LEGAL PROFESSION

Atty. Tanya Lat

ATENEO DE MANILA LAW SCHOOL
Section 1-F, SY 2016-2017
ASSIGNMENT FOR WEEKS 1-2
(August 9 & 16, 2015)
A. Introduction to the Course
Assignment:
(1) On a sheet of paper, answer the following questions as candidly
as possible. You can type out the answers or handwrite them.
Part I.
Why are you in law school? Why are you in Ateneo Law in
particular?
Are you working? If so, full time or part time? Where?
What part of the Philippines are you and your family from?
Part II.
What is the role of lawyers in society?
What do you intend to do with your law degree? What
contribution do you intend to make to society as a lawyer?
(2) Form havrutah teams consisting of 3-4 members. Team up with
people who have different backgrounds and/or may not necessarily
think the same way as you do.
(3) With your havrutah partners, discuss the articles for Week 2,
reflecting on the guide questions.
B. Introduction to the Legal Profession
Readings
Scriptural passages:
Genesis 18: 16-32 Abraham bargains with God
Isaiah 1:17
Jeremiah 22:15-16
Luke 11:37-52 - Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and
lawyers

Justice, Felix Frankfurter, Advice to a Young Man Interested in

Going Into Law
http://chancery12.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/advice-to-a-young-personinterested-in-a-career-in-the-law/
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Legal Profession, Section 1-F, SY 2016-2017

Atty. Tanya Lat

 Timothy W. Floyd, The Practice of Law as a Vocation or Calling

(1998)
http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3448&context=flr
The Lawyers Oath (Form 28, Judicial Standards Form) (Note:
Commit this to heart. The sooner, the better.)
The first thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers. - Dick the
Butcher (Williams Shakespeares Henry VI, Part II, Act IV,
Scene II, Line 73)
Shakespeare and Lawyers: The Rest of the Story
http://www.okbar.org/Portals/14/Public
%20Speaking/spspeech.pdf
Gerald T. Bennett, Lets Kill All the Lawyers!
Shakespeare (Might Have) Meant It, The Florida
Bar Journal, Volume LXXII, No. 11 (December
1998)
https://www.floridabar.org/divcom/jn/jnjournal01.nsf/Aut
hor/D68106DCD8DF625885256ADB005D6229
Reflection Questions:
(1) Why is law a practice, a profession, a calling, a vocation?
How is this different from a trade or business?
(2) What does it mean to be called to the Law? Was this a factor in
your decision to go to law school?
(3) Examine your motivations for going to law school within the
context of Timothy Floyds distinction between internal and
external goods.
(4) In your view, what role do lawyers play in society? Discuss.

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Legal Profession, Section 1-F, SY 2016-2017
Atty. Tanya Lat