Bacolod Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Raymond Joseph Javier has approved the application for Level 1 certification of 46 Law Student Practitioners of the University of St. La Salle-College of Law (USLS COL) in Bacolod City.
He administered the oath to the law student practitioners at the lobby of the Bacolod City Hall of Justice on Friday, September 9.
USLS College of Law dean Rosanne Juliana Gonzaga said the college recognizes its duty to develop practice-ready lawyers and enhance its course offering by incorporating into its curriculum the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) pursuant to Rule 138-A of the Revised Rules of Court.
Javier urged the Law Student Practitioners to become a learning machine even after law school since lawyers always need to keep learning.
He also encouraged them to choose the courts as their externship in order for them to learn the realities of the practice of law, apply their legal knowledge to the betterment of society and absorb the role of being servant leaders when they become lawyers.
It is the vision of the Supreme Court to stay attuned and responsive to the issues and needs of all the stakeholders in the field of legal education, he added.
The oath-taking ceremony of the Law Student Practitioners was attended by IBP Negros Occidental Chapter president Josephine Natalaray, GOJUST2 Team Leader Christian Eldon, USLS College of Law members Judge Ana P. Bernad, Prosecutors Elnathan C. Lim and Johnnil Acero, and lawyer Anton Pandan.
The Law Student Practice Rule is in compliance with Supreme Court Administrative Matter No. 19-03-24-SC which took effect on July, 2019. The rule allows a law student to engage in limited practice of the law under the supervision of a member of the Bar, Javier said.
Level 1 certified law students can provide legal advice, draft legal documents and represent eligible parties before quasi-judicial or administrative bodies, among others, he added.*PR