The three-paragraph rule is the traditional method of answering legal essay ques

tions. As to its form, it is favored by many bar examiners and law professors be
cause of its logical and eye-friendly presentation of answer and by law students
and bar examinees because it provides more leeway for a more exhaustive discuss
ion of answer.
The first paragraph should contain affirmative or negative or qualifying stateme
nt of the question; e.g.
1. Yes, the contention of the plaintiff is correct;
2. No, the motion to dismiss filed by the defendant is not proper;
3. The answer to the question requires qualification The answer must be qualified e
tc.
The second paragraph should contain the legal basis which can be specific provis
ion of a law, jurisprudence or authoritative opinion or commentary of well-known
jurists; e.g.
1. Article 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the national territory
2. In the case of Cayetano vs. Monsod, practice of law has been defined as
3. According to Justice Paras in his discussion on hidden treasure,
s by good luck
etc.

by chance

mean

If you don t know or simply don t like memorizing the specific legal bases, just use
the general reference thereto and paraphrase their very gist or essence
1. Under the law ; Under the Constitution, the judicial power is vested in the Sup
reme Court and in such lower courts as provided by law;
2. Well-settled in our jurisprudence ; The Supreme Court has ruled ; In a case decid
ed by the Supreme, it has been held that procreation is an essential marital obl
igation
3. Well-settled is the rule that ignorance of law and ignorance of fact are two
different concepts
The third paragraph should contain your application of your legal basis/bases to
the the facts of the case and your last last/closing sentence should be the res
tatement of your affirmative or negative or qualifying statement contained in th
e first paragraph. e.g.
Here/ Herein/ In this case/ In the given set of facts, the loan entered into by
A with B has been reduced into writing but no interest has been expressly stipul
ated therein. Since the aforementioned law provides that payment of interest is
allowed only if it has been expressly agreed upon by the parties and the same ha
s been reduced into writing, the demand of payment of interest by B is of no leg
al basis. Accordingly, B s contention that he can demand payment of interest on th
e basis of of the written loan agreement alone is not correct.
If you qualified your answer, like in case of vague provisions of law or if no f
inal, clear and definite jurisprudence has been established by the Supreme Court
(like the Silverio case on the privilege of changing the name and sex by a Fili
pino who has undergone sex reassignment
although the SC did not allow it, the SC
did not also shun the possibility of it happening if there will be an enacted l
aw allowing for it in the future), you can either present your qualifications as
they are as you answer or after the thorough discussion thereof, you choose and

give the most logical and responsive qualified answer to the question being ask
ed.
Lastly, the shortened version of the 3-paragraph rule is another method of answe
ring. Basically, the negative or affirmative statement, the legal basis and the
application of the law to the facts are all compressed into just one paragraph.
Use this only if you are giving a direct and concise answer that requires only b
rief discussion.