On Lawyers and the Profession of Law

While reading my sources for my master’s thesis, I came across with one of Camilo Osias’ beautiful speeches. It has considerably touched my heart for it talked about something that is very personal to me. Although he delivered it during the 50s I consider it classic and timeless. Although I am not a lawyer or a law student even, my dream of becoming one is still unwavering. It gave me a deeper anchor and footing on why I dream of becoming one, he added it with a flavorful ingredient of love of country. I am thankful that I was able to read it. I am sharing it to those who dream of becoming a lawyer too someday ^_^


Speaking of Lawyers: Commencement exercises of the Philippine Law School

April 8, 1951

By Camilo Osias-Educator, Legislator, Statesman

“To be a lawyer is to be a leader. Intelligent leadership demands performing the duties and shouldering the responsibilities of citizenship. Ordinary citizens look up to a leader, and to merit their respect and confidence he must lead his fellow citizens in doing acts that give nobility to life and reflect honor to the social order. He has to be at the forefront in civic moments that foster common progress. He must be identified with people and be ever cooperative in advancing the public weal. Amidst a fast changing civilization the demands upon leadership have become more numerous and exacting.

“Being a lawyer is to belong to a great profession with a rich tradition. A law graduate is aware of its ethical requirements. He must needs follow them in the course of his practice. From the rank and file of those in the law profession are recruited fiscals and judges charged with administering justice to rich and poor alike without fear or favor. The lawyer must stand guard against attempts or steps that delay justice or deny justice.

“You are assembled on this occasion at once memorable and solemn in caps and gowns are joining the continually enlarging republic of the learned. It is symbolic of long and laborious study. It should also symbolize accumulation, not of misinformation, not of unrelated facts, but of systematized knowledge.

“Knowledge is important. But more than information is state of mind. More than knowledge of laws is the spirit of the law, or if you please, the philosophy of law.

“Your who are graduating are graduating are products of Philippine institutions. You are inheritors if the great tradition of the race. It is axiomatic that a good lawyer in this country must be a good Filipino, and as a practitioner he should seek to add new luster to the Filipino name. And in this epoch of internationalism a good lawyer must be a good man, one of broad sympathies and consistent loyalties.

“in common with other products of our higher institutions of learning, a lawyer should possess a critical spirit and keen discernment and he must be of great courage, acting on the basis of reason convictions. He should exert his influence to do away with the custom of leaving everything to the State. Her must have initiative because it is essential that in this new Republic we do not create a climate that produces or tends to produce habits of intellectual docility. Where the citizenry live in an atmosphere of docility or servility we cannot develop a genuine sense of public responsibility.

“One more point and this I consider a capital point. The public expects, and it has every right to expect that a lawyer be courageous in the defense of what he believes to be right, and sacrificial in his spirit of service. He must posses a philosophy that pilots him through life and this philosophy he must through life and this philosophy he must treasure and defend courageously and unflinchingly. A lawyer must be a devotee of liberty. He must love liberty, passionately and profoundly.

‘Liberty is not unrestrained freedom; liberty is freedom to do right.

‘Liberty is not indulgence in every desire; liberty is selective choice

‘Liberty does not wallow in thee mire; liberty walks the high paths of the noble

‘Liberty is never individualistic; liberty is corporate

‘Liberty was not born in jungle; liberty had birth where truth and privilege had severest contest

‘The right of life, liberty and, the pursuit of happiness is not a braggart’s boast, but a freeman’s passion.

‘Nations have had their birth in liberty as brave men died to make them free.

‘Liberty is the patriot’s halo, the martyr’s crown.’

‘A good lawyer should be steeped in the Rizal way of life observing in his dealing with people and with organizations the spirit of tolerance and conciliation; less individualism and not supersensitiveness; good sportsmanship subordinating personal interests to those of the great number; respect for and compliance with the decisions of the majority after adequate discussion; much honesty and good-will; thrift and economy; seriousness and justice.


Source: Bananal, Eduardo. Camilo Osias: Educator and Statesman. QuezonCity: Manlapaz Publsihing Co., 1974.

image is from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice