Early life[edit]

She is the eldest daughter of the former Philippine COMELEC Commissioner Vicente de Lima and
Norma Magistrado. She was born and raised in Iriga City of the province of Camarines Sur,
Philippines.[2] De Lima's aunt, Julie de Lima, married Communist Party of the
Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, making him Leila de Lima's uncle by marriage.[3] She
completed basic education at the Consolacion Academy (now La Consolacion College), where was
bestowed as class Valedictorian. She graduated in 1980 from theDe La Salle University with an AB
History degree. She finished her Bachelor of Laws (Salutatorian) degree at the San Beda Collegeof
Law in 1985.[2] She placed 8th in the 1985 Philippine Bar Examinations with an 86.26% rating. [4]