Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo called on law deans, faculty members, lawyers, and regulators to collaborate in modernizing legal education to meet current and future demands at the 2025 Philippine Association of Law Schools, Inc. (PALS) Annual Convention.
“You integrate real-world issues into the curriculum and foster a deep sense of social responsibility in your students…You shape legal education to produce professionals who will advocate for those in need, challenge injustice, and uphold the fundamental values of a free and fair society,” he said.
The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of shaping a curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and values essential for responsible legal practice.
Gesmundo, the 27th chief of the Supreme Court, urged law educators to adopt technological tools like artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing their growing role in the legal field.
He noted that AI and other technological tools are reshaping the practice of law, from legal research and document review to predictive analytics and case strategy such that there is a need to teach law students how to use these tools effectively and ethically.
For her part, Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, reminded law deans that law school training plays a vital role in preparing students for the exams.
She said the examinations will remain to be digitalized and localized but clarified that AI will not be used in the exams.
“This is a reality that the Court has fully embraced and seized in its leap forward to be technologically-adaptive,” said Lazaro-Javier.
