Examinations for aspiring lawyers kicked off Sunday, and will continue for the next three Sundays this month at the University of Santo Tomas.
As had been customary, well-wishers showed their support to friends and family taking the Bar. This year there are 8,701 such examinees, a marked increase from the 6,748 who took it in 2017. Out of this number, 1,724—25.5 percent—passed.
For many Filipinos, the law is more than another profession, certainly more than another job. Lawyers are highly regarded for their title, and the knowledge and hard work that is assumed to go along with the title. Lawyers are a family’s pride, and many a parent would sacrifice many things just to be able to send his or her child to law school.
For some, a law credential connotes power—you cannot mistreat a lawyer.
But the high regard also carries responsibilities. This is why we view with disdain those who conduct themselves in a less-than-worthy manner, or those who speak like they do not know any better.
That many continue to revere those who practice the law tells us that the rule of law remains supreme. Many students still take it up, likely not with the objective of raking in money but of actually making a difference.
It’s a good time for lawyers, wherever they may be situated, to ask themselves if they are living up to the ideals they once held—or if the reality of worldly interests has altered their vision altogether, and practicing law is just another way of making a living.