JUNIOR Bedan Law Circle (JBLC) holds its 2nd town hall meeting for the school year 2023–2024 at the Multipurpose Hall, St. Bede Building with the theme, “LegmaSee: Striving for Excellence and Empowerment.” 

Formerly referred to as the annual “general assembly,” the town hall meeting aims to unite the Legal Management (LM)  students provide various inspiring talks, and provide a forum where students can raise their questions and issues on the past and present semester.  For the second installation of the town hall meeting, three legal management alumni who are now all lawyers shared their insights, tips, and advice with the LM community. 

Atty. Marille Ricoi-Hermoso, a batch 2019 legal management graduate, explained to the students how cases aided her in understanding the law and seeing it play out in real-life situations. “Cases are your lifeblood in law school,” she said. The legal management alumni emphasized that despite the challenges and demands of both legal management and law school, it was all worth it. “Enrolling in legal management and going to law school is the best decision I have ever made,” said Riccoi-Hermoso. 

“How am I supposed to keep hope?” This was the question that Atty. Antonio Luis Duran posed among the LM students during his speech. In giving his advice, Duran shared that students must have hobbies that will serve as “escapes'' from the hardships of legal management and eventually, law school. To further explain his point, he shared how a set of Pokemon cards once helped him cope with various challenges and the high pressures of law school. 

According to the former JBLC officer, when students' lives revolve too much around studying, it will have an inimical effect on a person's life. “By having these hobbies, we will remember how it is to enjoy life,” Duran said. In finding time to do things beyond reading laws and cases, he shared that students will be able to find a renewed sense of identity and realize that one’s life should not at all cases revolve around school and academics. Despite the challenges of it all, Duran assured the LM students that, “Everything will be worth it.” 

As for Atty. William Santos, who is now part of the LM faculty, emphasized among the students to “Remember who you are before you enter legal management or law school.” Since it is a long and grueling journey, it's important for a person to know who he is, and to form an identity. Santos also shared the importance of taking advantage of opportunities to join organizations. “If you are given an opportunity to serve, serve.” He emphasized that by joining these organizations, students can build their connections which is vital in the legal profession. 

In ending his speech, the former JBLC officer reminded the students to always remember their “why.” He emphasized that even though the study of law is a daunting and demanding journey, still, remembering your “why” and the reason you started will lead you and carry you day by day.  “Having that faith, having that hope is important,” Santos added. 

Besides the inspiring messages of the LM alumni, an open forum was held wherein students were able to ask their questions, queries, and advice on law, life, and even love. 

In his closing remarks, Atty. Juan Ruffo D. Chong, Dean of the School of Business, Accountancy, and Management (SBAM) and the Department Chair of Legal Management, emphasized that there are no shortcuts to becoming a lawyer. “You really just have to plow through your readings,” said Dean Chong as he encouraged the LM students to go through the hard work of reading the long and endless reading assignments given to attain their dreams of becoming a lawyer someday.