NAME: SACULLES, Alliana Marie C.
SECTION & SUBJECT: 1BSC2A - GED 181
PROF: Mr. MAGHUYOP, John Roger M.
DATE: April 13, 2023
"The Role of Ethics in Shaping My Personal and Professional Development as a Future Lawyer: Goals
for Further Exploration."
As the ethical challenges facing the legal profession in the Philippines have shown, lawyers are often
faced with difficult ethical dilemmas, such as conflicts of interest, client confidentiality, and impartiality. Worst
is some lawyers have been accused of engaging in unethical behavior, such as accepting bribes, providing false
testimony, or violating their duty to clients. Therefore, it is crucial for lawyers to uphold the highest standards
of professionalism to ensure that justice is served. Justice is a fundamental concept in ethics that refers to
fairness, impartiality, and equity in the distribution of benefits and burdens in society. As a student interested
in pursuing a career in law, I have come to appreciate the importance of justice in shaping personal and
professional development. Justice is a complex and multifaceted concept that requires careful consideration of
a wide range of factors, such as race, gender, economic status, and other forms of social inequality. It may also
require us to balance competing interests and values in order to arrive at a fair and just outcome. I believe that
my commitment to justice will be an essential component of my professional development. In order to be an
effective advocate for my clients, I will need to have a deep understanding of the principles of justice and how
they apply to a wide range of legal issues.
As a criminology student with aspirations of becoming a lawyer, I recognize the crucial role that
ethics will play in both my personal and professional development. Through my studies in ethics, I have
come to understand that upholding high ethical standards is essential not only for the success of a legal career,
but also for the betterment of society as a whole. I believe that engaging with ethics on an ongoing basis will
help me develop a stronger sense of personal responsibility and accountability. By regularly reflecting on my
actions and decisions, and evaluating them against ethical principles and values, I can become more mindful
of the impact that my actions have on others and take steps to correct any harmful behaviors. One of the key
ways in which I see my ongoing engagement with ethics shaping my personal development is by helping me
to become a more principled and virtuous person. By studying ethics, I have learned about various ethical
theories and principles that can guide my decision-making in everyday life. For instance, I have come to
understand the importance of being honest, fair, and respectful towards others, as well as the value of empathy
and compassion in our interactions with others. By incorporating these principles into my daily life, I believe
that I can become a more ethical and virtuous person, which will not only benefit myself but also those around
me.
In my professional development, I see my engagement with ethics as critical to my success as a future
lawyer. The legal profession is one that is built on trust, and the ability to act with integrity and ethics is
paramount to maintaining this trust. As a future lawyer, I will be called upon to represent clients in a variety
of legal matters, and it will be my duty to ensure that their rights are protected and that justice is served.
Through my studies in ethics, I have learned several key principles that can help me address ethical challenges
as a future lawyer. These principles include professional integrity and honesty, respect for the rule of law,
accountability, and ongoing engagement with ethics. Professional integrity and honesty means avoiding
conflicts of interest, being transparent in all dealings, adhering to the highest ethical standards at all times,
respect for the rule of law means lawyers must respect the laws and regulations that govern their profession,
and accountability means taking responsibility for any ethical lapses and making efforts to correct them.
Finally, ongoing engagement with ethics means lawyers must continue to reflect on their ethical principles and
evaluate the ethical implications of their actions.
In terms of my goals for further exploring this important area of inquiry and reflection, I have
several. Firstly, I plan to continue studying ethics in greater depth, both as part of my academic studies and
through independent reading and research. I believe that this will allow me to develop a deeper understanding
of the various ethical theories and principles that are relevant to the legal profession, and to apply them in a
practical and meaningful way. Secondly, I plan to seek out opportunities for practical experience in the legal
profession, such as internships and volunteer work. Through these experiences, I hope to gain a better
understanding of the ethical challenges faced by lawyers in practice, and to develop the skills and knowledge
necessary to address them in a responsible and ethical manner. Finally, I plan to seek out mentorship from
experienced lawyers who share my commitment to ethics and professionalism. By learning from their
experiences and insights, I hope to gain a better understanding of how to navigate the ethical challenges of the
legal profession, and to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful and ethical lawyer.
In conclusion, my ongoing engagement with ethics will undoubtedly shape both my personal and
professional development as a student who wants to be a lawyer someday. Through my studies in ethics, I have
gained a deep appreciation for the importance of ethics and professionalism in the legal profession, and a
commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards in my future career. By continuing to explore this
important area of inquiry and reflection, and by seeking out practical experience and mentorship, I
believe that I can achieve my goals.
REFERENCES:
Code of Professional Responsibility for Lawyers in the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2023, from
https://www.chanrobles.com/legal3codeofprofessionalresponsibility.html
Hudson, B. A. (2018). The importance of ethics in the legal profession. Southern Journal of Business and
Ethics, 10, 79-88. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sjbe/vol10/iss1/9/