'Don't you get tired of studying?'

Hiya, guys!

You may have noticed that I was MIA for the past few days. Pardon me 'cause I ran a lot of errands during those times, not to mention that I have to review for my final exams this week.

Anyways, I just want to share to you an interesting conversation I had with my sibs a few days ago.

photo credit here

We were watching the morning news, specifically the news about Delfin Lee's arrest and his counsels' appeal against the same. They were asking me questions like, 'What position is higher than a judge?' or 'How much is the salary of a public attorney?'

But what struck me was the question of my little sister:

'Don't you get tired of studying?'

Quite frankly, I was dumbfounded upon hearing that question. I mean, I've been hearing this question even after years in law school, but never in my life have my family asked me that.

Perhaps they may have noticed that it has taken me more than four years to finish my law degree, and that I have read and accumulated more books in those four years than all the books that I have read in grade and high school years combined. And probably, while my two sibs are not yet done with school yet (my lil' bro is about to graduate from college and my lil' sis is in first year high school), I'm pretty sure that once they finish college, they're done with school.

Find out my answer to this school when you read 'Read More.'

The Million-Peso Question

Because my work deals with legal terms most of the time (if not all the time), studying law becomes an advantage to me in understanding some stories and translating it into summaries. And at times, my officemates would ask legal-related questions, probably because they encountered it in their assigned stories. Questions like: 'What is the difference between divorce and annulment?' and 'What is inquest?' Sa Tagalog naman, 'Ano'ng ibig sabihin ng binasahan ng sakdal?'

You would think that just because I'm a law student, it is easy for me to answer these questions. Right? Partly yes. Because some questions, such as translations, are pretty easy to answer. But when I was answering the question regarding the difference of divorce from annulment, I was partly taken aback. It was easy to get carried away by explaining everything that the professor taught to us about the subject matter. The thing is, they are what you call 'commoners,' and by that I mean those who can understand things in layman's terms. Problem is, Latin terms present in legal jargon are not the kind of words you can easily translate in one or two words. You have to explain every single detail of it for them to understand, but it's just not that possible, given the short attention span that an average person has (not that I'm saying I'm above average, of course I've included myself in the definition of average person.)

That fact frustrates me. Why is it that now that I have some knowledge in law, it's hard for me to translate them in simple terms?

It brings back to mind the question asked to me by my interviewer during the interview phase of my law school admission: 'Why do you want to study law?'

I answered back then, (not the exact answer, so pardon me):

'In my line of work, (back then I said degree because I just graduated from college then, and my employment is pending at the time) I frequently encounter legal terms, which I can't fully understand. I figured out, if I can't understand them, how much more are the audience who only understand layman's terms? Now, I wanted to study law for me to understand these terms so that I could easily translate them into something that the average man could understand. It would also help me in my coverages and interviews with the lawyers and some legislators so I could ask questions to them properly and, well, fully understand what they are talking about.'

Makes sense, right?

Looking back, I think that question now is a million-peso question for me. Not only because it will determine whether I'm allowed to enroll in law school, but because it makes them know what I would be like after I pass the bar.

Okay, I admit - because I encounter them in some stories, I kinda wanted to be a lawyer-announcer, in the likes of Attys. Dong Puno and Katrina Legarda (my role model!). And let's not forget the late Atty. Rene Cayetano and his show Compañero y Compañera. For me it's like it's easy for them to explain everything in the way that the common viewer can understand. Another reason is that during my internship in Manila Bulletin, we frequently gather stories from the courts. I understand now why I answered that way in the given question. But now that I'm actually doing the same (not exactly by being a guest in a TV show or writing articles about it, though), why do I find it hard to do it the way these lawyers do?

Maybe because I still have a whole lot to learn. After all, I'm just an incoming sophomore in law school. I still have three years or so to learn everything that I have to learn to become a lawyer (including passing the bar exam). And to be like Atty. Dong and Atty. Kat takes a hell lot of experience even after passing the bar. I'm just getting started, I know - but I know I can get through this.

Am I Still An Elle Woods?

'This isn't a perfect world. You think I haven't been judged my whole life? You think it wasn't a good idea to make navy my new pink?'


In my very first post in this blog, I quoted this line from Legally Blonde: The Musical, wherein Elle Woods convinces her buddy and legal colleague (and soon after, boyfriend) Emmett Forrest to tweak his looks a bit to be more situation-appropriate. 


I watched the MTV airing of this musical once again, and flashbacks of my first few months in law school comes back in my mind. I remember all of my struggles in dealing with numerous readings, recitations and exams. In particular, I have to deal with all that confusing jargon and argumentation tactics - something that I am lacking, I have to admit. I also have to deal with balancing time between my day job and my studies, especially during the time when I have to deal with monthly shift changes. 


Looking back, I really am an innocent fellow when it comes to law. But because I really want to learn, I took time to listen to lectures and read whatever readings are required, especially the basics of laws and cases. And of course, I'm really thankful to have my classmates around, where we help one another wherever one needs it. All of these make me understand the otherwise confusing world of law. 


Maybe I'm knowledgeable in law at this point, but only on a certain extent. After all, I'm just in my first year in law school. I still have three years or so to go before I graduate and take the Bar exams. And even after I pass the exams, law is continuously evolving to adapt to the demands of time. Thus, I have much more to learn. 


Probably, I'll always be an Elle Woods, in the sense that I'll never stop learning. But then, my legal knowledge will never change the things that define me as me. 

Legal Chopsuey (update)

Two down, five more to go...

Last Friday, we already took up the final exams for the Persons and Family Relations. First time to encounter a multiple-choice question, considering that law school exams are predominantly essay-type, if you guys know what I mean. But probably because we were given the consideration because it is our first time to encounter such format, the questions were pretty easy, yet some of them are quite confusing if you don't read the question carefully.

And just this afternoon, I finally submitted my position paper for a sample ejectment case in Legal Research. It took me an almost-sleepless night, late wake-up call, hurried-up travel to school and late lunch just to finish that three-page paper. But it's all worth it. 'cause I was able to submit it. Hope I pass...

For the next few days, I swear not to touch my notebook computer in favor of my law books and handouts. I even filed a week-long leave just for this (but of course, I have to make it up later on, and that's another story), just so I could focus on my readings.

I just really hope that all of my efforts would be worth it...

Isn't It Ironic?

I'll let you guys in on a secret that only a few knows about: I'm working at one of the leading media network in the country.

I won't spill any further info on my workplace. But one thing's for sure: when you say you work for a media company like that of mine, people would immediately presume that you are in the know of everything happening around you, from news to entertainment to sports. And it's gonna be easy - all you gotta do is take a sneak peek at those things, and voila!

Yes, it's partly true, because we do get updated. But for the most part, I'm SO NOT updated. I'm serious.

Don't get me wrong, though - we do have a TV in our office, and we have our supply of newspapers as well. But I just don't have time for those things at work, simply because almost all of my free time is spent in reading law books and handouts. Like everyday is a graded recitation, quiz, midterms and finals. Which is exactly the case, though the first one is the more prominent. Besides, I have a quota to meet everyday. I can't describe in detail my job description (is that a CV or what?), but my work requires a quota to meet everyday.  I guess you already knew what would happen if I don't meet my quota.

Finally, I've mentioned this one earlier, but most of my time is spent on reading, you guessed right, law books. Even weekends. Instead of hanging out somewhere, I just read to prepare for the recitations and exams.

Yeah, it's ironic, that someone working at a media company do not even know the things that her company is covering. But I do have good and justifiable reasons. Do I?

Let the Games Begin...

Just last Sunday, the Bar Exams have officially begun, starting with two subjects: Political and International Law and Labor Law. And tomorrow is the second day, which tackles questions on Civil Law and Taxation.

I did not understand what the big deal is with Bar Exams until I actually entered their world - well, at least close to it. Why was it of all the licensure exams, the Bar is the most talked about, if not controversial? The next best thing from the Bar Exams would probably the Nursing Licensure Exams (probably because of the increasing population of nursing students). It was only now that I know why.

Way before I entered law school, I was told that preparations for the Bar starts as early as the first year. Naturally, my question was, 'Why is it it's that early?' But when I finally took my classes, along the way, I came to understand why.

And yeah, as early as my first semester in my first year in law school.

First and foremost, law is such a broad subject, and because it's constantly changing, it could not be totally learned in a span of four years. So it is much better to learn ALL the basics of law during the first year and just refresh them during the later years. (FYI: In our school, most classes in the third and fourth year are review classes.)

Second: Bar Exams is by far the hardest of all the licensure exams in the country, so they say, because it is the only licensure exam that is in essay format (although starting next year, the exams will be part multiple choice, part essay. I just don't know how that would happen). Since answers in essay formats are more or less subjective in nature, it is hard to determine if an examinee got the correct answer to the question, because the examiners have their own idea of what will be the correct answer to the question. In other words, some can be quite biased, and sometimes, it's more likely that you have to please the examiner to pass a question, and ultimately, pass the subject in the Bar.

But then, as I later found out, what gives the Bar Exams its well-known 'weight' among the barristers (the ones taking the bar exams) is PRESSURE. You see, there is so much prestige in being one of the barristers alone, what more if you aced the exam or better yet MAKE IT TO THE TOP TEN. And failing it isn't just failing: it's FAILURE. Especially when it's your fourth or fifth attempt already.

Still, it's too early for me to say. After all, I'm just in my first year and I'm yet to be a barrister (hopefully). All I could do now is to just wish all the barristers good luck, especially in our school. Go hurdle the bar! Let's do this!