It has been almost four years since I last posted in this blog. I graduated from law school, passed the bar exam, became a paralegal in a midsize and refutable law firm and presently, a partner in a small law office.
Now that I'm already a lawyer, I'm still contemplating why do I want to became a lawyer in the first place. Honestly, I do not like court litigation, drafting of pleadings, preparing contracts and other documents, corporate law practice and other things which they say that "you are not a real lawyer if you don't do these."
Yes I know, most lawyers and aspiring lawyers dream of litigating in court and feel the "prestige" of being a "true and full pledged lawyer." However, I think that there is absolutely nothing wrong about that because it is really their passion.
After taking the bar, I worked as paralegal in a refutable law firm in Makati. I thought that I would feel very contented and fulfilled by the time I was accepted to work in the law firm. But it's the other way around. Most people tell me that those are the job of a lawyer and it's inevitable. They said that I need to do all those things to became a good lawyer. I need to defend a big corporations and big personalities whether they are doing right or wrong. I call that mainstream lawyering.
People keep on asking me on why did I take up law if I don't like to do those things knowing that most lawyers do those things. I looked for answers why. Suddenly, I realized that I love the laws. I love how it works. I love studying the laws. But in practice, the law don't work as it supposed to work in theory. Theoretically the law is beautiful but in real life, it is not that simple.
The main problem is that I do not feel any fulfillment in doing those things. I'm not the type of person who finds joy and excitement every time I go to court and make a good pleading for the regular courts. I'm not even excited to work for big time clients.
I realized that it's not my goal to be that "true and full pledged lawyer." I decided to resign and tendered my resignation. That was the longest 30 days of my life. But I'm very happy that my former boss understood my insights and told me that the law has many areas and what that law firm practices is just a small area which most law firms in Makati practice.
The world of law practice is a very big world to explore. There are parts of it that only few had discovered. It just so happened that many lawyers decided to be safe and stayed where many lawyers are - the mainstream lawyering.
There is nothing wrong to be in the mainstream because it's the safest and the most stable area of law practice. However, I decided to leave the mainstream to explore and start new adventure.
I wen't back to my former employer and became a partner of that small law firm practicing maritime labor law that helps seafarers to get their disability claims for a reasonable terms. That gives me more flexibility and opportunity to explore more possibilities. Unlike in my former job, I can leave the office way more earlier and with that, I can do many things most lawyers can't do because they are stocked at work. I have time to help my friends who are taking the bar this year by preparing tips and sometime, personally explain the subjects they want to clarify. I can hang out with my friends without any hassle of any work related reasons. I can even handle small time cases which most lawyers under the employment of law firms can't because of work restraint.
However, my adventure does not end here, I'm also considering to be a member of the academe by teaching or if there's an opportunity, to have further my further studies abroad not necessarily law related.
We all know that the world is not perfect. If the world is perfect, lawyers are not necessary to exist. I challenge my fellow lawyers that together, we will do our best to contribute in making the world, if not perfect, a better place to live.
