Before the adaptation and implementation of Rule 138-A, Mindanao State University - College of Law had two (2) Legal Aid Clinics: The MSU-LAC in the Marawi Campus, and Iligan Extension - Legal Aid Clinic (IELAC) in the Iligan Campus run by the student body of the respective campuses providing legal literacy campaigns, free legal consultation, jail visitation, and other legal missions.

In response to the pandemic, MSU - College of Law initiated a donation drive project: TABANG PARA SA COVID-19 WARRIORS. The project was made possible with the help of IBP - Lanao del Norte Chapter, headed by its President and the former Assistant Dean of MSU Law, Atty. Annabelle Cañazares-Mindalano, and all the college student organizations of MSU - College of Law, and IELAC, among others. The college organizations donated their unutilized funds for the academic year for the procurement of medical supplies and distributed them to the frontliners of Iligan City, Marawi City, and all Provincial Hospitals of Lanao del Norte.

Upon exhaustion of the funds, the IELAC observed that there was also an increasing need for legal assistance to the vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors. To address such demand, the IELAC members created the MSU Online Law Clinic Facebook page.

With the encouragement of the former Dean of MSU COL, Atty. Alizedney M. Ditucalan, the official website was created for a more efficient online platform to receive legal problems from identifiable clients. The concept paper of IELAC was approved by The Asia Foundation who helped in the funding of the website, and the website was developed by Limitless Lab.

Last 18 February 2021, the Sarimanok Virtual Law Clinic was officially launched. It was graced by no other than the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Honorable Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who was also the Chairperson of the Technical Working Group for the Revision of the Law Student Practice Rule. Indeed, in the opening remarks of Atty. Alizedney Ditucalan, he said that, “One of the best things in this pandemic is the creation of Sarimanok Virtual Law Clinic – a manifestation that we can transform adversities into opportunities”. The entire team had leveraged the time afforded by the pandemic to create a breakthrough project. MSU-College has successfully produced the first ever virtual law clinic and first eighteen (18) certified Law Student Practitioners in the country during the pandemic.

Since its launch, the law clinic has accomplished so much through the strong leadership of its mentors and supervising lawyers, Atty. Alizedney M. Ditucalan, LLM., Atty. Anabelle B. Cañazares-Mindalano, and Atty. Joanah C. Alinog-Disocor who spearheaded the creation of the platform as an innovative solution to bridge access to the marginalized sector of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. SVLC has also flourished as an organization through its untiring members and numerous partner organizations from various sectors.

As a testament to its swift success and recognition in the legal world, SVLC has been set as a benchmark and model program by the LEB and the IBP in implementing the CLEP throughout law schools in the country. Up to date, SVLC has catered 46 clients in all areas of its legal services. The common issues are the following: family rights, VAWC, property rights, and employment rights. The Law Student Practitioners interviewed clients, identified legal issues, researched applicable laws, and gave legal advice reviewed and approved by the supervising lawyer. The LSPs have also drafted demand letters, complaints, judicial affidavits, counter affidavits, and motions. SVLC has also conducted legal orientations.

Even recently, the LGU of Iligan City gave SVLC an office shared with the CSWDO of the city. Truly, MSU Law has helped change the landscape of legal education through the creation of the SVLC which is its speedy response to the paradigm shift in learning that aims to produce not just bar-ready graduates, but also practice-ready.