2: Who are excluded from the mandatory service requirement?

 

Excluded lawyers include:

a)      Government lawyers who are absolutely prohibited from engaging in private practice,

b)      Lawyers employed in the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO),

c)      Lawyers serving as Shari’ah counselors-at-law,

d)      Government lawyers whose request for authority to render pro bono legal aid services from their government agency is denied by the duly authorized officer of the agency,

e)      Lawyers who have been in the practice of law for at least 35 years or those aged 60 or older, per the records of the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC), reckoned from the last year of the relevant Compliance Period,

f)   Lawyers with physical or mental disabilities or other circumstances that render compliance with the ULAS Rules unreasonably difficult or impossible, and

g)      New lawyers during the compliance period of their admission to the Bar.

 

Excluded lawyers must apply for a certificate of exclusion from the ULASO before the end of each Compliance Period. [Section 3, Rule 2, Manual]

 

Q3: Are officials who have the rank and privileges of Court of Appeals Justices or Regional Trial Court judges automatically included in the exclusion under Section 5(a)(i) of the ULAS Rules?  

  

No. Section 5(a)(i) of the ULAS Rules exclusively refers to justices, judges and other officials of the judiciary who are absolutely prohibited from practicing law outside their public employment.   

  

Nonetheless, government officials who are likewise absolutely prohibited from practicing law outside their public employment under the Constitution, any statute, or any rule, may claim exclusion under Section 5(a)(viii) of the ULAS Rules which covers “government employees who are absolutely prohibited by special law or rules from engaging in private practice.”   

  

Section 5(a)(viii) applies generally to all government officials who are absolutely prohibited by law or rule from engaging in private practice, regardless if they hold the same rank and privileges as the judiciary officials mentioned in Section 5(a)(i) or are not specifically mentioned in the exclusions under Section 5(a)(i) to (vii). 

 

Q4: I am a government employee whose office/agency allows engagement in limited law practice. Can I claim exclusion under Section 5(a) of the ULAS Rules? 

 

No. Government employees who may obtain permission to engage in limited law practice shall secure the appropriate authority to render Pro Bono Legal Aid Services from their agency. [Section 13, ULAS Rules]  

 

However, should such request for authority be denied by the duly-authorized officer of the agency, the government lawyer may claim exclusion under Section 5(d) of the ULAS Rules. [Section 9, Rule 2, Manual; See also Q5 and Q6 below]

 

Q5: Are all government lawyers excluded in the ULAS Rules?

 

No. Exclusion is limited only to the enumeration under the ULAS Rules. However, with respect to government lawyers other than those enumerated, as long he or she can show that he or she requested for an Authority to Practice from the relevant official in his or her office, and that the same was rejected, then such circumstance can be declared before the ULAS Board for claiming exclusion under the ULAS Rules. [Section 5(d), ULAS Rules]

 

Q6: For government lawyers whose authority to render Pro Bono Legal Aid Services is denied, does the denial have to be in any specific form?

 

The only requirement is that the denial must be in writing. [Section 4(b), Rule 2, Manual] The denial may be in the form of a letter issued by a duly authorized officer of the agency, or a board resolution, office order, or other similar issuance issued by the governing body of the agency. The denial may also be in the form of prohibition from engaging in the private practice of law, which prohibition is applied whether against a certain class of officers or employees, or to all such officers or employees across the board. What matters is that the denial of the lawyer’s ability to engage in Pro Bono Legal Aid Service is in writing.

 

Q7: How does one apply for a Certificate of Exclusion?

 

Lawyers must submit an Application for Exclusion or an Attestation of Exclusion, as the case may be, through the ULAS Portal. The submission shall indicate the applicable ground for exclusion and be accompanied by supporting documents (e.g., employment certificates, medical certificates, PWD ID cards). [Sections 3(c) and 3(e), Rule 1, Manual; Section 4, Rule 2, Manual]

 

Kindly await relevant advisories from the Court on when applications for exclusion and attestations of exclusion will be accepted.

 

Q8: How long is the Certificate of Exclusion valid?

 

 If based on age (60 or older) or years in practice (at least 35 years), the Certificate of Exclusion is valid for life. All other exclusions are valid only for the compliance period indicated on the Certificate of Exclusion without prejudice to re-applications for subsequent compliance periods. [Section 5, ULAS Rules; Section 5, Rule 2, Manual]

 

Q9: How is 35 years of practice computed for purposes of exclusion under the ULAS Rules?

 

Practice of law is counted from the date the lawyer signed the Roll of Attorneys, regardless of whether he or she engaged in active legal work.  

 

Q10: Can an excluded lawyer later comply with the ULAS Rules?

 

Yes. A lawyer who has been issued a Certificate of Exclusion may renounce his or her exclusion before the end of the compliance period by informing the ULASO. Their status will revert to that of a Covered Lawyer or a Covered Lawyer in an RO. [Section 5, Rule 2, Manual]

 

Q11: Are new lawyers admitted in January 2025 excluded under the ULAS Rules? 

 

Yes. Lawyers who are newly admitted to the Bar in January 2025 are excluded from compliance for the first ULAS Compliance Period (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027), as this period is in effect at the time of their admission. [Section 5(g), ULAS Rules] However, to formalize this exclusion, they must still submit an Application for Exclusion to ULASO before the end of such Compliance Period.

 

Q12: Can excluded lawyers still perform pro bono legal aid services under ULAS?

 

Yes, they may voluntarily render services, but any Compliance Report submitted during his or her exclusion will not be acted upon.

 

If the lawyer is no longer excluded in the immediately succeeding compliance period, the hours rendered during the period of  his or her exclusion may be credited in that succeeding period. [Section 6, Rule 2, Manual]

 

Q13: Are lawyers who are not practicing law covered under the ULAS Rules?

 

Yes. Even those not actively engaged in the practice of law, as long as they are not retired or resigned under the IBP by-laws, are covered and may pay up to 50% financial contribution like others. [See Section 4(b), ULAS Rules]

 

Q14: What happens to lawyers who are suspended from the practice of law?

 

Suspended lawyers must render the required hours once their suspensions are lifted within the affected compliance period. If the suspension covers the entire compliance period, unserved hours are carried over to the next compliance period, and no penalties will be imposed. [Section 8, ULAS Rules]

 

III.         Minimum Hours and Option to Give Financial Contribution

 

Q1: What are the requirements for Covered Lawyers under the ULAS Rules?

 

Each lawyer must render 60 hours of Pro Bono Legal Aid Services within a 36-month compliance period, subject to the option of giving a financial contribution which may, however, only cover a portion of the 60 hours. This cap is set generally at 50% of the minimum hours. [Section 4(d), Section 10, Section 11, ULAS Rules]

 

Q2: Can you elaborate on this option to give financial contribution instead of rendering legal aid service? And what are the ceilings therefor? 

 

General ceiling of 50%: As a general rule, Covered Lawyers and ROs may opt to contribute financially to the ULAS Fund but such contribution may only cover a maximum of 50% of the required minimum hours. The remaining 50% must always be satisfied by rendering pro bono legal aid services.

 

Thus, applying the minimum of 60 hours under the ULAS Rules, a Covered Lawyer or RO may opt to give financial contribution corresponding to a maximum of 30 hours. Thus, such Covered Lawyer or RO must still render at least 30 hours of pro bono legal aid service.  [Section 10, ULAS Rules]

 

Exception for Early Completion (60% Financial Contribution): An exception to the general rule of 50% financial contribution as discussed above is the incentive given to those who completed the minimum hours within the first year of the Compliance Period. If a Covered Lawyer or RO completes 40% of the applicable Minimum Hours or 24 hours of pro bono legal aid services creditable under the ULAS Rules within the first year of the compliance period, he, she or it may opt to provide a financial contribution equivalent to the remaining 60% of his, her or its Minimum Hours or 36 hours, in lieu of rendering the required Pro Bono Legal Aid Services. [Section 10, ULAS Rules]

 

Exception for Philippine Lawyer Based Abroad (100% substitution): A Philippine Lawyer Based Abroad may instead opt to give a financial contribution of up to 100% of the Minimum Hours. [Section 11, ULAS Rules]

 

Q3: What is the amount of financial contribution per hour?

 

The current amount of financial contribution is fixed at PHP 500.00 for each hour of mandatory pro bono legal aid service intended to be offset. This is subject to any adjustments as may be approved by the Supreme Court En Banc. [Section 2, Rule 11, Manual]

 

Q4: Does the option to give financial contribution undermine the essence of free legal aid?

 

The option to contribute financially recognizes that the provision of free legal aid services involves various administrative costs and expenses on the part of the Covered Lawyers and ROs, which need to be managed for the effective operation of legal aid initiatives. Ultimately, the financial contribution will accrue to the ULAS Fund, which is dedicated solely and exclusively to supporting the pro bono legal aid program under the ULAS Rules. Hence, any monetary contributions are directed towards enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of the legal aid program to ensure that the qualified beneficiaries receive quality legal assistance. Likewise, the financial contributions secure the lawyers from shouldering the reasonable expenses (e.g. printing, photocopying, etc.) of their pro bono legal aid services under the Rules, by making certain that the ULAS Fund has enough to cover for such expenses.  

 

Furthermore, the existence of a 50% cap on financial contributions ensures that lawyers remain obligated to provide free legal aid services. This limitation means that lawyers are still mandated to allocate a significant portion of their time and resources towards pro bono service and may not opt out entirely of this noble obligation to serve the underprivileged.

 

Q5: What is the purpose of allowing Philippine Lawyers Based Abroad to make a financial contribution to the ULAS Fund with no cap?

 

The purpose is to provide an alternative means for them to fulfill their obligations under the ULAS Rules, considering the challenges they may face in rendering mandatory Pro Bono Legal Aid Services to qualified beneficiaries while residing outside the Philippines.

 

Q6: How can Philippine Lawyers Based Abroad comply with the ULAS Rules?

 

               Philippine Lawyers Based Abroad may:

•      render pro bono legal aid services involving Philippine law; or

•      provide financial contributions for up to 100% of the required hours. [Sections 2 & 3, Rule 12, Manual]

 

Q7: Can excess hours of Pro Bono Legal Aid Services be carried over to the next Compliance Period?

 

Yes. If a Covered Lawyer or RO has rendered more than the required minimum hours in a compliance period, the excess may be carried over, but only to the immediately succeeding compliance period, upon the approval of the ULAS Board. Excess hours cannot be carried over beyond a single compliance period. [Section 3, Rule 7, Manual]

 

IV.         Pro Bono Legal Aid Services  

 

Q1: Can pro bono legal aid services outside of litigation law practice be credited as compliance hours under the ULAS Rules?  

 

Yes, because the ULAS Rules allows the crediting of any practice of law – that is, any activity which involves the application of law – so long as the beneficiary of the service is qualified under the ULAS Rules. Thus, non-litigation lawyers can comply with the ULAS Rules by rendering for Qualified Beneficiaries other legal services such as, but not limited to, the following:  

-          Legal counseling, rendering assistance in contract negotiations, drafting and/or notarizing legal documents, including memoranda of law, affidavits, and contracts.

-          Developmental legal assistance consisting of rights awareness, capacity-building, and training in basic human rights, documentation, and affidavit-making.

-          Participation in Accredited Legal Outreach Programs and Missions. [Section 4(f), ULAS Rules; Section 2, Rule 4, Manual]

 

Q2: Is free notarization of documents of Qualified Beneficiaries considered as pro bono legal aid services under the Rules?

 

Yes, as long as the service is rendered in favor of qualified beneficiaries. [Section 19, ULAS Rules]

 

Q3: Can the notarization of a Qualified Beneficiary Declaration be credited as pro bono legal aid service?

 

Yes. The notarization of a Qualified Beneficiary Declaration is considered a pro bono legal aid service rendered in favor of a Qualified Beneficiary.

 

However, the Covered Lawyer who performs the notarization must not be the same lawyer who examines the affidavit, interviews the Qualified Beneficiary, and executes the Covered Lawyer’s Certification. [Section 2(e), Rule 4, Manual; Section 5, Rule 5, Manual]

 

Q4: Can Covered Lawyers claim credit for pro bono services already rendered before January 1, 2025?

 

No. Covered Lawyers cannot claim credit for pro bono services already rendered before the start of the first Compliance Period on January 1, 2025. [See Section 6, ULAS Rules]

 

However, services rendered under the now-defunct CLAS Rules may be claimed as hours rendered and credited under the ULAS Rules. [Section 14, ULAS Rules]

 

Q5: Are pro bono legal aid services rendered in relation to pending cases of Qualified Beneficiaries before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court considered as pro bono legal aid services under the ULAS Rules?

 

Yes. Representation in the courts, even in government agencies, is not limited to the lower courts. [See Section 4(f)(i), ULAS Rules]

 

Q6: Are online consultations with Qualified Beneficiaries creditable under the ULAS Rules?

 

Yes. Online or virtual consultations with Qualified Beneficiaries are considered pro bono legal aid services, as long as the beneficiary qualifies, and the service meets the definition in the ULAS Rules and Manual.

 

Covered Lawyers must still document the service and ensure the beneficiary’s qualification is properly established.  

 

Q7: Who may apply for accreditation of Legal Outreach Programs and Legal Missions?

 

A Covered Lawyer, an RO, a group of Covered Lawyers, the IBP either through its National

Office or its Chapters, the DOJ through the DOJAC and its regional offices, or the legal

aid clinics of law schools, may apply for accreditation of a legal outreach program or legal mission for Qualified Beneficiaries. [Section 1, Rule 6, Manual]

 

Q8: What are the requirements and procedure for having legal outreach programs accredited by the ULAS Board?

 

Applicants must submit the prescribed form via the ULAS Portal at least 15 calendar days before the activity. Information required includes target qualified beneficiaries, program agenda, and activity details. A Certificate of Activity Accreditation will be issued upon approval. [Sections 3-5, Rule 6, Manual]

Q9: Should the legal outreach programs and legal missions of the Legal Aid Clinics of Law Schools be accredited by the ULAS Board? 

 

Not necessarily. Ideally, such legal outreach programs and legal missions should be accredited by the ULAS Board to ensure that the beneficiaries of these programs qualify under the ULAS Rules. [Section 4(a), ULAS Rules] In which case, the lawyers participating in such activities will be entitled to the advantages of accreditation which are discussed in Q11 below. If the activity is not accredited, the participating lawyers may still report the same in their respective compliance reports, but subject to the documentation requirements established in the Manual (e.g., Qualified Beneficiary Declaration and Lawyer’s Certification).  

 

Q10: Can an RO include Covered Lawyers who are not part of such organization in its Legal Outreach Program or Legal Mission?

 

Yes. An RO may include Covered Lawyers who are not formally part of the organization in its accredited Legal Outreach Program or Legal Mission.

 

However, the activity must be accredited by the ULASO in order to be exempt from submitting individual Qualified Beneficiary Declarations and Covered Lawyer’s Certifications for purposes of compliance with the ULAS Rules. [Rule 6, Manual]

 

Q11: What is the advantage of having a Legal Outreach Program or Legal Mission preaccredited by the ULAS Board?

 

Accreditation of a Legal Outreach Program or Legal Mission provides the following benefits:

 

•      exemption from submitting individual Qualified Beneficiary Declarations and Covered Lawyer’s Certifications;

•      automatic crediting of pro bono legal aid services rendered under the activity, as long as a CAA Number is issued; and

•      allows participation of non-affiliated Covered Lawyers while still crediting their hours.

 

Q12:  Will travel time or waiting time in court count toward my Pro Bono Legal Aid Service as creditable hours? 

           

Yes. Travel time and time spent waiting in court for a case to be called, may be counted as creditable pro bono hours. These are considered Incidental Activities under the Manual – activities that do not strictly constitute but are reasonably necessary to the rendition of Pro Bono Legal Aid Services. Other examples include printing or photocopying of documents, and similar activities. [Section 3(q), Rule 1, Manual; Section 2(f), Rule 4, Manual]

 

Q13: How are Pro Bono Legal Aid Service hours measured under the ULAS Rules and Manual?

 

Service hours are measured in six-minute increments, where six minutes shall be expressed as “0.1 hour.” A fraction of six minutes shall be counted as six minutes. [Section 1, Rule 10, Manual]

 

      V.      Qualified Beneficiaries

 

Q1: Who are Qualified Beneficiaries?

 

Qualified Beneficiaries include:

•      a person to whom a counsel de officio was appointed by any court, tribunal or other government agency if so authorized by law, with respect to the counsel de officio so appointed and the case or matter in which the appointment was made; [Section 1, Rule 5, Manual]

•      indigent individuals or litigants as defined by the Rules of Court:

o one who has no money or property sufficient and available for food, shelter and basic necessities for himself or herself and his or her family (Rule 3,

Section 21 of the Rules of Court) o one whose gross monthly income and that of his or her immediate family does not exceed an amount double the monthly minimum wage of an employee in the place where he or she resides (Rule 141, Section 19 of the

Rules of Court) o one who does not own real property with a fair market value as stated in the current tax declaration of more than PHP 300,000.00 (Rule 141, Section 19 of the Rules of Court); and  

•      any person, including an overseas Filipino worker, migrant worker, refugee, asylum-seeker, and stateless person, who has no sufficient means to afford the adequate legal services sought. [Section 3, Rule 5, Manual]

 

Q2: Can an NGO, non-profit organization, unincorporated association, or community group (e.g., farmers, fisherfolk, etc.) be considered a Qualified Beneficiary under the ULAS Rules and Manual?

 

No. Only natural persons may be considered Qualified Beneficiaries under the ULAS Rules and the Manual. Organizations or groups — even if charitable, civic, or community-based — do not qualify as beneficiaries.  

 

Services rendered to organizations, even if the intent is to assist disadvantaged sectors, do not qualify for compliance under the ULAS Rules unless the services are rendered directly to qualified individuals. [Section 3, Rule 5, Manual]

 

Q3: How does a Covered Lawyer or RO establish or prove to the ULASO that the client is a Qualified Beneficiary? 

 

In order to prove that a client is a Qualified Beneficiary under the ULAS Rules, the following must be accomplished and submitted to the ULASO:

 

•      a Counsel de Officio order from a court or other government bodies that the Covered Lawyer is appointed counsel de officio, with respect to the said client and his or her specific case;

•      an affidavit laying down the circumstances that make the client a Qualified Beneficiary (Qualified Beneficiary Declaration; See Annex B of the Manual);

•      a Certification from the Covered Lawyer under the Lawyer’s Oath that, after he or she interviewed the client and examined the latter’s Affidavit of Indigency and any other supporting documents, the Covered Lawyer is satisfied that there is reasonable cause to believe that the person is a Qualified Beneficiary. (See Annex B-1 and B-2 of the Manual)

 

The Qualified Beneficiary Declaration may be accompanied by such supporting documents as may substantiate the person’s claim as a Qualified Beneficiary, such as, but not limited to their latest income tax return, pay slip, or other proof of income; current tax declaration; and a certificate of indigency issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development or the local government unit where the person resides. [Section 4, Rule 5, Manual]

 

Q4: Is the Qualified Beneficiary Declaration required for services rendered to individuals during NGO-led and barangay-based legal aid activities?

 

Yes. The Qualified Beneficiary Declaration with Covered Lawyer’s Certification is generally required. However, this requirement does not apply if the activity is accredited by the ULASO as a Legal Outreach Program or Legal Mission and issued a Certificate of Activity Accreditation (CAA) Number.

 

Pro bono legal aid services rendered under an activity with a CAA Number are exempt from the submission of the Qualified Beneficiary Declaration and Certification. [Section 5, Rule 6, Manual]

 

Q5: How does a Covered Lawyer determine if someone is a Qualified Beneficiary?

 

A person claiming to be a Qualified Beneficiary must submit a duly executed Qualified Beneficiary Declaration to a Covered Lawyer or RO. The Covered Lawyer or RO must:  

 

•      interview the applicant; and

•      examine the declaration and any supporting documents provided.

 

The purpose is to assess whether:

 

•      the person qualifies as a Qualified Beneficiary; and

•      the legal assistance being requested constitutes pro bono legal aid service.

 

Covered Lawyers must exercise prudence in evaluating the individual’s capacity to retain paid legal counsel for the specific legal issue involved. [Section 6, Rule 5, Manual]

 

Q6: May the interviewing lawyer assist in the preparation of the Qualified Beneficiary Declaration?

 

Yes. The interviewing lawyer may interview the applicant using the Qualified Beneficiary Declaration form (Annex “B” of the Manual) as a guide and be the one to accomplish the form for the benefit of the applicant. The interviewing lawyer must ensure that the applicant understands the contents of the form before the potential client signs the same.  

 

Q7: Does the Qualified Beneficiary Declaration have to be notarized? May the interviewing lawyer notarize it?

 

Yes, the Qualified Beneficiary Declaration must be notarized, unless the declarant is a Filipino situated abroad, in which case notarization is not required due to the higher cost of notarization abroad. [Section 4, Rule 5, Manual].

 

When notarization is required, the lawyer who conducted the interview and evaluation cannot notarize the Qualified Beneficiary Declaration. [Section 5, Rule 5, Manual] Instead, any other lawyer shall perform the notarization. If the notarization is done for free, it will be considered as Pro Bono Legal Aid Service under the ULAS on the part of the notary. [Section 5, Rule 5, Manual; Section 2, Rule 4, Manual]

 

Q8: What is the Covered Lawyer’s Certification and when is it required?

 

If the Covered Lawyer determines there is reasonable cause to believe the person qualifies for assistance, the lawyer must execute a Covered Lawyer’s Certification under oath, using the form prescribed in Annex B-1 of the Manual.

 

If another Covered Lawyer later provides services for the same client and case, a new interview is not required. Instead, the new lawyer shall execute a separate Certification (Annex B-2 of the Manual), attesting that his or her assessment is based on the prior declaration and certification. [Section 7, Rule 5, Manual]

 

Q9: Is a Covered Lawyer required to submit documentation if the applicant is not determined to be a Qualified Beneficiary?

 

No. If, after interview and examination, the Covered Lawyer determines that the applicant does not qualify as a Qualified Beneficiary, there is no requirement to submit to the ULASO any documentation explaining the decision not to certify the applicant as a Qualified Beneficiary.

 

Q10: If an applicant is found to be an Indigent Qualified Beneficiary [Section 3, Rule 5, Manual], can a Covered Lawyer or RO refuse to assist the applicant?

 

               Yes. Assistance may be withheld if:

•      the Covered Lawyer or RO is not in a position to carry out the work effectively or competently due to a justifiable cause;

•      the Covered Lawyer or RO will be placed in a conflict-of-interest situation; or

•      the Covered Lawyer is related to the potential adverse party, within the sixth degree of consanguinity or affinity, or to the adverse counsel, within the fourth degree. [Section 3, Canon V, Code of Professional Responsibility]

 

Covered Lawyers and ROs who decline rendering assistance because they are not in a position to carry out the work effectively or competently due to a justifiable cause, or due to a potential conflict-of-interest situation, or due to relationship with the adverse party or counsel, are encouraged to endorse the applicant to another Covered Lawyer or RO who may be capable of providing legal aid services to the applicant.

 

Q11: Can Covered Lawyers terminate representation if they later discover material misrepresentation by the client?

 

Yes. Covered Lawyers may unilaterally terminate representation if, in good faith, they find that the client knowingly made false statements, submitted sham documents, or otherwise materially misrepresented his or her status as a Qualified Beneficiary. This is without prejudice to other grounds for termination as may be provided under A.M. No. 22-09-01SC or the “Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability”,

 

The Covered Lawyer must document the grounds for termination and issue a Notice of Termination, a copy of which must be furnished to the alleged Qualified Beneficiary, ULAS Board, and, if applicable, to the court where the representation is taking place. [Section 8, Rule 5, Manual]

 

Q12: What if a Qualified Beneficiary is later found to have misrepresented his or her status?

 

The pro bono legal aid service already rendered may still be credited toward compliance with the ULAS Rules, provided that the Covered Lawyer acted in good faith based on the documents submitted to him or her.

 

Q13: What is a Qualified Beneficiary Case Number and when is it used?

 

A Qualified Beneficiary Case Number is a unique identifier that may be generated within the ULAS Portal. It may be used by the Covered Lawyer or an RO in lieu of re-uploading proof of indigency for every subsequent service rendered to the same Qualified Beneficiary.

 

Use of this feature is optional but designed to simplify recordkeeping and encourage less use of paper for documentation. [Section 9, Rule 5, Manual]

 

VI.         Aggregation by ^ROs  

 

Q1: Are lawyers in ROs treated differently than those who are not?

 

Lawyers in ROs, such as law firms, may aggregate their hours as part of the organization’s total compliance. However, each lawyer must personally complete at least 25% of their required 60 hours (15 hours). These hours are non-aggregable and cannot be substituted with financial contributions, even if the lawyer is part of an aggregating entity.

 

The remaining hours may be aggregated and collectively fulfilled by the RO. [Section 9, ULAS Rules]

 

Example: A law firm with 10 lawyers is an RO under the ULAS Rules. Each lawyer is required to complete 60 hours of pro bono legal aid services during the Compliance Period, for a total of 600 hours (60 hours x 10 lawyers). To balance the workload, the firm decides to allocate most of the pro bono hours to  7 lawyers, while the remaining  3 lawyers focus on regular business operations.

 

The law firm achieves compliance through:

 

1.      Mandatory Personal Service (25%) – Each of the 10 lawyers must personally render 15 hours (25% of 60 hours) of pro bono legal aid services. These hours cannot be substituted with financial contributions or covered by the hours rendered by other lawyers.

 

2.      Aggregation of Remaining Hours – The remaining 450 hours (600 hours total - 150 hours personal service) are collectively rendered by the  7 lawyers chosen by the firm, for the benefit of all 10 lawyers of the firm.

 

Q2: What are the responsibilities of ROs?

 

ROs must:

•      manifest its intent to aggregate before the Compliance Period begins.

•      ensure that its minimum hours is completed.

•      submit a Consolidated Compliance Report to the ULASO. [Sections 9 and 22, ULAS Rules]

 

Q3: Is the option to aggregate available to legal departments of companies or other institutions?

 

Yes, the option to aggregate hours is available to them. The feature of aggregating creditable hours is available to groups of lawyers in legal departments of companies or organizations. However, they must aggregate under the registered name of the organization in which they are employed or professionally connected to. [See Section 4(h), ULAS Rules]

 

Q4: How can an RO manifest its intent to aggregate the creditable hours as part of its compliance for a given compliance period?

 

An RO intending to aggregate the creditable hours of its Covered Lawyers must file a written declaration of such intent (i.e., Manifestation of Intent to Aggregate) with the ULAS Board before the start of the relevant compliance period. [Section 9, ULAS Rules]

Q5: When can an RO submit its Manifestation of Intent to Aggregate for the first Compliance Period?

 

For the first Compliance Period (January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027), the Manifestation must be submitted within 60 calendar days from the creation by the RO of an ULAS account in the ULAS Portal. [Section 3, Rule 9, Manual]

 

Kindly await relevant advisories from the Court on this matter. Any submissions made before the issuance of such advisories will not be acted upon by the Court or ULASO.

 

Q6: What should be included in the Manifestation of Intent to Aggregate?

 

The Manifestation of Intent to Aggregate shall contain the following: (1) a declaration of the RO’s intent to aggregate the creditable hours of some or all of its Covered Lawyers; (2) a list of the names and roll numbers of such Covered Lawyers that it intends to include in the aggregation, and (3) a declaration that each Covered Lawyer has knowingly approved his or her inclusion in the aggregation.

 

The Manifestation of Intent to Aggregate shall likewise bear the approval of each Covered Lawyer signifying that he or she is authorizing the RO to prepare the Consolidated Compliance Report for him or her and for the rest of the aggregated Covered Lawyers in the RO. [Section 3, Rule 9, Manual]

 

Q7: How is the Manifestation of Intent to Aggregate filed? What are the required attachments to the Manifestation?

 

Manifestations must be filed through the ULAS Portal under the RO’s registered account. [Section 3, Rule 9, Manual]

 

Attachments include: (i) proof of registration with a government agency; and (ii) proof of the representative’s authority to register the RO with ULAS and access and manage the RO’s account, containing the language provided in Annex C of the Manual. [Section 1, Rule 9, Manual]

 

Q8: Are law firms automatically considered ROs (as defined under the ULAS Rules and Manual), or is there a formal process for registration?

An RO under the ULAS Rules is any corporation, partnership, association, or any other group of persons duly registered with the appropriate government agency, and which, thus, have a legal personality of its own. An RO also includes Registered Private Law Firms and agencies of the government and chartered institutions as defined by the Administrative Code of 1987, excluding local governments and districts units therein. [Section 4(h), ULAS Rules]

Therefore, a law firm that is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission is automatically considered an RO under the ULAS Rules.

 

Q9: Are in-house lawyers of an RO’s client considered “reasonably and professionally connected” to an RO for purposes of aggregation?

 

No, Covered Lawyers in ROs refer to those:

(a)   employed by the RO under an employer-employee relationship; or

(b)   who, even in the absence of an employer-employee relationship, serve as directors, trustees, partners (in a partnership), officers, or other persons reasonably and professionally connected to the RO. [Section 9, ULAS Rules]

Hence, in-house lawyers of the RO’s client are not considered as “persons reasonably and professionally connected” to an RO under the ULAS Rules. The phrase applies only to those who have a direct role or affiliation with the RO itself. As such, they cannot be included in the list of Covered Lawyers of an RO for purposes of aggregation.

Q10: Does the RO have discretion in selecting which lawyers to aggregate?

 

Yes. Notably, the RO is given the discretion which Covered Lawyers to aggregate. For instance, an RO may choose to aggregate only three lawyers out of 10 lawyers in the RO, while the remaining lawyers must individually comply. This flexibility ensures that the aggregation process is efficient and targeted, considering factors such as expertise and workload.

 

This flexibility is also in keeping with the fine for noncompliance which attaches to the RO. By leaving it to the RO to choose which Covered Lawyers to aggregate, the RO is given the freedom to strategize as to the pooling of hours for compliance with the ULAS Rules. [See Sections 9 and 22, ULAS Rules]

 

Q11: What happens to a Covered Lawyer’s rendered hours if he or she leaves the RO midcompliance period?

 

If a Covered Lawyer is removed or resigns from the RO during the compliance period:

•      50% of the rendered service hours is retained by the RO, along with any service hours exceeding 60; and

•      the remaining 50% is retained by the lawyer, capped at 60 hours.

 

The Covered Lawyer may carry over the retained hours toward individual compliance or to a new RO. [Section 7, Rule 9, Manual]

 

Example 1 (above minimum hours):

A Covered Lawyer renders 140 hours while in an RO. Upon leaving:

•      the RO retains 50% of the hours (70), plus the additional 10 hours that exceed the lawyer’s 60-hour cap, for a total of 80 hours;

•      the lawyer retains 60 hours, which is the maximum allowed under the Manual.

 

Example 2 (below minimum hours):

A Covered Lawyer renders 40 hours while in an RO. Upon leaving: • the RO retains 50% of the hours (20);

• the lawyer retains 20 hours.

 

VII.        Incentives  

 

Q1: What incentives are provided for compliance?

 

1.      15 MCLE credits per Compliance Period [Section 15, ULAS Rules]

 

2.      Reimbursement of eligible expenses – reasonable and documented expenses incurred while rendering pro bono legal aid services may be reimbursed, subject to ULAS Fund availability. [Section 1, Rule 18, Manual]  

 

3.      Tax incentives under existing laws, tax exemptions granted by local government units, and other similar benefits. [Section 16, ULAS Rules]

 

4.      Nominal recovery contributions in successful cases. [Section 17, ULAS Rules]

 

5.      Notarial practice outside the lawyer’s usual place of business, so long as within the jurisdiction of the authority granted to notarize. [Section 19, ULAS Rules]

 

6.      Free copies of the transcript of stenographic notes. [Section 18, ULAS Rules]

 

Q2: Can a Covered Lawyer or Registered Organization request the Qualified Beneficiary to shoulder the printing or photocopying expenses?

 

No. All pro bono legal aid services rendered by Covered Lawyers and ROs must be completely free of charge to the Qualified Beneficiary. Lawyers may not solicit or accept any financial payment, including for incidental expenses such as printing or photocopying. However, these expenses may be reimbursed by the ULAS Office, subject to the applicable rules, caps, and availability of funds. [Section 21, ULAS Rules]

 

Q3: How can Covered Lawyers and ROs claim reimbursements for pro bono-related expenses?

 

To claim reimbursement, the Covered Lawyer or RO must:

1.      submit the claim through the ULAS Portal (when operational) within 60 days from incurring the expense; and

2.      attach all required supporting documents, such as receipts for printing and photocopying, as well as certification from the court or quasi-judicial tribunal before whom the witness appeared.  

The Finance and Budget Division of the ULASO will evaluate and act on the claim within 90 calendar days. [Sections 1 and 3, Rule 18, Manual]

Q4: Can a Qualified Beneficiary be required to contribute to the ULAS Fund after a successful case?

If a case is successfully resolved in favor of a Qualified Beneficiary, the ULAS Board may require the beneficiary to turn over up to 10% of any amount recovered (excluding actual damages) to the ULAS Fund, provided there was prior written agreement before engaging the Covered Lawyer. [Section 4, Rule 19, Manual]

Q5: Can the handling lawyer receive a share of the recovery contributed to the ULAS Fund?

Yes. At the discretion of the ULAS Board, part of the contributed amount may be shared with the handling lawyer upon written request, subject to availability of funds.

The request must include a summary of services rendered, and the ULAS Board will evaluate it based on duration, case complexity, and contribution of the handling lawyer to the successful outcome.

If no written request is made, the full amount stays with the ULAS Fund unless the ULAS Board motu proprio grants a share for exceptional service. [Section 5, Rule 19, Manual]

Q6: Can new incentives be introduced?

 

Yes, the ULAS Board, in consultation with the IBP, may propose additional incentives for

Covered Lawyers and ROs with respect to services rendered beyond the minimum hours.

[Section 6, Rule 19, Manual]

 

VIII.     ^{Compliance Report}  

 

Q1: How are Compliance Reports submitted?

 

Compliance Reports are automatically generated through the ULAS Portal based on the

Covered Lawyer’s or RO’s recorded service entries and financial contributions. [Section 2, Rule 13, Manual]

 

Kindly await relevant advisories from the Court on when the logging of hours, the option to give financial contributions, and the generation and submission of Compliance Reports will be activated through the Portal.

 

Q2: When are Covered Lawyers and ROs required to submit a Compliance Report and what are the contents of this report?

 

Covered Lawyers and ROs must submit their Compliance Report at any time but not later than one month after the end of the Compliance Period. Thus, for the first Compliance Period starting on January 1, 2025 up to December 31, 2027, the deadline to submit Compliance Reports is January 31, 2028.

 

The Compliance Report (which may either be an Individual Compliance Report or a Consolidated Compliance Report) is a mandatory submission to the ULASO detailing how Covered Lawyers and ROs fulfilled their pro bono obligations.  

 

The Individual Compliance Report required to be submitted by a Covered Lawyer not aggregated under any RO shall reflect:

 

•      Service Entries for the current Compliance Period;

•      confirmed Financial Contributions made for the same period; and

•      a summary of all service entries in the ULAS Portal, including any excess hours carried over from the immediately preceding Compliance Period. [Section 3(r), Rule 1, Manual]

 

As to the Consolidated Compliance Report of an RO, the report must contain, among others, the following information:

 

•      updated list of its aggregated Covered Lawyers;

•      each Covered Lawyer’s completed Personal Hours;

•      a summary of all Service Entries recorded in the ULAS Portal;

•      a record of confirmed Financial Contributions for the Compliance Period; and

•      any other required information as may be prescribed by the ULAS Board.

 

The Consolidated Compliance Report must show that both the RO’s total Minimum Hours and each Covered Lawyer’s Personal Hours have been fulfilled. [Section 3(j), Rule 1, Manual]

Q3: What supporting documents must be submitted with the Compliance Report?

 

The following documents are required for immediate submission to the ULAS Portal:

 

•      Qualified Beneficiary Declaration and Covered Lawyer’s Certification; and

•      Counsel de Officio Order, where applicable.

 

Other supporting documents, which may include, but are not limited to, court submissions and pleadings, certificates of appearance issued by the branch clerk of court, and court orders confirming the lawyer’s appearance at a hearing, must be retained by the Covered Lawyer or RO until the Certificate of Compliance becomes final.

 

In cases involving a claim for reimbursement, the necessary supporting documents must be submitted through the ULAS Portal, following the process in Rule 18 of the Manual. [Section 3, Rule 10, Manual]

 

Q4: What happens after the Compliance Report is submitted?

 

A Certificate of Compliance is issued by the ULASO’s Compliance and Monitoring Division (CMD) upon submission of a Compliance Report by a Covered Lawyer or RO.

 

The CMD will assess the report within two months from the certificate’s issuance. The Certificate of Compliance becomes final only after this two-month period, provided that no Notice to Comply is issued during the assessment. [Sections 4 & 5, Rule 13, Manual]

 

Q5: How will compliance be monitored and reported under the ULAS Rules?

 

Compliance will be on a self-reporting basis. The Covered Lawyers and ROs are required to make their own careful assessment that the services they render are creditable and that the beneficiaries thereof are qualified under the ULAS Rules. Thus, they must ensure that their beneficiary’s qualifications are duly supported by the required documents under the ULAS Rules and Manual.   

 

In changing to this self-reporting system – from the system under the MLAS and CLAS Rules which required lawyers and beneficiaries alike to approach the legal aid offices of the IBP to obtain clients or solicit legal aid services under the said rules – the TWG recognized the reality that access to IBP’s physical offices itself poses a challenge, as these offices are located only in major urban areas in the provinces; thus, potential beneficiaries in the barrios, who are likely also indigents and can barely afford the cost of the long travel to the cities, are practically excluded.

 

Q6: May a Covered Lawyer still obtain clients through the IBP Legal Aid Offices or other groups rendering legal aid services to the same beneficiaries as the ULAS Rules?

 

Yes. Covered Lawyers may choose to directly obtain their own Qualified Beneficiaries or get referrals from the IBP Legal Aid Offices or other groups similarly engaged in rendering legal aid services. However, regardless of the manner in which the Covered Lawyer obtained his or her qualified beneficiary, the requirements for self-reporting compliance mentioned above still need to be observed.

 

IX.         Effects of Noncompliance  

 

Q1: What actions or omissions constitute noncompliance?

 

a.       failure to meet the minimum hours of pro bono legal aid services;

b.      failure to submit a Compliance Report or a Supplemental Compliance Report;

c.       failure to attach to the Compliance Report satisfactory evidence of compliance, or to obtain a Certificate of Exclusion;

d.      failure to pay the noncompliance fine within the prescribed period;

e.       any other acts or omissions intended to evade compliance with the mandatory pro bono legal aid services under the ULAS Rules. [Section 23, ULAS Rules; Section 1, Rule 14, Manual]

 

Q2: What is the grace period for compliance after receiving a Notice to Comply? 

 

               Covered Lawyers or ROs have a 60-day grace period to comply, counted from:

 

•      receipt of the Notice to Comply (if issued after the Compliance Report deadline); or

•      the date the Notice is deemed a Notice of Non-Compliance, which occurs automatically after the Compliance Report deadline, even if the Notice was issued earlier.  

 

Creditable hours rendered during the grace period are counted toward curing the deficient hours. Any excess hours may be carried over to the relevant compliance period. [Sections 3 & 6, Rule 15, Manual]

 

Q3: What happens if a lawyer does not comply despite the 60-day grace period?

 

A Final Notice of Non-Compliance will be issued when a Covered Lawyer or RO and its Covered Lawyers fails to cure deficiencies within the 60-day grace period following a Notice to Comply.

 

Noncompliant lawyers face:

•      Fine (at least twice the equivalent financial contribution for unserved hours and shall in no case exceed thrice the amount of such financial contribution),

•      Delinquent IBP membership, upon the recommendation of the ULAS Board,

•      Ineligibility for a Certificate of Good Standing from the Office of the Bar Confidant, upon the recommendation of the ULAS Board. [Section 25, ULAS Rules]

 

Q4: What happens if an RO does not comply despite the 60-day grace period?

 

Both the RO and its Covered Lawyers may be subject to any or all of the imposable penalties above. [Section 1, Rule 17, Manual]

 

Q5: How much is the noncompliance fine?

 

 The noncompliance fine ranges from PHP 1,000.00 to PHP 1,500.00 per unserved hour.

 

The fine must be paid within 30 calendar days from receipt of the Final Notice of NonCompliance. [Section 1, Rule 17, Manual]

 

Q6: Does payment of the noncompliance fine relieve a Covered Lawyer from rendering the unserved hours?

 

No. Payment of the fine does not relieve a Covered Lawyer from the obligation to render the deficient service hours. Those hours will be carried over to the relevant Compliance Period and will, thus, be added to the minimum hours for such period. [Section 2, Rule 17, Manual]

 

For instance, if a Covered Lawyer fails to render 20 hours during a Compliance Period, he/she must not only pay the fine for the unrendered hours but also carry over these 20 deficient hours to the next Compliance Period, making his/her requirement for the succeeding period 80 hours (60 minimum hours + 20 carried-over hours).  

 

Q7: How can a noncompliant Covered Lawyer’s status as a delinquent lawyer in the IBP be reversed, and/or regain eligibility to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the OBC?

 

 The penalties are lifted upon certification by the ULAS Board that the fine imposed has been fully paid. [Section 25, ULAS Rules]

 

Q8: Are IBP membership fees suspended during the period of delinquency for noncompliant Covered Lawyers?

 

No. IBP membership fees continue to be assessed against a noncompliant Covered Lawyer during the period of delinquency. [Section 25, ULAS Rules]

 

Q9: What are the penalties for repeated noncompliance with the ULAS Rules?

 

If a Covered Lawyer or RO fails to comply for two consecutive or three or more Compliance Periods (whether consecutive or not), the ULAS Board may impose:

 

•      a fine of six to twelve times the value of the financial contribution for the deficient hours; and

•      referral to the IBP or Supreme Court for possible administrative proceedings. [Section 3, Rule 17, Manual]

 

      X.      ULAS Fund  

 

Q1: What is the ULAS Fund?

 

The ULAS Fund is a dedicated fund composed of all amounts derived from:

 

•      Financial Contributions of Covered Lawyers and ROs;

•      penalties imposed under the ULAS Rules and the Manual;

•      monetary awards from successful litigations; and

•      other sources as may be provided by the ULAS Board.

 

The Fund is intended to support the implementation of the ULAS Rules, particularly for:

 

•      reimbursement of allowable expenses incurred in the rendition of pro bono legal aid services (as provided in Rule 18 of the Manual); and

•      sharing of recoveries under circumstances specified in Rule 19 of the Manual. [Section 6, Rule 21, Manual]

 

Q2: Who manages the ULAS Fund?

 

The Finance and Budget Division (FBD) of the ULASO handles the administration of the ULAS Fund, including processing requests for reimbursements, recording contributions and penalties, and preparing financial reports. [Section 2(b), Rule 22, Manual]

 

 

XI.         ULAS Board and ULAS Office

 

Q1: What is the role of the ULAS Board and why is there an ULAS Office (ULASO)?

 

The ULAS Board is the policy-determining body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the ULAS Rules and Manual. It issues policies, guidelines, and interpretive measures necessary to carry out the objectives of the ULAS Rules, and acts on appeals and matters elevated from the ULASO’s CMD or FBD. The ULAS Board acts similar to a subcommittee of the Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters of the Supreme Court, and is directly answerable to the Supreme Court En Banc.

 

The ULASO, on the other hand, is tasked with the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the ULAS Rules. The ULASO is staffed with an Executive Officer as its head, who is assisted by an Assistant Executive Officer. On the other hand, the ULASO's three divisions are headed by Supreme Court Chief Judicial Staff Officers, and Supreme Court Supervising Judicial Staff Officers. [Section 1, Rule 22, Manual]

 

Q2: Who composes the ULAS Board?

 

The ULAS Board is composed of the following:

 

1.      Chairperson – Incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court  

2.      Member – IBP National President (ex officio)

3.      Member – PALS President (ex officio)

4.      Member – MCLE Governing Board Chairperson (ex officio)

5.      Member – Active private law practitioner representing Luzon  

6.      Member – Active private law practitioner representing Visayas

7.      Member – Active private law practitioner representing Mindanao. [Section 26, ULAS Rules]

           

Under the Manual, private practitioner members must have at least 15 years of experience in the practice of law and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. [Sections 1 & 5, Rule 20, Manual]

 

Q3: What is the Interim ULAS Board?

 

The ULAS Interim Board is a temporary body established to oversee the initial implementation of the ULAS Rules. It is composed of a chairperson and six members preferably coming from the same groups as the regular ULAS Board but who shall serve only until December 31, 2025.

 

The ULAS Interim Board shall be responsible for the initial implementation of the ULAS Rules, including the issuance of the Manual. [Section 29, ULAS Rules]

 

Q4: Has the ULAS Interim Board been officially constituted?

 

Yes. The Supreme Court appointed an Interim ULAS Board on October 8, 2024.  

 

Q5: Are members of the ULAS Board excluded from the ULAS Rules?

 

Not necessarily. They are excluded only if they can fall under any of the exclusions enumerated in the ULAS Rules individually, but not because they are members of the ULAS Board. [See Section 5, ULAS Rules]

 

Q6: What are the three divisions of the ULASO?

 

The ULASO is composed of three divisions:

 

1.      Compliance and Monitoring Division (CMD) – monitors the compliance of Covered Lawyers and ROs with the ULAS Rules and the Manual. [Section 3(h), Rule 1, Manual]

 

2.      Finance and Budget Division (FBD) – manages the collection of Financial Contributions, fines and penalties, handles the administration of the ULAS Fund, and plans and implements the budget of the ULASO. [Section 3(n), Rule 1, Manual]

 

3.      Technical and Administrative Division (TAD) – provides technical, logistical, and administrative support to ensure the efficient operation of the ULASO. [Section 2, Rule 22, Manual]

 

 

XII.        ^{Other Matters}

 

Q1: Is there an ULAS Compliance Number required to be indicated in pleadings?

 

No, there is no requirement to indicate an ULAS Compliance Number in pleadings. However, for Covered Lawyers, ULAS compliance is mandatory.

 

The “ULAS Compliance Number” referred to in the Court Resolution dated March 4, 2025 in A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC (Re: 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice) is the number generated by the ULAS Portal upon issuance of a Certificate of Compliance or the number appearing in the Certificate of Exclusion, as the case may be. This unique number may be used to evidence ULAS compliance or exclusion, especially for purposes such as commissioning of a notary public.

 

Q2: Are personal data submitted to the ULAS Portal protected?

 

Yes. All personal data submitted through the ULAS Portal shall be treated with utmost confidentiality. The ULASO shall comply strictly with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing data privacy protection. [Section 2, Rule 24, Manual]

 

Q3: How can the Manual be amended or repealed?

 

The ULAS Board may amend, modify, or repeal the Manual. The amendment, modification or repeal may be done motu proprio, or upon recommendation of the Supreme Court En Banc. [Section 4, Rule 24, Manual]

 

However, changes to the rates for financial contributions and reimbursements require approval of the Supreme Court En Banc before they may be amended. [Section 2, Rule 11, Manual & Section 1, Rule 18, Manual]

 

 

 

You may raise any ULAS-related concern not addressed in the FAQs via our help desk email address at ulas.helpdesk.sc@judiciary.gov.ph. Please expect a response within a maximum period of seven (7) working days before sending follow-up queries.