To the ever-supportive, plausible lawyer, and most handsome dean, Atty.

Ian Macasinag, to BC
Prseident Dr. Ma Luz Macasinag, Vice President Pedro Marcellana III, Assistant Dean Atty. Sarah Baylon
and to all law students of Bicol College, Good day!

Law school is an opportunity that is rarely experienced and survived by all. It entails hardwork
and sacrifice. Every student will exit law school with a distinctive story to tell, as for me, I enrolled in law
school in the year 2015 and was granted a student assistant scholarship of BC and worked under the
supervision of Atty. Macasinag. For four years, I was lucky to spent a lesser amount for my tuition fees.
Being a working student has taught me so much discipline and has honed me to become more
interested in the study of law.

So today, please allow me to impart to you some pieces of advice on how to remain steadfast in law
school.

1. My first advice is the advice of all. Read, read, read and read. Make reading or studying your
hobby – reading is the foundation of law school. Make a constant effort to understand
wholeheartedly the topics you are reading. You have to have a deep understanding of what the
law really is. So make as reference annotated books and not merely reviewers – you should
read the one who will feed your memory more. I suggest those books that has comprehensive
discussion of the law. And learn to manage your study time depending on the difficulty and
importance of the topic.

2. Next is to Read the assigned cases in its full text – do not just rely on digested cases avail on the
internet. I suggest that you read the Supreme Court Reports Annotated – we have SCRAs on the
law library. It is advisable to read, it already has a synopsis of the case law—on what subject it is
related and the specific provision of the law as applied to the facts of the case.

3. In relation to that, if asked to digest, you should digest cases on your own because it will train
your legal writing skills.

4. Also, always practice to answer bar exam questions. I advise that your answer be brief, concise
and direct to the point. Sabi ng isa sa mga law prof ko dati, it must be like a panty thong – petite
or short but enough to cover the essentials. And your answers should always convince the
examiner, let the examiner know that you know.

5. Don’t fear – There is always a 90 percent chance of recitations. To the freshmen please be
informed of the fact that law school is not a typical classroom situation, there will be no spoon-
feeding, it is a socratic method. So the best thing is always coming to class prepared. However,
there will be time that you will come unprepared, nakakatakot pumasok but come anyway kasi
sayang yung learnings. Charged to experience na lang, the important thing is you did not miss to
learn.

6. Lastly, pray to your God and always remember your purpose. You are studying law not just for
you to hurdle every law school exams and the bar exams but ultimately, you are studying
because someday you will be a lawyer who will protect no one but the law and who will serve
nothing but justice.

That’s all, thank you and best of luck!