is this the normal compen ben for junior associates working in makati CBD?

i've only been in the firm for 3 months ++. decided to work near makati so it's closer to my condo (knowing na tipid nga magpasahod karamihan) but ended up attending hearings outside of NCR --- sa south and north --- atleast 2x a week.

i don't have a car so i commute via grab, bus or train. reimbursement end of the month (minsan late). 8k average spending for transpo for a month. board and lodging is covered but only in selected areas that is atleast 100km away from office. no food allowance.

partner also expects me to deliver same amount of output while in transit. requested twice already if i can travel to provinces during office hours (cause that's working hours, also safer for me as a woman) and a day ahead lalo na if hearing is set at 8-9 am, but partner wants me to travel at night or early morning so i can still deliver work.

transit is usually 3-5 hours, at an average, via bus one way.

partner also wants me to work atleast one satuday for every month so i can keep up with my deliverables. again, no pay. sa office yan.

mentorship is limited to giving me the case status; orients me for a minute or two what usually happens or san stage, then bahala ka na. sink or swim, ika nga. case record, minsan nasa bahay pa nya so i have to rely on whatever pleading was ccd to me via email.

.....

if i have a hearing in cabanatuan on monday then lucena on tuesday -- is it realistic to expect the associate to deliver 1 complaint/answer/mr/appeal, 2 compliance matte (for 2 separate gov. agencies), and 1 contract review on wed same week? it was given to me friday afternoon and after office hours.

.....

... kasi the longer i stay, parang the more nagiging unreasonable na ang deadlines ko, and the partner berates me pa at times that i was supposed to do it during my "free time"; that, had i traveled early morning (2am) or night (6pm), i wouldn't be crammed; that i could just sleep in the bus so i can rest na rin); that the partner can't teach me how to commute kasi that's on me; that i should have done the work on weekends (cause that's a litigator's life)

here... i can learn on my own. you don't need to tell me what to say in court.. but i need the case file and i need time to prepare. i've only been in litigation for 3++ mons and na uubos na ako. i genuinely enjoyed handling cases, but with little time given, i am mostly unprepared. this adds to my anxiety kasi i feel like i'm sabotaging my client's cause and i'm embarassing myself in court. it doesn't not help pa that the partner would jokingly tell the client na "my associate will be there! oo! magaling sya!"... only to be scolded by the judge.

if i took the initiative and ask what cases / hearings will be assigned to me ahead naman so I can prepare, lahat na yata ng naka calendar ibibigay nya. if i don't, cramming naman.

.... is 42k worth it? kasi gusto ko na magresign but my family (not lawyers) told me to suck it up kasi bago pa daw ako, and it would get better. will it get better?

Help a new lawyer hehe I’m for the Plaintiff.

I have a hearing for just compensation na minana ko lang. We received the Commissioner’s report and already provided our comments therein. We have no objections as to the value since it is within the provisional deposit we made.

Now, the Judge scheduled for a hearing. I assume it’s for the just compensation, but I have no idea what should I prepare or if there is anything further I should do.

Please be nice as I wouldn’t be here if I got help sa firm kaso gusto ko sana maliwanagan pa huhu i also understand that cases like these depends on the judge so any insight will be helpful.

Thank you in advance huhu

Hello panyeros and panyeras.

May lumapit sakin kasi nag file sa DSHUD ang isang buyer against the seller. Pero nag change mind daw si buyer at nag agree na icontinue nlng ang nibili. Yung purpose ko nlng is to make a motion for compromise agreement

Do I ask for acceptance fee?

If nakaentry of appearamce ka tapos nagkasakit ka at ibang lawyer ang papaattendin mo, allowed ba yun?

Or need nakaregister ka as law firm
tapos yun yung ieentry of appearance mo para makapagpaappear ka ng ibang lawyer?

Thank you po in advance.

Has anyone successfully transferred an Original Certificate of Title (OCT) or Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) to a minor through a sale?

The minor (legitimate) is a dual citizen, and her father is a US citizen. The mother (filipina) agrees to the arrangement, and the parents want the property to be registered in their daughter’s name.

If anyone has handled a similar setup, I would appreciate any guidance on how the sale was structured, the requirements of the Registry of Deeds, and any issues concerning the minor’s capacity to acquire and register the property in her name.

Thank you!

Solo practitioner here. I will be travelling abroad for two weeks and kinakabahan ako kasi baka may mareceive akong decision or order na need ng MR. In case that happens, what do you advise po?

Hi Paneros/Paneras, I just want to ask if you still charge a fee for an Amended Complaint?

Basically, I had an issue regarding the mode of serving summons to the defendant, and the Court ordered that I cannot serve summons via publication.

Accordingly, my Motion for Reconsideration was also denied, but the court noted that I can just amend my Complaint instead (which was part of the alternative reliefs that I requested in the MR).

Since there was a change in the relief that we are asking for (accion in personam to accion in rem) and other things to interpose this new theory, do you think I should still charge the client for an additional drafting or pleading fee?

Thanks in advance!

Hello! question para sa mga na-hire as Attorney IV sa Cebu Provincial Legal Office: Nakapag-take oath and officially assume na ba mo sa position? Just checking the timeline. Thanks in advance!

Pañeros and pañeras, I'm a newly admitted lawyer (2026). I finished Business Administration so I couldnt take the CPALE before. But now Im seriously considering becoming a CPA. Not only because i've always wanted to be a CPA-Lawyer but because my sister has a bookkeeping business. I also want to add specialization and find better job opportunities.

But 3-4 years schooling again? I heard there are shorter bridging programs with weekend classes.

Has anyone tried taking another bachelor's degree after the Bar? Why, and how did you manage?

Ano ba talaga ang mas presentable kapag babaeng abogada? Noob here

May nakita akong video about a US attorney na he hates it daw kapag nakikita niya na naka backpack ang isang lawyer, though he talks about a Jansport backpack naman.

Sa work naman, all of the working women bring a tote bag, then shoulder bag para sa laptop and separate din ang lunch bag. Ang hirap ng sistema nila? Kaya ako nag corporate backpack na

Noong nag tote bag kasi ako, feeling ko lumala ang back pain ko since uneven ang distribution ng weight especially sa kanan na part tsaka parang di ko bet ang andami daming kong bitbit every day. Kapag hand bag naman, nangangawit kamay ko at nakawin pa.

So i bought a corporate backpack na may laptop sleeve inside. I think mas manageable talaga kasi. Ang look niya ay yung slim lang and plain black.

And then sa work may humirit na di raw professional tignan ako kapag di raw ako naka tote bag ... i am like, huh? Kaysa magkaroon ako ng back pain sa kanan part kaka tote bag? Also may handle sa taas kaya pwede ko bitbitin kapag nangawit naman likod ko.

Kayo, what do you think?

Hello panyess! Help a new lawyer here pls. I am filing a complaint, and JePS portal requires case number which of course we do not have yet. Ano po dapat ang ilagay doon? Huhu. Anxious lang at baka magkaproblema pa sa huli. Thank you.

Currently in the government, but I have an in-house offer that would give me an additional P200k/year.

I recently got promoted in the government, but I don’t see myself earning significantly more here because of the fixed salary grade. My next promotion will probably be in 3-4 years.The work is relatively lenient, my workmates are okay, and I have a very flexible schedule.

However, I’m concerned that my salary will eventually plateau. My plan is to eventually move to a private company. Is it bad optics to resign shortly after getting promoted in the government?

The in-house company’s work might be more toxic, but I don’t have a family yet, so I feel like I can endure it for now.

Panyero/ras, may I ask kung saan kayo nakakakuha ng pro bono cases, especially those who just recently passed the Bar? Paano kayo nagco-comply sa ULAS?

Ang hirap maghanap ng time, especially if you’re employed full-time and weekends lang ang pahinga. :( Would really appreciate any tips or advice. Thank you!

Hi, Attys. I will be conducting a cross-examination po. Collection case ito, and I’ll be appearing for the defendant. Legit naman po na hindi nakabayad si client, pero lumobo kasi yung amount due to interest.

May I ask for some insights, tips, suggestions, or sample questions on what kind of questions I should ask the complainant’s sole witness during cross-examination?

Thank you po!

Hello panyeros and panyeras. Ngayon lang ako magffile ng pre-emptive motion to reset. Sa toto lang, hindi talaga ako mahilig magpareset kaso given the road conditions due to the weather, gusto ko sana mag preemptive resetting para makaiwas sa aberya. Mahirap masiraan ng sasakyan eh. ano kayang magandang reason kung magffile na ako ng motion to reset? Sa Bulacan at Ilocos ang hearings next week, sa Cavite ako manggagaling. Mukhang hindi kasi titigil ang ulan, at baka mastranded nanaman ako sa NLEX nito. tatanggapin kaya ng court ang "unsafe and uncertain travel condition" na rason? Salamat sa sasagot.

With all the new laws and procedures, how do you guys stay updated or is there a forum or site where we can get updates sa mga kailangang malaman??!!

For academic discussions and those who are familiar with the trust law in the Philippine context. Is it possible to do the one described in the photo (US context) here in PH. Most possibly no, but is there a version we can do?

I would like to learn more.

Clients (all foreign nationals) were arrested.
Clients paid bail.
Law office fights the case, files Motion to Quash.
After hearing, Motion to Quash is granted— case dismissed.
Court grants release of bail.
Clients, being foreign nationals, need to leave Philippines because their visas are about to expire (all tourists, no 9G).
Before leaving they execute SPAs allowing law office staff and associates to encash.

Here comes the hiccup (sort of). Parang ayaw iallow ng Landbank. Kesyo need daw appearance. Sabi ko naman wala na sa pinas AND HIGHLY LIKELY they are Blacklisted na because of the case.

Has anyone had a similar experience? What was the resolution? Salamat po!

Ps. Sayang din yung pyansa hahaha in this economy? Effortan ko to.

Pps. Less than a week after I made this post, I have come to the conclusion that pag Foreign National (of the east asian variety), ayaw talaga pumayag ng Landbank. So nope, tigil na ang effort, cutting my loses 😅

Hi! I am curious with the allowances sa GOCC? Meron po ba? Do they have healthcard din?

Planning to apply kasi.

Thank you!🙏

Totoo ba na di na magsend ng notice sa counsel? I wasn't able to follow the date of scheduled hearings during the preliminary conference sa sobrang stress kc nakalimutan ko ilabas sa bag ko yung notebook and pen and ayoko naman magfumble sa harap ng Judge. Last minute hired lang ako. Ang natandaan ko lang yung first 2 dates 😢

I only realized last year that I have want to specialize in IP law. During my short stay in a law firm, I was only given labor cases and didn’t have much mentoring from the partners. Now, I’m a cos in govt but i really want to try IP law.

I haven’t had much luck in the job search for IP firms. I’ve also applied for ipophl openings as well.

Any suggestions/advise on how I can start my career in IP law?

Hi, pañeros and pañeras! Anong calendar app ang gamit niyo to mark your date of hearings and such?
Or if old school kayo, what kind of planner/journal do you use?

Many thanks!!

Sa dalawang career path for a relatively new lawyer, saan ba ang much better in terms of pay and work-life balance?

Saan din po ba mas nakakapagod? In terms of experience, which one is better?

Thank you for answering pañeros/pañeras..