“…And you never can tell how close you are; it may be near when it seems afar…” – from the poem entitled Don’t Quit
NOONG nakaraang linggo, ika-27 hanggang ika-28 na araw ng Pebrero, pumunta ang mga court legal researchers ng Iloilo City Hall of Justice sa lungsod ng Sorsogon para dumalo sa ika-15th Biennial National Convention and Seminar of the Court Legal Researchers Association of the Philippines (CLERAP).
Ang kumbensyon ay may temang “Judicial Innovation Towards Effective and Efficient Legal Research.”
Ang pagtitipong ito ay pinamunuan ng mga CLERAP national officers sa pakikipagtulungan ng Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) at may buong suporta ng Philippine Supreme Court.
Mahigit-kumulang tatlong daang (300) empleyado ng hudikatura ang dumalo sa nasabing pagtitipon. At ito ang una kong seminar bilang isang court legal researcher.
Ano ba ang trabaho ng isang court legal researcher?
“…beyond conducting research on questions of law, preparing memoranda, and other seemingly routine duties, legal researchers play a deeper and more vital role: you help ensure that the justice system stands firm on a strong foundation of law, truth, and reason. In exemplifying rigor and excellence in the performance of your duties, you help safeguard and nurture the rule of law in our country.” – Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo
Ang legal researcher ay dapat marunong makisama at umitindi sa pangangailangan ng iba. Kailangang maging masigasig; may dedikasyon sa mga gawain (na halos hindi maubos-ubos), at marunong humarap sa mga samu’t-saring problema sa opisina (na parang wala ng katapusan).
Ang legal researcher ay isa ring manunulat. Buhay at dignidad ng tao ang pinag-uusapan na may dalang hatol ng hukuman. Kaya dapat maging maingat sa pag-gamit at pagpili ng mga salita na siyang magiging laman ng desisyon ng korte.
I learned that it is my duty to turn my job into a work of art—a masterpiece. This may be reprehensible to some or too romantic to many. But this, for me, is also a manifestation of freedom. And such freedom is in line with “Abraham Maslow’s concept of Self-transcendence: the ability to transcend one’s ego and connect with others and the world.”
Hindi naman natin maitatanggi na ang problema ay bahagi na ng ating buhay, ng ating trabaho. Kaya kailangan kong mahalin ang hirap at pagod na dulot ng mga gawain. Kailangan kung umiwas sa mga tao na puno ng kadramahan; mga taong pinipersonal ang mga kaganapan sa trabaho at tinatrabaho ang pansariling interes. Ika nga, makasariling serbisyo publiko.
The convention in Sorsogon was my first. I am already looking forward to the next one. I am deeply grateful that I am now working in the Hall of Justice. So many learnings, so many realizations; so many challenges, and so many opportunities that can lead me into self-transcendence.
“The future of legal research is digital. The technologies we have today will empower you to do your work faster, more effectively, and with greater precision. Times are changing, and we must evolve with them. We need to move beyond decades-old practices and continue to embrace technology, not only to elevate the quality of your work, but also to make the justice system more responsive to the needs of the times.” – Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court/PN
