Part of the miscellaneous fees paid by Arellano University School of Law students helps fund Lawphil.
For many Filipinos in the legal profession, Lawphil is practically a daily companion.
Need a Supreme Court ruling? Lawphil. Looking for a Republic Act? Lawphil. Reviewing for the Bar? Lawphil.
But according to a viral social media post, the thousands of lawyers, law students, professors, researchers, journalists, and ordinary citizens who benefit from the website may have an unexpected group to thank: students of the Arellano University School of Law (AUSL).
A post by Philippine Jurisprudence Official has been making the rounds online after highlighting a claim from TikTok user @engrjd1_ that a portion of the miscellaneous fees paid by AUSL students helps support the operation of the Lawphil Project.
The page summarized the message with a simple statement: “If you use Lawphil, you may owe AUSL students a thank you.”
The revelation surprised many users, considering how heavily relied upon the website has become within the Philippine legal community.
The website every law student knows
Operated by the Arellano Law Foundation, Lawphil is one of the country’s most widely used online repositories of Philippine laws, jurisprudence, constitutions, executive issuances, Rules of Court, and other legal materials.
For many law students, it serves as a virtual library that is accessible anytime and anywhere. Lawyers use it to verify citations and review case law. Professors use it for teaching. Even journalists and researchers frequently consult the site when reporting on legal issues.
Best of all, it remains free to use.
A contribution many didn’t know about
The viral post drew attention to something many users had never considered: how such a massive legal database is maintained.
According to the post, part of the miscellaneous fees paid by AUSL students helps fund the operation of Lawphil, making the students indirect contributors to a resource used by people far beyond their own campus.
The claim resonated with many members of the legal community, who acknowledged how much they have relied on the platform throughout their studies and careers.
A thank you that’s long overdue
While AUSL students may not be the ones digitizing court decisions or uploading legal documents, the post argues that their contribution deserves recognition.
After all, every time a law student downloads a case digest, a lawyer searches for precedent, or a citizen looks up a law on Lawphil, they are benefiting from a platform that has made Philippine legal knowledge more accessible to everyone.
So the next time you find yourself opening Lawphil to settle a legal question, the viral post suggests one simple gesture: thank an Arellano law student.
You may have been using their contribution all along.
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