Choose (to serve) where the need is greatest, says CJ Sereno to new lawyers

Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno addresses regional challenges and diversity as she welcome the lawyers who successfully hurdled the 2016 Bar Examinations.

"?If, as we recognize, non-Metro Manila law schools did well to break the dominance of the usual law schools topping the bar examinations, this could be the window of opportunity to talk about whether we can direct more and better legal services to areas outside Metro Manila and other major urban areas," she said.

"We need to talk about encouraging more Mindanao, Visayas and non-Metro Manila lawyers to consider staying and rendering service where they are," she added.

The 2016 batch has the most number of successful bar examinees with the top ten or the highest scorerers are from the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

"The top ten bar passers represent no less than seven law schools and all three of the country’s island groups: an indication of the dispersal of quality legal education all throughout the country," Sereno said.

The Chief Justice also called on the new lawyers to serve in their respective communities.

"?If, as we recognize, non-Metro Manila law schools did well to break the dominance of the usual law schools topping the bar examinations, this could be the window of opportunity to talk about whether we can direct more and better legal services to areas outside Metro Manila and other major urban areas," she explained.

"We need to talk about encouraging more Mindanao, Visayas and non-Metro Manila lawyers to consider staying and rendering service where they are," Sereno suggested.

The new lawyers were told to arm themselves with passion, dedicated hard work, courage, integrity, among others.

"When you choose where to serve, remember where the need is most urgent; remember your roots. Choose to serve where the need is greatest," she said. — BAP, GMA News