Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (Facebook)

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua congratulated on Friday, April 14 the country’s new lawyers following the release of the results of the 2022 Bar examinations.

Aside from sharing in the Bar passers' euphoria, Chua was also quick to remind them of the "great responsibility" that they must now attend to.

"Congratulations to our country’s newest batch of lawyers! I also praise your loved ones, families, and friends for being the strong support groups who stood by your side through the ups and downs of your journey," he said in a statement.

"I urge you to start off on the right foot by committing yourselves to serve your neighbors and hometowns. Your neighbors are also part of your successfully passing the bar exams. You grew up with them, you know the stories of their lives, you know their troubles, including their legal woes," he said.

Chua, himself a lawyer, said the Bar passers "now have the great responsibility and special opportunity to truly matter in the lives of people because the country’s laws govern most aspects of our lives".

"One aspect the new lawyers can immerse themselves in concerns the most basic legal documents: birth certificates, legal recognition of common law couples, adoption, and documents needed by senior citizens, and PWDs (persons with disabilities). Legal documents about housing are also among the persistent worries of many Filipinos," he said.

"I also suggest to the new lawyers that they get immersed into the Barangay Justice System of the barangay they are resident of, so they can immediately apply what they have learned in law school to the pressing adjudication matters besetting their neighbors," Chua said.

"These steps may be simple but they can inspire new lawyers to make public service a key aspect of their legal career," noted the Manila solon.