Beyond Bar Ratings
Persuasion does not require belittling others. The most persuasive advocates are not those who proclaim their superiority.
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Persuasion does not require belittling others. The most persuasive advocates are not those who proclaim their superiority.
Day Five of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte was marked by heated exchanges between the prosecution and the defense. The presiding officer, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, tried to maintain order and decorum. Yet amid the legal arguments, public attention shifted from the issues to a single remark made by one of the defense lawyers.
Perhaps to underscore the Vice President’s legal credentials, defense counsel pointed out that she passed the Bar Examinations on her first attempt with a rating of 80 percent, adding that “she has a higher grade than most of the lawyers here.”
The prosecution counsel objected, arguing that the statement was both irrelevant and unprofessional. The presiding officer sustained the objection and directed counsel to refrain from discussing Bar ratings.
Whether the remark was intended as a rhetorical flourish, a litigation strategy, or an attempt to provoke the opposing side is ultimately beside the point. It added nothing to the legal issues. Instead, it diverted attention from the merits of the case and, in the process, diminished the collegial respect expected among members of the Bar.
The legal profession demands more of us.
The Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) reminds every lawyer that zealous advocacy must always be exercised within the bounds of professionalism. Lawyers are duty-bound to respect tribunals and to conduct themselves with courtesy, civility, fairness, and candor. These are not just lofty aspirations. They are the standards that sustain public confidence in the legal profession.
The practice of law has never been a competition of Bar ratings. Yes, passing the Bar is a remarkable achievement, but once a lawyer takes the oath, examination scores cease to define professional worth. What will matter is integrity, competence, sound judgment, and fidelity to the rule of law.
A lawyer’s words carry weight far beyond the case at hand. They shape not only judicial proceedings but also the public’s perception of the justice system. Remarks that belittle fellow lawyers or imply superiority based on examination results do nothing to advance the search for truth. Instead, they erode the mutual respect upon which the legal profession is built.
This incident is also significant in that it unfolded before the entire nation. Millions of Filipinos, including countless law students and aspiring lawyers, watched the proceedings. In many ways, every courtroom is also a classroom. Every argument made, every objection raised, and every word spoken by counsel teaches the public what legal advocacy should be like.
Indeed, lawyers have every right and duty to advocate zealously for their clients. But zeal is never a license for disrespect. Persuasion does not require belittling others. The most persuasive advocates are not those who proclaim their superiority, but those who allow the strength of their arguments to speak for themselves.
Respect is far more than an ethical obligation imposed by the profession. It is a mark of character. It costs nothing, yet it says everything about the person who gives it. The law is most powerful when argued with conviction. But it earns its greatest respect when argued with humility.
