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Justice Hernando to New Lawyers: The Law Should Not Adjust to You
December 28, 2023
Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Chairperson of the 2023 Bar Examinations, imparts pieces of advice to the new members of the Philippine Bar who took their oaths and signed the Roll of Attorneys on Friday, December 22, 2023, at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay. Justice Hernando implored the new lawyers to always follow the law, as the law should never be the one to adjust to them. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
“Always follow the law. The law should never be the one to adjust to you.”
This was stressed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Chairperson of the 2023 Bar Examinations, to the newest members of the Philippine Bar as he shared his words of wisdom to them during their oath taking and roll signing on December 22, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
Justice Hernando told the new lawyers that “[t]his new world before you is full of promise, but know that it is not an ideal one.” Hence, he gave them “simple pieces of advice” for them to live by as they begin their foray into the legal profession.
Justice Hernando underscored the utmost importance of always following the law, and reminded them that the relaxation of rules is always just an exception and not the general rule. He added that the new lawyers should not primarily rely on an authority’s leniency to escape compliance with the law.
“Be a visible example of a follower of the law. Do not skip lines. Do not run that red light. Be not apathetic. Look up from your phones and see the prevailing realities around you,” said Justice Hernando, adding that the prefix “Atty.” is a professional title and not a social rank which makes them important than non-lawyers.
Justice Hernando said that lawyering will take a lot from them including time, energies, “and sometimes even the strength of your own principles.” He urged them to have fortitude during the most trying times. He also paid tribute to those who did not give up despite setbacks in the Bar.
“What will truly validate you is how you will hold yourself out as a lawyer from the moment you sign the Roll of Attorneys, your demeanor before the courts and the public, the propriety of your actions, the stability of your private lives, and the fortitude of your convictions,” he said.
Justice Hernando had more pieces of advice for the new lawyers:
“Take the time to make informed and rational choices, always, so as not to compromise or overlook the most fleeting opportunities.”
“Re-read your drafts. Revisit your law and please do proofread your citations. Ask a mentor’s opinion. Seek a second opinion or a third one when you can. A rash inefficient decision is a child of impatience.”
“Never stop learning. The law is ever-evolving, and we must do our best not to get left behind.”
“Be foremost advocates of peace. He, however, also said that “Lawyers must be promoters of equity.”
“Encourage out-of-court settlement of minor scuffles the best that you can. Help declog the dockets.”
“Study how to converse politely, professionally, and productively.”
“Seek evidence and reason before you render your conclusions and judgment.”
“Love the legal profession. It is yours to keep, under certain conditions…Consider your title as a continuing challenge for you to be a champion of social justice, unshackled truth, altruistic freedoms, unthreatened peace, equality to all, and inequity to none. Use it to advance the rightful plight of others, always and everywhere.”
“If ever you would need to leave the Philippines, come back. Your country needs you now more than ever.”
Imploring the lawyers to use their words with extreme caution in whichever medium they speak, Justice Hernando stressed that they should be aware that the word of a lawyer can sway people’s views and public opinion, and that they are already influencers in their own professional capacities. “At the very least, may your words and actions as lawyers be guided by the rules of basic decency, professional integrity, and universal inclusivity,” he said.
He also reminded them that they are now bound to the provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, or the CPRA. “Aside from the words of your oath, keep the commandments of the CPRA to heart…You are to act with independence, propriety, fidelity, competence, diligence, equality, and accountability.”
The 2023 Bar Chairperson urged the oath-takers to let the quality of their work and the good word of others boast on their behalf, and reminded them to always say “thank you, ” to “give credit when credit is due,” and that “it is a sign of respect to ask for people’s names and remember them.”
He also urged them to acquaint themselves with the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), which is the Court’s blueprint of action for judicial reforms.
Justice Hernando also recognized and thanked each member of the Committee of Bar Examiners for the 2023 Bar Examinations, a collection of well-known Jurists, Academicians and Practitioners, and one of the best and brightest set of examiners gathered together by the Court for the Bar Examinations in years:
Political Law and Public International Law | Professor Juanito G. Arcilla Dean Sedfrey M. Candelaria Professor Ranulfo G. Mendoza Professor Antonio Eduardo S. Nachura, Jr. |
Commercial and Taxation Laws | Professor Timoteo B. Aquino Professor Ignatius Michael D. Ingles Dean Cesar L. Villanueva DOTR Undersecretary Reinier Paul R. Yebra
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Civil Law | Dean Marianne B. Angeles Dean Ma. Ngina Teresa V. Chan-Gonzaga Assistant Solicitor General Marissa B. Dela Cruz-Galandinez Dean Joan S. Largo
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Labor Law | Professor Blessilda B. Abad-Gamo Professor Imelda M. Abadilla-Brown Professor Erdelyne C. Go Atty. Ma. Teresa Antonia F. Fabregas
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Criminal Law | Justice Selma Palacio Alaras Professor Edwin M. Carillo Atty. Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada Judge Jocelyn Sundiang-Dilig
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Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises | Professor Irene Mae B. Alcobilla Justice Eduardo B. Peralta, Jr. Justice Germano Francisco D. Legaspi Professor Tranquil Gervacio S. Salvador III |
Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, Chairperson of the 2024 Bar Examinations, for his part identified three major challenges he wanted to imprint in their person—technology, economic materialism, and moral responsibility.
On technology, Justice Lopez said that “[w]hile there is a threat of antiquity, the good news is, the emerging technology will not threaten nor usher the demise of the law profession because our law profession is the cornerstone of humanity. Machines are but the creatures of human beings and cannot overcome their creators.”
Justice Lopez appealed to the new lawyers sense of altruism. On economic materialism, he said: “Let me emphasize that a costly and expensive litigation is in itself an injustice, it divests the inherent right of people from access to justice, especially the underprivileged and marginalized ones who should benefit more in terms of law.”
Justice Lopez also cited the CPRA when he spoke of moral responsibility, emphasizing the the Code“captures the virtues that all legal professionals must live up to.”
Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier delivered the invocation, where she expressed gratitude for the wisdom, dedication, and perseverance accorded to Justice Hernando, the Office of the 2023 Bar Chair, and the various offices of the Court in administering the 2023 Bar Examinations. Justice Javier also prayed for wisdom and guidance for all Bar passers who will cross the threshold from student to lawyer during the Ceremonies, and for all newly minted lawyers to be granted the inspiration to become genuine instruments of justice.
Supreme Court Clerk of Court En Banc Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas administered the oath to the new lawyers, who were then asked to sign the Oath Forms and the Roll of Attorneys given to them prior to the Ceremonies.
For the first time in the history of the Bar Examinations, the new lawyers took their oath, signed the Roll of Attorneys, and received their Certificate of Admission to the Bar (Diploma), Certificate of Membership in the Philippine Bar, Record of Ratings, and their own copy of their Oath Form and Roll of Attorneys on the same day. The traditional form and mode of signing of the Roll of Attorneys were revisited and revised upon the initiative of Justice Hernando and with the approval of the Supreme Court En Banc, so that the new lawyers can leave the Ceremonies with their Certificate of Admission to the Bar (Diploma), Certificate of Membership in the Philippine Bar, Record of Ratings, and their own copy of their Oath Form and Roll of Attorneys.
These reforms are in fulfillment of Justice Hernando’s promise and vision to have law graduates become lawyers in the same year they graduated law school.
Significantly as well, this year’s Bar passers are also the first batch of lawyers who have complied with the Clinical Legal Education Program requirement for admission to the Bar, which then Associate Justice and now Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo advocated for during the 2019 Legal Education Summit as one of the major Bar reforms of the Court.
The Ceremonies, the Program and system of which were meticulously orchestrated by the Office of the 2023 Bar Chair, was the second time this year that the Supreme Court administered the mass oath taking and signing of the Roll of Attorneys, this time to the examinees who hurdled the 2023 Bar Examinations.
A video tribute to the new lawyers featuring the highlights of the 2023 Bar Examinations—from all three days of the exams and release of the results, to the day of the Ceremonies itself— was shown prior to Justice Hernando’s message. The video was prepared by the Supreme Court Public Information Office upon the instructions of the Office of the 2023 Bar Chair.
A total of 3,812 out of the 10,387 who completed all the tests during the three days of the exams passed the 2023 Bar Examinations. This translates to a passing rate of 36.77%. Ephraim Porciuncula Bie, a graduate of University of Santo Tomas, topped this year’s Bar Examinations with the highest over-all rating of 89.2625%.
The exams were held at 14 local testing centers nationwide on September 17, 20, and 24, and the results were released last December 5. The six core subjects were Political and Public International Law (15%); Commercial and Taxation Laws (20%); Civil Law (20%); Labor Law and Social Legislation (10%); Criminal Law (10%); and Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises (25%). (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Newly minted lawyers take their oath as members of the Philippine Bar at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on December 22, 2023. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, Chairperson of the forthcoming 2024 Bar Examinations, delivers his message to the successful 2023 Bar Examinees on December 22, 2023. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
