Informal Law Education Series
This page contains links to articles written by Atty. Joel Rodriguez Dizon containing lessons delivered in the form of simulated lectures in a fictional section of junior law students belonging to the Alpha and Omega classes at a fictional college of law called the Layman School of Law and Justice. Although entirely fictional, all the lectures contain real and accurate legal insights. The “students'” recitations are based on his interactions with real students he has had teaching law for more than ten years in the Baguio Colleges Foundation College of Law in the Philippines.
S1L18
S1L18 – BENECO Lawyers go up against NEA over “Rule of Law” If you ask me what was the first critical blunder of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in its ill-fated effort to takeover BENECO, it would be this: it underestimated the feistiness of the Baguio-Benguet people, especially that small intrepid army of member-consumer-owners (MCO’s)…Continue reading→
S1L19
S1L19 – Can a bank just freeze your account? I do legal education in my Facebook account, and on my webpage, but not legal counselling. So for those who have asked me if they should close their bank accounts with BPI, PNB, Land Bank and Rang-ay Bank because these banks are reported to have frozen…Continue reading→
S1L20
S1L20 – Natural and Juridical Persons Mr. Juan Dimacaawat, are you present?” I surveyed the classroom looking for my favorite law student. He just barely managed go barge into the classroom, sweating like a pig from running to make it in time to say, “I’m here, sir!” “Oh, you just got here. Take your time,…Continue reading→
S1NCL21
Why banks betray smaller clients over bigger ones Semester 1 Non-class lecture 21 Truth be told, not all of my teachings happen in a classroom situation. Sometimes law students ambush me in the cafeteria and ruin my lunch, or merienda, by asking impertinent questions. I put up with it because there’s no telling what these…Continue reading→
S1L22
S1L22 – Basic Criminal Law concepts, feat. Mr. Juan Dimacaawat Mr. Juan Dimacaawat, stand up please…” “Yes, sir!” Something I always admired about this particular law student of mine is he never comes to class with tons of books or notebooks in his arms. The most he would have with him are 3 or 4…Continue reading→
S1L23
S1L23 – Admissions and Denials, feat. Miss Deema Niwala Miss Deema Niwala, are you around?” “I’m here, sir. I’m always present. In fact, I always sit in front and you barely take notice of my presence.” This is one of those great mysteries of the universe. Whenever I do a roll call, male students usually…Continue reading→
S1L24
S1L24 – Why Lawyers love to say things in Latin, Juan Dimacaawat hits on Miss Deema Niwala Law is general education. That’s why there is really no such thing as the most ideal pre-law preparation. My students come from diverse under-grad backgrounds. I have yet to see one of them enjoy any real advantage over…Continue reading→
S1L25
S1L25 – Lawyers are cool and fashionable, feat. Mohawk-hairstyled Jack Makataruz from Bauko A law class is not always about discussions of legal doctrines and principles. A law class is a dynamic mini-society which is really a microcosm of the community itself. Some of the best memories I have of my law teaching years are…Continue reading→
S1L26
S1L26 – The Doctrine of Forgiveness, feat. Miss Kata Ngahan Miss Kata Ngahan, are you around…?” “I’m present, sir. I never miss your class, it’s a pleasure and a signal pride for me to be sitting here and learning from a consummate advocate of blind justice!” The way the whole class instantly burst out laughing…Continue reading→
S1L27
S1L27 – The 3 D’s in Estafa: Deceit, Damage and Discovery, feat. Mommy Dionisia In Baguio City, law classes meet in the evening, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm although I once famously “punished” a class by lecturing until 11:00 PM. Evening classes favored working students. I had quite a few fulltime professionals, some even older…Continue reading→
S1L28
S1L28 – The Inherent Defects of Republican Democracy that sent Miss Deema crying Mr. Juan Dimacaawat, will you please count how many of you are here?” After a minute Juan reported, “We are twenty, sir.” “Alright, listen class. I prepared four lectures for tonight but I couldn’t decide which one to deliver, so I will…Continue reading→
S1L29
S1L29 – Blind Items and the law on Libel Blind items are an item again nowadays after President Duterte exploded his “bomb” about a presidential candidate snorting cocaine. In Ilocano there’s a saying “nu sino mangan sili isu magasangan” (or maybe it’s a Cordilleran adage, I just happen to know only the Ilocano translation?) Therefore,…Continue reading→
S1L30
S1L30 – The Right of Suffrage and the Duck in the Cockpit, introducing Mr. Hilong Talilong As I’m shuffling classcards for another recitation, I noticed a few classcards that look very new—I suppose there are some students that I have never called for recitation. “Mr. Angelo Talilong, let me see you…?” “Hello, sir!” I know…Continue reading→
S1L31
S1L31 – “Surveys are Self-serving Predictions”, feat. Miss Deema When I’m alone in my office in the afternoon (about 90% of Zoom hearings are held in the morning) I use the “me time” to catch up on the news on the internet. Another app I use called Adblocker Vigilante Premium will, for just 3 US…Continue reading→
S1L32
S1L32 – The UNCLOS Ruling in favor of the Philippines, introducing Miss Hannah Maala from Buguias Mister Jack Makataruz, tumakder…!” “Yes, sir!” “Facts—three Chinese coast guard vessels intercepted two Philippine boats on the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese boats used high-pressure water cannons to force the Philippine boats to turn around. The boats were supposed…Continue reading→
S1L33
S1L33 – “Conflict of Interest” Involving a Public Prosecutor This evening class I want to discuss a very controversial and contentious topic: judicial independence and the integrity of the criminal-justice system.” The whole class went, “Ooooooh…!” “Facts—a judge in Cawatan City, which is somewhere in the Philippines I’ve never been to, was seen in a…Continue reading→
S1L34
S1L34 – The “Regalian Doctrine” and the Modern Colonizers of the iBenguets Juan Dimacaawat, are you present?” “Yes, sir!” “Let’s talk a little history, Mr. Dimacaawat. Imagine that you were already a lawyer in March 16, 1521…” “Sir, no imagination is necessary, that is REALLY his birthday!” “Shut up, Miss Deema. I will call you…Continue reading→
S1L35
S1L35 – Women Empowerment, feat. Miss Carla Addaawan from Tabuk City A law class is an ideal environment to immerse yourself in current events and issues, something I encourage my students to do. Law is dynamic, you don’t study law in a vacuum. You study it in relation to everyday facts that impact your own…Continue reading→
S1L36
S1L36 – Ethnicity, Nationality, Citizenship, Identity and Domicile, feat. Miss Hannah Maala from Buguias Miss Palindrome, are you around?” Hannah Maala sprung to her feet, she knew right away I was referring to her. “Present, sir!” “Hehehe…Miss Maala, your middle initial written here on your classcard is ‘N’ what is that ‘N’ for?” “My mother’s…Continue reading→
S1L37
S1L37 – Grilling Lessons from Deema: How to crossexamine without tricks Mister Cabo Buhan, are you alive?” This is my only student with a premed background. He comes from Dagupan City, Pangasinan. “I am over here sir, quietly metabolizing glucose…” He also has a reputation of being some kind of class clown who loves to…Continue reading→