Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo underscored the impact of technological advancements that revolutionize the conduct of basic legal work.
The Chief Justice told the members of the governing council of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Law Association (ALA) in a meeting in Cebu that the legal landscape is shaped not only by the social and economic developments of a nation but also by technology.
“Technological advancements, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making a significant impact on the legal field, revolutionizing how we conduct basic legal work,” Gesmundo, chairperson of ALA Philippines, stressed.
The ALA governing council meeting was a prelude to the 11th Meeting of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ) being held in Mactan, Cebu until Thursday, Nov. 21.
The CACJ meeting – hosted by the Philippines Supreme Court (SC) -- will assess the improvements done for the past decade to strengthen the rule of law in the ASEAN region through cooperation and capacity building among member nations.
The SC’s Public Information Office (SC-PIO) said that in his welcome remarks during the ALA meeting, Gesmundo advocated for the strategic integration of technology into legal practice, stressing its potential to improve cross-border legal cooperation and increase access to legal resources.
Gesmundo pointed out that integrating technology “can help bridge gaps in knowledge, improve cross-border legal cooperation, and make legal resources more accessible to all, regardless of geographical barriers.”
However, Gesmundo, urged the need to remain vigilant about the ethical and practical concerns associated with technological tools in the legal domain.
In welcoming the participants during the ALA meeting, the Chief Justice underscored the importance of the ALA event in strengthening bonds among ASEAN legal professionals and fostering regional unity.
The SC-PIO said the opening address was delivered by ALA President, Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat of Malaysia.
The heads of the delegation from ALA national committees also delivered their messages -- H.E. Ly Chantola, chair, ALA Cambodia; Justice Ibrahim, head of delegation, ALA Indonesia; Bounkhouang Thavisack, head of delegation, ALA Laos PDR; Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar bin Abang Hashim, chair, ALA Malaysia; Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, chair, ALA Singapore; Chief Justice Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul, chair, ALA Thailand; and Dr. Tran Cong Phan, head of delegation, ALA Vietnam.
Nararya S. Soeprapto, ASEAN deputy secretary-general, also addressed the attendees, while Bharti Seth, ALA secretary-general, provided an update on ALA’s recent activities.
The ALA meeting featured the presentation of several key reports, including the 2025 Work Plan for the ASEAN Law Institute, which outlined initiatives to advance regional legal expertise.
The SC-PIO also said that updates were given on the framework for the ALA Standing Committees and the progress of the ALA Virtual Training Marketplace, the ALA Moot Competition, and the ASEAN Law Association Lecture Series.
It said the ALA governing council meeting served as a critical forum for discussing strategic initiatives, exchanging best practices, and fostering a more cohesive and resilient ASEAN legal community.
The event reaffirmed ALA’s dedication to promoting regional legal cooperation and addressing challenges collaboratively, it also said.
During the meeting, Chief Justice Gesmundo was joined by retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, and Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Rodil V. Zalameda, Mario V. Lopez, and Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr.
The ALA is a non-governmental organization established in 1979. It unites the ASEAN legal community, including judges, government and practicing lawyers, as well as law educators.
The CACJ, on the other hand, was set up in in 2013. It serves as platform “to build mutual trust and understanding among the region’s judiciaries and to facilitate judicial cooperation to enhance economic growth and development.”
Attending the CACJ meeting are the heads of the judiciaries and senior judiciary officials from ASEAN member countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The CACJ “provides a regular forum for the Chief Justices to discuss and exchange views on common issues facing their judiciaries.”