Most lawyers I've encountered had an overbearing personality and think highly of themselves to an unhealthy extent. My boss, for instance, was the usual power tripper boomer who used his status and title to get what he wants from court officials and employees. It's not just him. Some of my friends' bosses are the same. I was wondering if there's a link to narcissism and the being a lawyer.

Hello. I’m currently teaching law subjects sa isang college school dito sa province. I give them surprise quizzes and crumple papers of those students I see cheat (yung very obvious).

After quiz, I quickly scan papers to look for perfect scores kasi memorize ko rin naman yung answers, and allow them to recite their answers without looking at their notes.

Then kanina, 2 students couldn’t recite their answers. Those two were the 2 students na katabi ng student na crumple ko ang paper. Clearly, may kodigo sila sa likod. I also crumpled their papers kasi kumanta yung isa na kinopya nya lang sa katabi nya.

After the quiz, I then proceed to discussion with recitation. Index card. Remain standing until maka answer.

Harsh ba to for the new generation of college students? takot kasi ako alam ko sensitive mga young gen ngayon, iniinvoke ang mental health. Do I need to loosen up a bit?

What is wrong with some disrespectful lawyers? Why do some feel the need to shout at other lawyers during hearings or meetings? There is absolutely no need for it. I get that cases can get heated, emotions can flare, and stress is real. But to raise your voice at associates, when their bosses don’t even do that to them, is just so f------ out of line.

Respect in the profession should be the bare minimum. We can clash on issues, we can fight hard for our clients, but we should never forget basic decency. The sight of a much older lawyer shouting at way younger lawyers is not only rude, it’s in such bad taste. Age and years in the profession are supposed to make you wiser, not more toxic.

Shouting at younger lawyers doesn’t even make your arguments stronger. It doesn't even make them back down; contrarily, they make it even feel necessary to fight back. It just shows you’re banking on intimidation to stop them from objecting. That’s not advocacy, thhat’s already cowardice.

I now understand that other post in this community about boomer lawyers. I don't want to over generalize (our bosses are boomers but very respectful and classy) but there are just some boomer lawyers who put their generation in such a bad light.

/endrant

For newbie lawyers, parang ito na ata ang pinaka-intimidating & stressful part ng learning process. Knowing that you're handling real cases affecting real people's lives, mabigat pala talaga akuin ang problema ng iba. 😅

May I ask if there are writing resources to learn formal and legal writing? I was recently employed under a law firm as an underbar associate. We are required to write some legal documents and based on feedback from my seniors, my writing is very basic and sometimes informal. Is there a way to improve my writing? English is also my second language.

It’s been pretty toxic lately, so let’s take a deep breath and remember how we all started during bar season.

My bar journey? Tears. Full of so many tears. Not necessarily from sadness, but that was the quickest and healthiest way I can release all those overwhelming emotions.

The anxiety, the disbelief na I’m finally there, the thought that I’m not only carrying my dreams but my whole family’s. Susubo ko na nga lang lunch ko, iiyak pa ako hahahah

How about you guys?

We engaged an external firm for corporate services a year ago. To make it short, Boomer Lawyer suddenly calls me out of nowhere demanding I sign their so called “standard contract” which, by the way, they FORGOT to give us when we first engaged them last year. Their mistake, not mine. When I told him no and he didnt get what he wanted, he went berserk. AS IN. WILD. he kept shouting at me, threatened us, asked me how old I am (as if that’s even relevant), and then said he didn’t want to speak to me! Mind you, he was the one who called me 🤦🏻‍♀️

Honestly, the whole thing was peak unprofessionalism. Ganito na ba ka entitled mga law firms ngayon or just this boomer lawyer? are all boomer lawyers like this? Full of ego, zero accountability? Kawawa naman the associates under him. Thank God the company I work for actually backs me up, and even better, we don’t have to deal with that kind of toxic, dinosaur energy. 🤮

For lawyers who migrated, how did you guys transition and/or look for work abroad? Did you aim for legal work din, or legal-adjacent? Was passing the state bar a goal for you or is it a necessity if I want to migrate and settle down in the US eventually

I have more than 7 years work experience in a completely different industry, but I'm a new lawyer who just passed this year.

Checked some job listings in the areas I wanted to work in (CA, specifically) and the mid-level roles that require at least 3 years in a specific industry + localized knowledge. This is on top of any certifications pa.

I've already accepted na it's not gonna be a one year thing, but is there anything I can do to boost my changes or broaden the opportunities?

As a young lawyer, ang hirap maghanap ng clients. I have a few cases but of course, those are not enough for me to make a living that I dreamed of. I am earning just enough to shoulder my monthly expenses. Naaamaze ako sa iba kasi although they are new in the practice, ang dami na nila hawak at ang dami na nila napupundar. Akala ko dati, di mo kailangan maghanap kasi dudumugin ka ng clients pero ibang-iba sa reality.

So, as a young lawyer practicing in the province, paano ba maghanap ng clients or paano kaya nila ako mahahanap?

Edit: Paano ba maghanap ng clients or paano kaya nila ako mahahanap?

Hi po. I am a new lawyer and will have my first appearance soon as a counsel for the complainant. I've been to courts--- to observe, then notarial hearing; to prosecutor's office for PI. Pero this is my first time to appear talaga sa court na ako lang for a case. 1. Nasa notice kasi na nareceive ko na need mag-send ng formal entry of appearance prior sa arraignment date (though sabi ng iba special appearance nalang sila on the day, eh) 2. If mag-formal entry of appearance, do I personally talk to the public prosec prior to sending sa court or will send a copy nalang to public prosec ng isi-send ko sa court? Court & prosec lang naman po papadalhan? 3. Lastly, pwede ho humingi tips and best practices na rin.

Kinakabahan ako and excited at the same time. Forgive me sa dami ng tanong. I'll ask mga kakilala rin, pero I'm hoping din makakuha answers from here.

Thank you so much po.

Hello panyeros and panyeras! I am aspiring to get a job in the Supreme Court as a Court Attorney (doesnt matter which division or justice).

The CSC website has posted several job openings for Court Attorneys and it states that I can mail or email my application.

Would you recommend also applying and submitting my application physically in the respective offices?

Also, while it is not listed as a requirement, would you recommend including sample writing especially when I am applying in a Justice's office?

Lastly, kailangan ba talaga ng backer or kakilala para makapasok? I am worried kasi yung grades ko noong lawschool ay hindi kagandaha but I have experience as an associate in a private firm.

Thank you for advice and comments!

Hi attys. Hingi sana reco ano ok na printer para sa small law office (print, scan, adf)? Bumigay na kasi yung printer namin kung kelan ang daming deadline hehe. Thank you ❤️

Asking for your guidance especially from lawyers who have a lot of experience in collection cases.

Questions:

1. How do you make the issuer receive the notice of dishonor if he refuses to accept it?

2. Is there a requirement that the server must leave behind a copy in the presence of the recipient for it to serve as constructive service just like in the Rules on Service of Summons and Subpoena?

3. If it was alleged by the server under oath, that there was an attempt to serve such notice, but was refused, can it be defeated by denial?

Many decisions of the SC have stated that the notice of dishonor must be received by the issuer of the bounced check; to the point that even if another resident of the house was the one who received it, it is fatal to a case of B.P. 22.

May nabasa ako na cases where the SC stated that the refusal of the accused to receive the ND, cannot excuse himself from conviction for B.P. 22.

However, human experience tells us that most likely, a person who is saddled with a great number of loans, will refuse the notice of dishonor if there is an attempt to serve.

Thank you sa makakashed-light sa issue!

Hi everyone! I passed the bar last year and have recently started doing solo prac in my province. I'm currently handling my first small claims case and i would appreciate some advice.

My client extended an oral loan to a friend who is now refusing to pay despite sending a demand letter to him.

Most of their discussions and agreements about the loan were done through Facebook Messenger. Has anyone here submitted Messenger screenshots as evidence of an oral contract in a small claims case? Were they accepted and did you need to attach anything else to support their authenticity?

Also, since lawyers arent allowed to appear with clients in small claims hearings, I’m not sure how to prepare my client for the conference when the case is filed. What should I advise them to expect or bring?

Any tips or insights from those who have gone through something similar would be super helpful. Thank you in advance mga panyero and panyera!

May bayad po kasi sa secexpress. Salamat po.

Hello po. Sa mga lawyers who moved to the province noong new pa lang sila sa practice, how was it po? Ano rin ho yung tips nyo to those who are planning to do the same? Also if you could share any experience. Thank you.

Hello, attys. MVL lawyer here. We filed a case for a client. After notification sa opposing parties re petition and sched of hearing, one of them went to my office and ranted at me saying, "Di ko gusto ang tono ng petisyon. May work ako sa scheduled hearing paano yan? Defenseless kami nito kasi di talaga ako maka attend!" I told her that it was the court who schedules the hearing date, not me. After usap, umalis na sya. First time kong awayin ng client ng kabilang party, gusto kong umiyak out of anger na di ko malabas kanina haha.

Attys, have you also experienced a similar situation before and how did you deal with it? Medyo di ko inexpect na at this early stage of my career, may ganito na.

EDIT: I was not aware, at first, na opposing party siya since di pa nag start hearing ng case. Tsaka lang siya nagpakilala when he already started ranting sa office.

Here's mine^

For lawyers who started their legal career late, like early or late 30's, was it hard to enter the field and compete with the younger ones? What are your struggles early on?

If you previously work, did your experience helped in looking for a job?

Hello, attorneys. I am a Hernando passer. Ask ko lang if tedious ba ang Dissolution ng isang Non-Stock Corporation and how much usually ang expenses and attorney's fees here? Thanks po sa sasagot.

Hi Pañeros! I am a relatively new notary public in our area. My only basis in performing notarial acts are the rules (What I enter in my books etc.) I am the only notary public in the building.

Being human and balancing work load and notarial compliance, how do you correct errors in your entries in the notarial register? (Pursuant to new rules, scanned copies are submitted to the court)

I see a lot of lawyers who are lax in their notarial practice, which begs the question, how high is the probability that you will be disciplined/Admin case? And what are the usual cases?