SAJ Leonen to Law Schools: Cope with the Emerging World
December 11, 2023
(Photo courtesy of University of San Carlos)
“The faculty of law schools must start to cope with the emerging world, otherwise you will be left behind,” Senior Associate Justice Marvic M. V. F. Leonen stressed at the University of San Carlos (USC) – College of Law’s inaugural academic forum Jurisprudence on Trial: Unveiling Philosophy in Law Practice held on November 25, 2023 at the Michael Richartz Center – USC Talamban Campus, Cebu City.
In his lecture titled What happens to Law with Artificial Intelligence?: Initial Thoughts on Legal Philosophy, Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence before law students and law practitioners, Senior Associate Justice Leonen shared his thoughts on the technological advancements and changes the world is facing, especially in the legal profession. He said: “[Y]ou cannot pause artificial intelligence (AI). You cannot pause evolution,” and added that “in the next two or three years if law schools do not adjust, legal education as we know it now will be very archaic.”
To better understand these changes, Senior Associate Justice Leonen candidly shared with the audience some stories during his time as a law student, then public interest lawyer, and now Supreme Court Justice, and stressed how the practice of law has advanced from then to now. He pointed out not just the developments in law practice itself, but even highlighted the evolution of doctrines, giving as example his ponencia in the case of Tan-Andal vs. Andal.
The Senior Associate Justice also underscored how lucky the new generation of law students are because of the various tools and apps that are now available in the market that can help not just them but lawyers and litigants alike. One of the tools he acknowledged was ChatGPT. According to him, ChatGPT should be embraced not as an authentic source of information, but as a reality that people are going to use this resource. In line with this, Senior Associate Justice Leonen referred to the Supreme Court Committee on Computerization and Library, which he co-chairs with Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, and how they are looking at introducing new apps for our courts to better manage their salas.
Furthermore, he identified the reforms implemented by the Supreme Court under its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI) leaning towards a more technology-driven Judiciary. Among those he cited are the Judiciary ePayment Solution (JEPS), an online platform that allows the assessment and payment of legal fees and other collections of the Judiciary in a more convenient and accessible manner; the improved Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program (EJOW); the eCourt version 2.0; the Guidelines on Submission of Electronic Copies of Pleadings and other Court Submissions being Filed before the Lower Courts Pursuant to the Efficient Use of Paper Rule; and, other possible enhancements in the conduct of the Bar examinations.
He concluded his message by reminding everyone that “resilience is something that lawyers should develop” because of the changing times. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Senior Associate Justice Marvic M. V. F. Leonen reminds law students and law practitioners that despite the emerging technological advancements such as artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, “resilience is something that lawyers should develop” at the inaugural academic forum of the University of San Carlos (USC) – College of Law held on November 25, 2023 at the Michael Richartz Center – USC Talamban Campus in Cebu City. (Photo courtesy of USC; Caption courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Senior Associate Justice Marvic M. V. F. Leonen (4th from right) poses for posterity with officials and faculty members of the University of San Carlos (USC) (from left) Judge Marc Joseph A. Quirante; Atty. Joan Dymphna S. Amit; Atty. Marlouize E. Villanueva; Atty. Joan S. Largo, Vice President for Administration; School of Law and Governance Dean Jose Glenn C. Capanas; Assistant Dean Daryl Bretch M. Largo; and Atty. Rhomeljustein Redobl at the inaugural academic forum of USC-College of Law entitled “Jurisprudence on Trial: Unveiling Philosophy in Law Practice” held on November 25, 2023 at the Michael Richartz Center – USC Talamban Campus in Cebu City. (Photo courtesy of USC; Caption courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)