THE SHARI’AH LEGAL PROFESSION IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE STATUS QUO AND CUES OF ITS FUTURE

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the Shari’ah legal profession in the Philippines by scrutinising its status quo, identifying the indications of its future, and drawing some insights from its comparison to Malaysia’s Syarie legal profession. The recognition of the Shari’ah legal profession in the secular state of the Philippines is traceable to the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines (Muslim Code), which mandated the creation of Shari’ah courts and the institutionalisation of the Shari’ah bar examinations whose passers are conferred the title of ‘Counselor-at-Law’. In view of the recent enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act No. 11054), this article will also highlight the implications of the justice system under this organic law on existing Philippine’s Shari’ah Courts and on the Shari’ah legal profession as a whole.