Graduate Year: 2023
Company: Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Philippines
Designation: Government Corporate Attorney
Graduate Programme: Master of Laws (LLM)
From courtroom to the classroom: Deep diving into the realm of judicial studies
Being appointed a judge is often the dream of many legal professionals who aspire to make a meaningful impact on society and uphold the principles of justice. However, the path to achieving this goal can be multifaceted, requiring not only a deep understanding of legal theory and practical application, but also a keen sense of judgement, ethics, and leadership.
Having already practised as a Court Attorney in the Philippines’ Court of Appeals, Rosanne Roxas is well-versed in drafting reports, decisions and resolutions of various cases. The recent SMU Master of Laws (LLM) Judicial Studies (JS) track graduate, however, sought to position herself a step closer towards the pinnacle of her career.
The youngest LLM Judicial Studies candidate to date, Rosanne, currently 29, possesses a clear and unwavering vision for her future — one that is dedicated to public service. She, therefore, yearned to equip herself with the tools she needs to serve as a judge and/or appellate Justice in the Philippines in the future.
Enter the comprehensive LLM Judicial Studies track, designed to cater to both legal professionals aspiring to become judges and current judges. Developed jointly by professors from SMU and the Singapore Judicial College, the programme offers a unique combination of academic rigour and practical judge craft.
"Undoubtedly, possessing an overseas postgraduate degree gives me a significant advantage in the Philippine legal industry,” explains Rosanne.
“It allows me to gain a broader perspective, craft innovative solutions, and enhance the efficiency and quality of judicial systems.”
Through her participation in the LLM programme at SMU, Rosanne has been expanding her legal knowledge and gaining exposure to new perspectives, ideas, and practices to help her reach her goal. And she unknowingly kickstarted the process of making that aspiration a reality when she chanced upon the Philippine Judicial Academy’s website in 2021 — which featured the Singapore Judicial College’s letter of invitation to current and aspiring judges to join the LLM (JS) programme.
"From there, I delved deeper into researching the SMU website. As soon as I discovered the unique curriculum being offered, I was immediately filled with excitement. The rest, as they say, is history," elaborates Rosanne.
Moreover, the pursuit of academic excellence for the San Beda University Juris Doctor graduate was enabled in no small part by the Lee Kong Chian Master of Laws in Judicial Studies Scholarship. This prestigious scholarship has helped to offset Rosanne’s tuition fees, allowing her to focus on her studies and pursue her goals with single-minded dedication.
A curriculum like no other
Bolstered by SMU’s seminar-style pedagogy with a focus on interactive discussions in the class, the LLM programme sees experienced judges co-teach core courses and share first-hand accounts of their time in the courts with candidates. Additionally, content is practice-oriented, and an ample use of court-centric case studies means that there is real-world context to deepen students’ learning experience.
In the case of most LLM Judicial Studies candidates like Rosanne, professional experience in the legal field can also be valuable in deepening their understanding of the practical application of legal principles, as well as allowing them to assimilate new knowledge and apply it in their work more readily.
“My experience as a Court Attorney, which is the equivalent of a justices’ law clerk or judicial associate here in Singapore, helped me come up with some parallel comparisons, and I could comprehend and follow through how court processes work,” she explains.
Thus far, Rosanne’s LLM journey has been punctuated by several highlights. For one, through the Judicial Executive Programme, she has received contextualised training and ample interaction with local and foreign judges, first in a classroom setting, followed by court lectures, visits, and observations.
The Cross-Border Mediation module, for example, has equipped her with relevant competencies and paved the way for her to be an accredited mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Institute.
Rosanne also appreciates that pursuing her Masters in Singapore has helped expand her perspective and knowledge of the law. Aside from the required core subjects, she utilised her electives to pursue modules that tailor-fit her interests, such as arbitration and fintech, “which are also fields Singapore is known as a hub in the region for.”
She adds: “In time, I hope to impart all that I have learned and observed from the Singaporean Judiciary’s best practices (to my peers) back in the Philippines.”
Leave your comfort zone to scale new heights in knowledge
Beyond the academic and professional advantages that the LLM programme provides, Rosanne is savouring the chance to fully immerse herself in the lively culture and dynamic energy of Singapore. What's more, the remarkable diversity and inclusivity of the student body at SMU is a stark contrast to her previous academic experiences, providing Rosanne with the perfect opportunity to engage with a wide range of viewpoints.
“The JS professors are renowned experts in their field coming from different jurisdictions, and they encourage you to leave no question unanswered,” she points out.
“I also loved hearing my classmates’ stories and learning about their culture. In fact, SMU’s beautiful city campus is situated in Singapore’s central business district, thus making food trips, study sessions, and other activity-planning much easier.”
Having hailed from an ASEAN country and visited Singapore as a tourist, adapting to life in the city-state as a student was also a relatively smooth process for Rosanne. Despite the relatively high cost of living, she found that Singapore boasts a highly efficient transport, communication, and payment system, which helped to alleviate some of the initial challenges she faced.
“I know that leaving the comforts of home and living in another country may be daunting, but it is only in pushing yourself to get out of your comfort zone does real growth happen,” she concludes.
“Temporarily putting your career on hold to pursue further legal studies abroad will propel you to reach greater heights, and help you gain insights and build life-long connections you never knew you could make.”
