Automated Summary
Key Facts
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico authorized the Fundación Facultad de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos (FFDEMH) to offer a supervised legal assistance program under Rule 12(f) of its regulations. This authorization followed a 2003 provisional accreditation (granted on 2003-06-27) with conditions, and a 2000 denial of accreditation (2000-02-18) that rendered FFDEMH graduates ineligible for bar exams. The court approved a supplementary program (initiated in 2003-09-22) for graduates from September 1999 onward to re-certify their degrees and qualify for the bar exam, contingent on completing the program under provisional accreditation standards and meeting all other admission requirements.
Issues
The primary issue addressed is whether graduates of the Fundación Facultad de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos (FFDEMH) who completed their studies before the 2003 provisional accreditation are eligible to take the bar exams after participating in a supplementary academic program. The court evaluated the FFDEMH's proposal to re-certify these graduates through a structured curriculum and diagnostic testing, ensuring they meet the academic standards required for bar exam eligibility. This decision follows the 2000 denial of accreditation and subsequent 2003 provisional approval, with the supplementary program aimed at addressing prior academic deficiencies. The court approved the program conditionally, requiring adherence to the proposed curriculum and approval of any modifications.
Holdings
- The court granted FFDEMH provisional accreditation for five years in 2003, making graduates eligible for general law and notarial bar exams upon meeting regulatory requirements. This did not address eligibility for graduates who studied under the institution's previous non-accredited status.
- The court approved FFDEMH's preparatory program for graduates who studied under the institution's non-accredited status (2000-2003) to re-certify their degrees and qualify for bar exams by completing the program under the 2003 provisional accreditation's rigor.
- The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico authorized the Fundación Facultad de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos (FFDEMH) to allow students in its Clinical Program to provide supervised legal assistance under Rule 12(f) of the Supreme Court Rules, subject to conditions outlined in the 2003 Resolution and the Memorando de Entendimiento.
Remedies
- The court approves the FFDEMH's Preparatory Program for graduates who enrolled from September 1999, enabling them to re-certify and take the general and notarial law bar exams upon completion of the program, which must be administered with the rigor of an accredited institution's curriculum.
- The court authorizes the Fundación Facultad de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos (FFDEMH) to allow its students in the Clinical Program to provide supervised legal assistance under Rule 12(f) of the Supreme Court Rules, subject to compliance with the rule's conditions and the 2003 Memorando de Entendimiento.
Legal Principles
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico authorized the Fundación Facultad de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos to provide supervised legal assistance under Rule 12(f) of its regulations. Additionally, the court referenced the Regulation for Admission of Aspirants to the Practice of Law and Notary to determine eligibility for revalidation exams following the institution's provisional accreditation.
Precedent Name
- Resolución del 18 de febrero de 2000
- Resolución del 27 de junio de 2003
Cited Statute
- Reglamento del Tribunal Supremo
- Reglamento de Admisión a Exámenes de Reválida
Judge Name
- Rivera Pérez
- Fuster Berlingeri
Passage Text
- el Comité recomendó que 'la re-certificación de grados para permitir a los egresados tener acceso al examen de reválida esté condicionada a que los cursos se completen acorde con el contenido y formato según propuesto por la FFDEMH y que cualquier cambio en dichos cursos requiera aprobación previa del Tribunal Supremo'.
- Aquellos egresados de la FFDEMH que completen dicho programa serán elegibles a tomar el examen de reválida de Derecho general y el de Derecho Notarial una vez la FFDEMH re-certifique el grado académico en función del programa propuesto por la FFDEMH.
- Examinado el Informe del Comité de Evaluación en torno a la Petición de la FFDEMH para que sus estudiantes del Programa Clínico provean asistencia legal supervisada de conformidad con la Regla 12(f) del Reglamento del Tribunal Supremo, se autoriza dicha solicitud sujeta a las condiciones dispuestas en dicha regla. Esta autorización está condicionada, además, a que la FFDEMH cumpla rigurosamente con las condiciones establecidas en nuestra Resolución de 27 de junio de 2003 que, a su vez, fueron incorporadas al Memorando de Entendimiento que fue posteriormente suscrito por los miembros de la Junta de Síndicos de la FFDEMH.