Any lawyers here? Career advice please

[oshiawase]

Hi, so I plan to go to law school. But my dream is really to work abroad (especially in the UK/England) either in the embassy or just helping legal issues of the OFWs there.

Is that even possible? I mean, would my degree be applicable and would help me in any way? I've heard of Filipino lawyers working in the UK but I don't know if I can too.

[planeticymars]

I've been meaning to study law as well. My friends went thru hardships in law school and I saw the transition. It kinda turned me off but passion drives me. I don't know when I'll have the guts to study law. In the end, it will be your choice if you want to pursue it.

[oshiawase]

The stress level turns you off? It actually scares me...

[minnie99]

I passed the UP LAE for AY 2012-2013 pero right before enrollment nag back out na ko sa takot. I figured kung di pa nga ako law student mahina na loob ko, paano na pag ayan na?

After 1 year of that depressing internal battle (hehe), iniisip ko ulit mag law. Isip lang naman

[agape]

Di ba nagbago na ang LAW curriculum? Parang hindi na lahat ng law subjects, bale may specialization na? I plan kasi to take Real Estate Law only and still be a Lawyer, pero for Real Estate nga lang.

[BicuriousGm]

I am also planning to take up law, iniisip ko if at my age kakayanin ko pa maka absorb ng aralin ko. Im in my 30s na. Is there anyone here also in their 30s who pursue law? Any advice is appreciated.Thank you!

[minnie99]

^Kaya yan sis! May friend yung mommy ko, siguro nasa late 40s nung mag law. Lawyer na ngayon. Ngayon husband naman nya magbbar.

[ReservoirDogs]

Hi, so I plan to go to law school. But my dream is really to work abroad (especially in the UK/England) either in the embassy or just helping legal issues of the OFWs there.

Is that even possible? I mean, would my degree be applicable and would help me in any way? I've heard of Filipino lawyers working in the UK but I don't know if I can too.

Hi sis!  If you plan to work for the PH embassy abroad to help the OFWs, I'd advise you to take an FSE (foreign service exam).  That is one way for you to work for a PH embassy abroad.  Actually, maraming lawyers ang diplomat, so finish law school then take the FSE.  Pwede ka rin maging labor attache, I think this is under DOLE.  But hindi lahat naassign abroad sa DOLE, so the easier career path is to be a foreign service officer.

[BicuriousGm]

^^thanks sis minnie. Naka motivate naman yun mag asawa sila. Si bf kasi para nag hesitate about my plan to take up Law. Kaya na frustrate ako palagi na lang nila sinasabi aral na lang ako ng aral. I just want to learn something new...haist sana ma karir ko nga to and maipasa ko entrance exam. Thanks again.

[iska-hazel]

my sister is a CPA lawyer by profession.

she took her accountancy degree in UST and after nun decided talaga sya mag-law.
nagtake sya ng entrance exams sa 2 schools lang, UP and Ateneo law.
Pumasa sya parehong schools. Nung interview nya sa dean ng UP college of law
d nya masyadong marinig si dean super hina daw ng boses at tipong old na sya mellow
magsalita, in short nakaaffect sa kanya yun at di sya pinasa dahil may communication gap na

Good thing ok naman lahat sa Ateneo Law, i can tell na grabe ang hirap nya habang nag-aaral,
bihira talaga sya makasama sa mga lakad na as in super importanteng lakad ko lang sya nakakasama, gabi gabi aral talaga sya ng aral at may days din naman na relax lang sya kahit may exam yun ay dahil maaga pa lang say 2weeks advance, prepared na sya sa review ganun sya kasipag..

2011 gumraduate sya and super happy kaming lahat, pinakamahirap sa lahat yung bar review preparations nya. after ng graduation sabak agad sa review. day and night, night and day everyday except sunday, aral. gabundok lahat binabasa, kapal na grado ng salamin nun hehe.. ganun sya kastudious

thank God, pumasa sya nung Sept 2011 bar, sa isang magandang law firm sa makati sya pumapasok ngayon.

siguro talino rin nya, 100% hardwork (sipag & tiyaga), dasal, passion talaga nya na maging abogado kaya sya nagsucceed.

[agape]

where and how to get an FSE (foreign service exam) ?

[ReservoirDogs]

^

Sis, every year ang FSE pero nagstart na yung round of applications and test this year. You might want to apply next year - gives you more time to prepare.

Check the requirements on the DFA website:  http://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/newsroom/announcements (scroll to the post: 2013 FSO Examination Announcement, dated December 12, 2012).

Here's an article by an FSO passer; he also shared questions he answered during his test:

http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/16694-how-to-take-the-foreign-service-officer-exam

[oshiawase]

my sister is a CPA lawyer by profession.

she took her accountancy degree in UST and after nun decided talaga sya mag-law.
nagtake sya ng entrance exams sa 2 schools lang, UP and Ateneo law.
Pumasa sya parehong schools. Nung interview nya sa dean ng UP college of law
d nya masyadong marinig si dean super hina daw ng boses at tipong old na sya mellow
magsalita, in short nakaaffect sa kanya yun at di sya pinasa dahil may communication gap na

Good thing ok naman lahat sa Ateneo Law, i can tell na grabe ang hirap nya habang nag-aaral,
bihira talaga sya makasama sa mga lakad na as in super importanteng lakad ko lang sya nakakasama, gabi gabi aral talaga sya ng aral at may days din naman na relax lang sya kahit may exam yun ay dahil maaga pa lang say 2weeks advance, prepared na sya sa review ganun sya kasipag..

2011 gumraduate sya and super happy kaming lahat, pinakamahirap sa lahat yung bar review preparations nya. after ng graduation sabak agad sa review. day and night, night and day everyday except sunday, aral. gabundok lahat binabasa, kapal na grado ng salamin nun hehe.. ganun sya kastudious

thank God, pumasa sya nung Sept 2011 bar, sa isang magandang law firm sa makati sya pumapasok ngayon.

siguro talino rin nya, 100% hardwork (sipag & tiyaga), dasal, passion talaga nya na maging abogado kaya sya nagsucceed.

inspiring!!! i bet she graduated with honors pa? kainggit!!!

[oshiawase]

@Reservoirdogs, thank you sa response!!!

I am quite aware of FSE talaga at alam ko din mahirap din yang ipasa. Siguro, itatake ko yan a year after my graduation (if ever God allows it na grumaduate ako sa law school) para hindi sabay sa law studies ko no?

Kaso ang iniisip ko dyan, baka i still wouldn't get to choose which embassy to be sent to. Gusto ko talaga sa UK...

salamat ulit!

[ReservoirDogs]

^

Yeah true, you don't get to choose the embassy, if you work for the DFA. 

If you're really after a UK post, why don't you take up law in the UK na? Kasi if you take up law here, you might still have to take up law in the UK pa. 

I just read a profile of a young Filipina lawyer in NY who's helping Filipino employees abroad.  She studied in NY and took the bar there.  She works together with the PH consulate in NY, pero hindi sya diplomat. She helps Filipino labor cases there.  I think this is similar to what you want to do.   Siguro it's better if you study in the UK so you'll have an easier time getting a job there.

[oshiawase]

^ hi, may link ka about sa Filipina lawyer na yan? Will appreciate it.

The thing is, di ko pa kaya financially mag-aral dun sa UK ngayon. Besides, I found out na Filipino lawyers can work as lawyers in UK too provided they pass the tests kasi recognized na ng UK Jurisdiction and Legal Education sa Philippines http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qlts/recognised-jurisdictions.page

So another plan ko is, after I finish my JD here in the Philippines, I'll get working experience for 3 years then go to UK to study again then afterwards, work there. I dunno if that's possible. Simpleng nag aambisyon/nangangarap lang ako. haha.

thank you sa mga reply mo! really appreciate it!

[ReservoirDogs]

^

No problem sis. Her name is Patricia Astorga. The first link that will appear on Google is her.

You can get scholarship abroad; maraming nag-ooffer sa UK. Pero if you prefer to study here, go lang. I think Ateneo or DLSU law schools nag-offer ng international exchange program. If there is one offered in the law school that you're going to enroll in, grab that opportunity too.  Pang-beef up din ng resume mo yun. 

Good luck sis!

[Librobaby]

Hi mga sis!Share ko lang. I am a nursing graduate who plans to take up LAW.Layo diba.Plano pa lang naman,kaso ang layo kasi ng field nila kaya nagiisip pa din ako if I should pursue 

For those who are planning to take the FSE to be part of DFA.Share ko story ng ate ko

Officer na sya dun and no she's not a lawyer but she has  a degree in Intl. Relations and a masters degree in Diplomacy. 6 years na syang ngwork sa DFA. Although, pwede na si ate mgtake ng FSE when she got in, mas pinili niya muna mg-work sa consular office and later on on the protocol office. Sabi niya nga sakin she wants to know the basic stuff and to have a feel of the working environment. 3 years din siya dun and then nung confident na siya sa knowledge niya about the Department she took FSE which she passed naman the first time. Nakatulong din kay ate yung mga insights ng mga officer na nakatrabaho ni ate, they really gave advice and what topics she should focus on. I think yung last test niya was she had to make a speech based on the topic that the panel gave her. On the spot yun. Kamusta naman diba??


If you pass the FSE, then you become an officer na. BUT it doesn't mean that nmaaassign ka din kaagad. Or that you will have the chance to pick the country kasi minsan may haharang sa papers mo or bibigyan ka nila ng ibang location Mapulitika din dyan sa DFA, if some people don't like you because may atraso ka sakanila, may attitude problem ka or di lang talaga maganda performance mo, isang malaking goodluck kung ma-aasign ka. Or pag-inassign ka man baka ilagay ka sa Syria at Libya. This is what happened to my sister's colleague. Kasalukuyan siyang nasa Libya.

As for my sister, I'm proud to say that early next year she will be going to Australia  And the good thing about it is she didn't even wanted to be assigned there (actually gusto ni ate sa UAE), but she was requested by the Phil. Ambassador in Aussie, who was her superior nung nasa consular affairs pa siya I guess you could say that my sister is lucky and I hope this inspired you

[oshiawase]

Di ba nagbago na ang LAW curriculum? Parang hindi na lahat ng law subjects, bale may specialization na? I plan kasi to take Real Estate Law only and still be a Lawyer, pero for Real Estate nga lang.

 i have friends in law school and such specialization curriculum you're talking about is nonexistent? each student must know the basics first. specialization comes after passing the bar

[eisen3]

Di ba nagbago na ang LAW curriculum? Parang hindi na lahat ng law subjects, bale may specialization na? I plan kasi to take Real Estate Law only and still be a Lawyer, pero for Real Estate nga lang.

Specialization comes during actual practice. Only then you can have a choice. If you work for a real estate firm or handle clients involved in real estate, then, your specialization in that field