by Diane Go

Sunlight glinting on the glass windows, red orange brick walls on an impressively huge building…yes, I was standing in front of the entrance of the Ateneo Professional Schools. And I, along with other Ateneo LEX members, was awed. Amazed. Stunned. Who wouldn’t be? We were standing in front of what could be our future campus after all.

                Nothing could possibly quell the excitement we all felt when we entered the Law school building. After all, the inside was just as impressive as the entrance. The walls were painted white, with the exception of bricks lining some of the posts. There were also huge glass windows, transparent and showing the view of a stone garden. And in that said garden were stone benches and statues. As we walked further into the building, I noticed that there were even several plant beds on the sides of some walls.

                The area was very clean and well-ventilated. I could even feel occasional gusts of cold air from the air-conditioning above as we walked on. Our tour guides were members of the student council, who were quite welcoming and well-versed. They showed us around, starting with the lobby, and then the chapel where they hold mass every 12 noon. They also showed us the library, which by far, was very different from the Rizal library here in the Ateneo.

                We were made to walk through a machine with sensors that allow a barricade to open and shut to let people in. Then one of the librarians showed us around. Unlike the library in the Ateneo, the path was more circular, with yet another garden in the middle. There were many tables and chairs for those who were studying, while the books were all placed in different rooms. Several books in these rooms included encyclopedias, past law cases, and even books written and donated by several well-known lawyers and judges.

                After touring the library, we were showed the study hall (somewhat like a mini Matteo Ricci). The walls were blue in color, and there were numerous tables and chairs. According to our tour guide, it is in this very room where a student can get free coffee (a program made by their Student Council). And on their wall, I saw several ads, some advertising an apartment for rent, highlighters for sale and even the chance to donate for the hungry.

              We also looked at the different classrooms, and even the posters of the different graduates that lined the other walls. It was then that we were told that the Ateneo Law School was celebrating their 75^th or diamond anniversary.

              We were then brought upstairs, to a place that looked somewhat Greek-inspired. There were Greek pillars that were pale yellow in color, as well as three massive doorways that also looked Greek. And on the top of those doors were the words Veritas, Integritas and Justitia, respectively. The highlight of the tour was when we all sat in a law class for the seniors (in the Justitia room) where they were having a mock trial. Since we were only able to see part of the mock trial, we were not able to understand what the case was about. However, it was rather fun to see the way the defense and prosecution cross-examined the witness. The one presiding over the case was their professor. The students were even in suits, which made the mock trial look more genuine. But it was unfortunate that we had to leave early.

                Afterwards, we were ushered into the Integritas room, where the Claudio Teehankee Foundation was. And in that room were artifacts that the late Teehankee himself used. Some of these artifacts included his books, the gavel and the like. Speakers from the foundation then proceeded to tell us about the foundation, the scholarships and programs that they apply (an example was the wine and cheese session) and about Claudio Teehankee himself. Their objective was to change the manner by which laws would be enforced (by the law, and not by man).

                We were then showed the Rex bookstore, where the guy working there was said to be Ateneo Law School’s Ate Alma. According to the one touring us around, their book expenses increased from the time they were in college because they were made to purchase the genuine, more expensive book and photocopy numerous readings.

                We were then showed the headquarters of The Palladium, the counterpart of The Guidon. Similar to the latter, it is the student publication of Ateneo Law School. But what makes Guidon and the Palladium different would be the fact that Palladium releases both a newspaper and a magazine every year while Guidon only releases newspapers.

                Other than all that, we were showed the Bernas center, which was dedicated to student volunteers. And in this center would be a coffee shop, in addition to the many tables and chairs for students to study. According to the president of those student volunteers, they plan to introduce new programs this year, as well as publications.

                And finally, we were served sandwiches and drinks in a classroom where a faculty member was to talk to us. While we waited for him to come, the members of the student council proceeded to tell us about their life as a law school student and showed us a video of the ORSEM last year and a video for the 75^th anniversary. When the faculty member finally came, he explained to us the processes involved in getting into Ateneo Law School, which was quite rigorous. There were a certain number of units needed for certain subjects and an entrance test that involved a lot of logic and analysis.

                All in all, the law school trip was fun yet tiring at the same time. But as I rode the bus back to Ateneo, I told myself that it was worth it to go up and down numerous flights of stairs because I, along with the other LEX members, had fun.

credit: From Facebook: Law School Trip: Ateneo; photo by Tammy Nifas

Diane is currently a sophomore taking up BS LM.

*The Ateneo Law School trip is part of the 3-leg project of LEXie Goes to Law School.

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