Republic of the Philippines Supreme Court Manila Alemads Go Coamssnhe April 6, 2021 MR. HANS ALEKSI G. KASILAG Grade 12 HUMMS Student ‘Tayabas. Western Academy ‘andelaria, Quezon Provinee Dear Hans: Thank you so much for your congratulatory salutations! 1 find it heartwarming when students, such as yourself, are gonscious and cagsr in Planning their fisture. It is a sign that you are ready and able to take on significant responsibilities and are well-prepared to enter the world of adulthood. Your interest in the field of law, as you are asking my advice for aspiring lawyers, perfectly fits your sensible disposition; especially in this time of the pandemic Which is perfect for deep reflection and self-assessment. In this regard, let me share the wisdom that I have: feamed from my mentors and through my expericnees as well as my own thoughts on matters which an aspiring lawyer should put in mind which are as follows: First, always remember that being a lawyer is first and foremost # social responsibility—not an avenue for self-aggrandizement oF a tool for impunity, A lawyer is not @ person who justifies another person's wrong. He or she does not solely pursue the interests of his or her client in courts of law or elsewhere, He or she does not use the law to further his o her own interests at the expense of others, He or she is not a person who flaunts his or her academic achievement to raise his ‘or her own status, He or she has the responsibility to see to it that laws are being followed or that endeavors to be pursued by those who seek legal advice are consistent with law. A lawyer does not foster anarchy. incite instability or contribute confusion-—he or she is a person who keeps the bonds of society intact Second, preparation fer the legal profession is not only confined to aptitude—it is also dependent on attitude. More than mental fitness, a prospective lawyer should also possess moral fitness. He or she should endeavor to be ‘conscious of and empathetic ta the needs or interests of others—Iest he or she ‘wreaks havoc to society by promoting discord instead of harmonious relati Third, preparing for the legal profession starts now, There is no other ‘opportune time to lay down the foundations of hecoming. a lawyer than to startutilizing the time available at hand. ‘The key to becoming successful in any field ‘or calling is the right mindset. I cannot stress this enough that being disciplined «and organized increases your chances of success, Do your best to practice delayed ‘gratification by putting in the work and relishing in the resulis—do away with ‘instant gratification if you long fer favorable and relatively permanent outcomes. Avoid procrastination for you will end up doing nothing. Most importantly always make time for leisure in between bouts of responsibilities. A. person most productive when responsibility and hard work are both balanced with recreation and rest. Fourth, practice humility, kindness, integrity and candor. The legal profession normally entails avoiding or managing hostilities brought about by conflicting interests. Moreover, it is usual in law practice that the variety of opinions is as many a8 there are lawyers. Being humble and kind diminishes the likelihood of being exposed 16 tinnecessary conflicts with fellow members of the legal profession. Being candid reinforces the public’s trust in legal processes. An aspiring lawyer should realize that bis or her dealings with others produce a ficant impact on society. Remember that a lawyer does not only deal with his ‘or her client but also to his fellow members of the Bar and most importantly with the courts. Such is the reason why integrity is required of prospective lawyers so that he or she will not wield his or her knowEedge of the law to the detriment of society's members, Last, learn to practice calcuilated discernment and delayed judgment. ‘Thi is the most difficult skill for aspiring and even practicing lawyers to master as it éntaiis controlfing your own cmotions and managing your biases. Things are not always what they appear, Sometimes, the terms “justice” and “rule of taw” become relative depending on the circumstances and on whose point of view iti expressed making an objective outlook necessary to temper such subjectivity. A Ievelheaded lawyer is. one who, when confronted by controversial information, chooses jo pat in the time to so further research or faci-checking and to go through the process of thorough analysis before jumping into conclusions or taking up a Position. An aspiring lawyer must resist the urge to make hasty conclusions to situations where underlying reasons or motives are not immediately apparent. He or she must not be easily swayed from strong and unverified opinions of others without first making a thorough assessment. In the age of social media where everyone has the ability to broadcast his of hee opinions as well ax deliberately written articles in real time, an objective mind is needed to sift through all the misleading information, Being objective aids in giving clarity vo your mind when certain situations present dilemmas where several basic principles appear to be inconsistent or collide with one another. It is my fervent hope that your perception of the legal profession will always lean towards the view of responsibility to society rather than a calling of status or power. An aspiring lawyer should always keep in mind that a license to practice law is @ privilege lo be part of the profession charged with the duty of maintaining social order, werely yours,