New perspectives on cross border legal practice in the ASEAN

• Main Author: Sy, Crichelle Anne Q.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Practice of law > Asia; Lawyers > Philippines; Law; Legal Profession
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6746
• Institution: De La Salle University

Law is but an aspect of culture. The concept of having ten different countries practice the same profession across different jurisdictions may not be novel in other regions, however, it is entirely new in the ASEAN. The present paper looks into the perspectives of practicing law professionals on the concept of cross-border practice. The impending ASEAN Integration is empowered by the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, allowing for the practice of law to be open to those in the legal profession of the different nations. The current practice of the profession in the Philippines is limited to Filipinos, thus it is necessary that the government takes action in revising the qualifications. Six (6) Filipino law practitioners were interviewed for the research, all of whom are engaged in their specific fields of law. The participants’ opinion on the practice of law in the Philippines, on legal education, on the relationship with other ASEAN countries, and the personal implication of the impending cross-border practice were taken. The responses that the participants gave varied because of the difference of their perspectives. The study is synthesized into four points that may aid the government into creating a concrete framework for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Blueprint; the end goal being the allowance of cross-border practice.