Lately I found myself pondering on a worthwhile and sustainable New Year’s resolution, not just for myself but for all my colleagues in the legal profession.

This is related to my last article for 2024 where I shared the top five lessons I wish to incorporate into my life. While these lessons establish the foundation for my behavior for the future, I still lacked a resolution for this year.

I concluded that I can still work towards increasing the impact of my advocacy which is to provide justice for all. And here, I wish to share some numbers and a testimony from no less than the Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary regarding the DoJ Action Center (DoJAC), which is one of our initiatives.

The DoJAC, established to make the DoJ useful to ordinary citizens, has multiplied by approximately five times the number of clients it served in FY 2024 compared to the previous year. Numbers reveal that DoJAC served 500 percent more clients in 2024, exceeding expectations in the delivery of real justice for all in real time.

As of 30 November 2024, DoJAC assisted 12,879 clients, roughly five times the 2,815 clients in 2023. The top three client types were walk-ins at 7,632, notarization services at 4,184, and indorsements and referrals with 2,619.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla has publicly commended the DoJAC for consistently surpassing organizational goals in delivering real justice for all.

He said, “Public service is the cornerstone of every State where its absence makes the latter cease to exist. As an agency mandated to uphold the rule of law, it is our duty to rise at every occasion by ensuring access to justice for all and delivering our functions with excellence. Denying access to justice is denying people’s dignity.”

Other core services offered free to the public by the DoJAC are mediation, preparation of legal documents, and the organization of the Katarungan Caravan.

A parallel program are the Supreme Court-approved Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) rules which require all covered lawyers to render 60 hours of pro bono legal service every three years to people who cannot afford legal assistance.

Both programs together give us the chance to share our knowledge, expertise and experience to help those in need.

My resolution will be focused on sharing these initiatives to my friends — both lawyers who practice and the indigents who ask for assistance. I want to lead by example by being present as much as possible in these two programs and by writing about what I learn.

This then is my resolution for 2025. Much of its success will depend upon how the public will respond to the DoJ’s attempt to be useful to the citizenry.

Happy New Year everyone!