“If we want lawyers motivated not by remuneration but by social responsibility; lawyers who will put justice above professional success, without regard to glamor or recognition; lawyers who are competent, proficient, and professional—the solution, in big part, lies in legal education.”
Thus, remarked Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo during his keynote speech on the first day of the 2023 Annual Convention of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) held at Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City on February 9, 2023.
The three-day convention, with the theme “Convergence & Innovation in Legal Education,”gathered over 100 law school deans and professors from across the country.
Chief Justice Gesmundo mentioned how convergence and innovation are the keys to achieving the Court’s aspirations for legal education and for the legal profession, hence the innovations undertaken by the Supreme Court, such as the Revised Model Curriculum and the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP).
“The introduction of the Revised Model Law Curriculum for law students presents new subjects that are reflective of developments in society, both here and abroad. Our aim with the Revised Model Law Curriculum is to veer us away from Bar-centric legal education towards training that is student-centered and people-oriented,” said the Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Gesmundo also spoke on the Court’s implementation of the CLEP, which was institutionalized under Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court, or the Law Student Practice Rule, as amended in 2019. “Rule 138-A embraced the concept of experiential education to fully equip law students with the knowledge and skills required of lawyers. Immersing law student practitioners to the communities, exposing them to actual cases, and allowing them to interact with real clients will not only teach them the practical skills of a lawyer, but more importantly, enable them to internalize the value of legal social responsibility that will mold them to become ethical and humane lawyers in the future. This, at the same time, allows them to contribute to our objective of geographically expanding access to justice,” said the Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Gesmundo added: “The Revised Model Curriculum and the Clinical Legal Education Program are the two main innovations we have undertaken—and they are just the beginning. Moving forward, we hope to see stronger and closer convergence from across our law schools, our legal educators, our law students, the Legal Education Board, and all other stakeholders as we work to build on these reforms, and pursue more trailblazing changes in the field of legal education.”
Chief Justice Gesmundo also emphasized that while the legal profession continues to face challenges, the Court remains committed in the pursuit of legal education reforms. “Indeed, by working with stakeholders such as yourselves, we have already made initial steps to address longstanding concerns with legal education,” the Chief Justice said.
Chief Justice Gesmundo concluded, “The Supreme Court, through the SC Committee on Legal Education, will strive to always stay attuned and responsive to the issues and needs of all the stakeholders in this field. We stand squarely behind you, and you have our full support as you pursue your organization’s noble mission of uplifting the standards of Philippine legal education to meet global standards of excellence.”
Also speaking on the first day of the PALS Convention was Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, who gave a presentation on the proposed Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.
Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, the Chairperson of the 2023 Bar Examinations, provided the law school deans and professors updates on the 2023 Bar Exams, including key changes in the format, processes, and requirements, among others, on the second day of the convention on February 10, 2023, at the University of San Carlos, Talamban Campus, Cebu City. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)