Dear New Lawyers,
The results of the 2024 Bar Examinations were just announced last Friday. First and foremost, congratulations on successfully passing the Bar! This achievement reflects not only your intellectual ability but also your perseverance, dedication, and commitment to the legal profession. Becoming a lawyer is a significant milestone, and you now stand at the threshold of an exciting new chapter in your journey.
For those who did not pass, please don’t be discouraged. The path forward is to review, regroup, and take the Bar again. Many successful, accomplished lawyers had to take the exam more than once. Keep moving forward—your time will come.
The changing legal landscape
As you step into the practice of law, it’s important to recognize that the legal field is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Gone are the days when a law degree and traditional practice were defined purely by courtroom battles and long hours in dusty offices. The profession is transforming in response to technological advances, global interconnectedness, and shifting social norms.
Technological shifts
When I first entered legal practice nearly two decades ago, law offices were filled with volumes of books containing printed copies of Supreme Court cases. Digital tools like Lex Libris, a compact disc-based repository of legal texts, were just emerging. In the law firm I worked at, there were only two desktop computers in the library licensed to run Lex Libris, and these served over 100 lawyers—leading to long lines for use.
READ: Bar exam result 2024: 3,962 passed – Supreme Court
Before digital tools became widespread, older lawyers wrote pleadings on yellow pad paper, and secretaries would manually type them up. Fast forward to today, while yellow pad paper is still sold and Lex Libris still exists, I personally don’t know any lawyer who uses either to write pleadings or conduct research.
We may have been slower to adopt these changes in the Philippines, but it’s clear that the most significant shift in our profession is the rise of legal technology. Artificial intelligence tools are now assisting with document drafting and review, and blockchain technologies are redefining how contracts and property transactions are handled. All lawyers are expected to embrace these tools, or risk becoming obsolete.
Generational changes
Most of those who passed the 2024 Bar Exams are likely from Generation Z, those born from 1996 onwards. They will work alongside lawyers from older generations—Millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers, and even the Silent Generation. The generational divide has never been more pronounced.
Older lawyers often prefer in-person meetings, while younger lawyers question the need for physical presence, opting instead for online meetings via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. I’ve also noticed this shift in our office’s culture: older generations used to close the week with drinks every Friday, but our younger lawyers didn’t share that same enthusiasm for alcohol, and the tradition was eventually discontinued due to low attendance.
Moreover, while older lawyers would often work long hours and sometimes even sleep in the office, Generation Z lawyers, being true digital natives, tend to prefer remote work or flexible work-from-home arrangements.
In terms of job mobility, Millennials were known for taking vacations to travel, using up all their leaves, while older lawyers would often leave a surplus of unused leave days. Millennials seemed to change jobs every year, presenting a challenge for firms, as retaining talent had become difficult. While Generation Z are staying longer in their jobs, it appears that the more traditional expectation of staying with a firm for five years before moving on is now a thing of the past.
While these generational differences may seem challenging, they offer an opportunity to adapt and evolve. Recognizing and understanding these changes is crucial to thriving in a multi-generational work environment.
Legal work has changed
Aside from technological advances and generational shifts, the way law is practiced has changed dramatically.
For example, in litigation, the introduction of the Judicial Affidavit Rule has simplified the presentation of witnesses by requiring advance submission of witness statements. Previously, lawyers would rely on direct and cross-examination, without prior knowledge of the opposing witness’s testimony. While some argue that this rule diminishes courtroom advocacy, it has significantly reduced the backlog of cases.
Additionally, there is the creation of the Small Claims Court which handles civil claims not exceeding One Million Pesos and prohibits lawyers from participating. While this simplified legal processes for small-scale disputes, it has deprived lawyers of legal fees in the handling of these small claims.
Legal services like corporate formation and trademark registration, once reliable sources of income for law firms, are increasingly being automated by government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Intellectual Property Office. As a result, many clients now handle these processes themselves, without needing legal assistance.
Building relationships and emotional intelligence
As new lawyers, it’s essential to prioritize developing interpersonal skills. Legal work often involves collaboration with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and judges. Effective communication and maintaining strong professional relationships can greatly influence outcomes.
In contrast to the structured environment of law school, where interactions may be limited to sections or blocks, the professional legal world demands strong relationship-building skills. Recent studies have shown that emotional intelligence (EQ)—the ability to understand and manage both your emotions and those of others—plays a key role in career advancement. Lawyers with high EQ are often better at navigating workplace dynamics and are more likely to progress in their careers.
Conclusion: The future is yours
As you embark on your legal career, take pride in your accomplishments but remember that this is only the beginning. The future of law is dynamic and full of possibilities. By embracing change, adapting to new technologies, and finding innovative solutions, you have the opportunity to shape the future of the profession.
You’re entering a field that plays a foundational role in upholding justice, protecting rights, and promoting fairness. I wish you all the best in this next chapter of your career—may it be filled with growth, success, and fulfillment.
Congratulations once again!
(The author, Atty. John Philip C. Siao, is a practicing lawyer and founding Partner of Tiongco Siao Bello & Associates Law Offices, an Arbitrator of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission of the Philippines, and teaches law at the De La Salle University Tañada-Diokno School of Law. He may be contacted at jcs@tiongcosiaobellolaw.com. The views expressed in this article belong to the author alone.)