With the Bar examination results released on Tuesday, April 12th, Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles urged new lawyers to “offer your time and selves to the people.”
“First of all, warmest congratulations to all our new panyeros and panyeras. Habang mainit-init pa, hihikayatin ko na kayo na sana’y maging bukas kayong paglingkuran ang ating mga kababayan. I-alay sana ninyo ang inyong oras at sarili sa kanila,” Nograles, a Harvard-trained lawyer, said.
He added that public service is not limited to entering government. Just as was seen during the pandemic, said Nograles, volunteer groups can contribute much to uplift the lives of people.
Nograles expressed hope that this year’s Bar takers would use the insight they had acquired as the first batch of “digital examinees” amid the pandemic.
This year’s Bar exams, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, were the first digitalized and localized exams in the country’s history.
“As Bar takers during a pandemic, you have faced almost insurmountable odds just to take the exams. Now that you have overcome them, I hope that you will use the insight you had acquired during this difficult period as a guide in serving the Filipino public,” the solon said.
He added that public service is not limited to entering government. Just as was seen during the pandemic, said Nograles, volunteer groups can contribute much to uplift the lives of people.
“Napakaraming volunteer groups, hindi lang sa usapin ng legal aid, kundi pati mga relief groups, counseling groups, na malaki ang papel na nagampanan sa kasagsagan ng pandemya,” he said.
“But, of course, it would be best to join where your expertise is truly needed. Kami po sa Lakbay Hustisya ay handa kayong tanggapin para lalo pa naming mapalawak ang sakop ng aming adbokasiya,” added the lawmaker.
The Lakbay Hustisya Foundation is a legal aid trust fund established by Nograles that provides free legal consultations for poor inmates. During the pandemic, it expanded its services by providing free legal consultations online.
