The Law Student's Clutter

This post is originally posted by Saint Rubelo, reposted by The Legally Blunt, and edited by yours truly.

It's quite a funny thought to ponder about my expectations before I entered law school. During those times, I had a high regard for law students (those know it all bastards) standing proudly in their polo barongs prowling the streets of Dapitan while puffing their daily intake of nicotine and tar. I was a freshman AB student that time, and for me it was a classic sight; just like a child seeing for the first time the heroes that he admired, and promised to himself one day I'll be wearing the same off-white polo barong armed with that law school smile and pride.

Years have passed and now I am one of them, I realized that the study of law is not as regal as it promised. During my stay I've encountered, and still encountering, law students that is considerably far more lazy than your unemployed kapitbahay *law professors are no exception* who are advocates of procrastination. This is of course in contrast with the image projected by law students that is ideally hardworking and persevering at all times. In addition it is also a misnomer to say that "Uy, law student, matalino." The layman always gives out these lines as if law student is synonymous to the word intellectual, but believe me it is not always a case of that. In law school I've seen the best of minds but it is also here wherein I encountered the worst, the likes of which that should be re-educated and sent back to Sunday school.

On the other hand, I am quite impressed on how majority of the law students nowadays know how to live a holistic life, observing the proper interplay between social and intellectual life -- it is indeed a literal application of the cliche "study hard, party harder". To back this up it is here where I've seen the hardest drinkers that ever lived they were probably a Jell-O shot away from alcohol poisoning, yet they can still pull it off whenever the time for recitation comes.

I'm not writing this post to demerit law students like me, it's just I don't want our class to be overrated by the society. This is just a short list of some of the negative things existing in law school life. There's more to this but I don't want to issue you a spoiler, it's enough that I've painted a picture of what to expect, what is left is for you to experience.

Legal Chopsuey (chapitre deux)

Today, I have to admit, I feel mentally exhausted.

For the simple reason that tomorrow is the final exams for the most difficult subject (for me) in the first year of the law school curriculum. This one's a make-or-break matter for me because, admittedly, I did not do fairly well during the past quizzes and midterms (my score for the latter, in fact, is so close to the passing score!). Not that I slack or whatever, it's just that it's plain difficult.

It's for that reason why I've been slaving over the book for the past three days, reading the book from cover to cover, trying to understand every law and provision in it. My plan is that for me to fully understand it, I have to read it over and over again. But with my work and errands to do, it was only yesterday that I finally finished the whole book. And how in the world will I read it again, cover to cover, in just two hours tomorrow?

That is the same reason why, at some point, I wanted to give this up. Frankly, I could feel that I don't have any chance of passing this subject, and I'm prepared for the possibility of repeating this subject next sem (summer not included).

But then I thought: I started this fight. No matter the outcome (win or lose), what matters is that you fought your way with all your best efforts. It's just that his standards are way too high for a working-student-with-very-little-knowledge-in-accounting-related-laws like you. Next time (if ever you repeat this same subject), get someone who considers the mindset of someone like you. Hey, law school is considered graduate school, and in graduate school, you can choose your professors. Right?

So right after this, I'll get up, pick up my book and resume where I paused.

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...

Are they really law students or what?

Just before my mom and I went out to attend the mass last night, I was surprised by the news that I saw on TV.

Bar exams end in riot ABS-CBN News Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

If I'm not mistaken, yesterday's exams were on Remedial Law and Legal Ethics.

LEGAL ETHICS.

I mean, it's an essential in every profession, especially in the practice of law. As promoters and protectors of the justice system in the country, they should set a good example to everyone, so that they will gain their prospective clients' trust, should they become lawyers.

But even if they are still law students (supposing that everyone involved in there are indeed law students), they should observe ethics, both in their profession and in their own morals. I mean, come on, they are not taking Legal Ethics subject for nothing. I understand that they got caught up with their excitement with the nearing end of the bar exams, and they want to boost the morale of the barristers inside the DLSU. But shouldn't they at least observe proper conduct, or at the very least, consider the sensibilities of the people around them? After all, they are not the only ones surrounding the bar exam venue.

And though I still have to take my Legal Ethics subject next semester (but we do have Legal Profession this semester. I'm a full-load regular student, by the way), I believe that ethics, legal or otherwise, is a very basic element of virtually any profession being practiced. There's a good reason why it is recommended that this subject is to be taken early on in legal studies - it is to inculcate to future law practitioners what is to be expected to them as lawyers, because their profession entails public trust. And trust can be lost with even just one petty mistake.

I was supposed to attend my school's bar operations yesterday, but I did not push through because I have to focus on our final exams next week. It was a good thing I did not push through with my plans, maybe because instincts have it that safety is still the first priority.

Legal Chopsuey

It's that time of the semester again, where you gather all your books and handouts at your table (or wherever place you are studying), read them one subject at a time, and yet after many readings and many hours, you feel like all the knowledge that you've just read got jumbled up inside your head.

The truth is, I've been forewarned about this matter in law school. But I never thought that it would be THIS stressful. But then I thought, 'Nursing students study thick books, too. If they could do that, why can't I?'

Yet it's easier said than done. You see, I have a day job, as a project staff for a major broadcast network, and I rush my way to school in time for my classes at 6PM, ends at around 9PM and gets home at around 10PM. That being said, I only have a few hours to study every day. And the only day that I get to study without any disturbances is Sunday (coz I have Saturday classes).

Still, I never give up. It's hard, considering my situation, but my determination keeps me going. My dreams of becoming a lawyer keeps me going. And while I feel like a chopsuey is cooking up my head, it sure tastes delicious when it's already cooked

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!