The legal profession has seen tremendous changes throughout time. The emergence of “generational lawyers” from the different age groups who each bring their perspectives, abilities, and methods to the practice of law, is an intriguing trend that has sprung sprucely within the past couple of years.
ATTY. ROLANDO A. SUAREZ (Atty. Rolando/ Rolly)- The Man Who is Never Absent
“When I am absent, I am dead.”
This is the favorite mantra of Atty. Rolando A. Suarez. Atty. Rolly is a multi-awarded lawyer, author, humanitarian worker, and inspiring father to his two children who are likewise both great and passionate lawyers. For him, being a lawyer is a luxurious job and he used this profession as a springboard to do more humanitarian work. Rolando looked at the legal profession as a tool used for helping others.
As a litigation and humanitarian lawyer in the course of his career, Atty. Rolly received numerous awards and honors. Some of his major awards are Outstanding Lawyer in Philippine Biographic and Historical Research, Awardee for Community Service in Kagitingan Awards, Presidential Awardee, and Club Awardee for Exceptional Achievement. He is also a Governor’s Awardee for his Services, a Special Awardee for Exemplary Performance, and a 2005 Awardee for his outstanding efforts and commitment to service as his international awards in one of the conventions celebrated in Chicago, Illinois.
The prolific lawyer authored thirty-five (35) books and several articles in magazines. Most of his published books were recommended as main materials for Constitutional Law, Agrarian Reform Law, Civil Law, Torts and Damages, Legal Forms, and Practical Exercises.
Besides the so-called medals of the legal profession, he joyously accepts pro bono cases back in the province even though he lives in Manila while receiving sacks of potatoes, vegetables, and poultry products as a fee.
Notably, Atty. Rolly has advocated for better education. He goes beyond the four corners of the classroom to guide his students, especially those who have the potential to succeed but need more resources. He was a working law student and a Dean’s Lister in his undergraduate studies. Walking the talk, he sponsored and assisted several Filipino students to pursue better education. Most, if not all, of those children were supported from their primary education to tertiary education.
Further, he was a professor at San Beda University for fifteen years. He admits that he was a strict one but made sure to put marginal notes on the test papers of his students for encouragement. He remembers checking the test papers of his class in a hospital bed before and after his major surgery because he did not want to be absent.
ATTY. ROLAND RHONNEL M. SUAREZ (Atty. Rhonnel)- The Passionate Lawyer
“I constantly reflect if I have performed less than 1% of the standard I expect from myself.”
Profession inheritance is accompanied by standard bearers and particular links and connections. Facing this peculiar situation, intergenerational lawyers were always pressured to achieve at least what was expected of them. Peer pressure comes from the family and is always linked to the achievements of their predecessors. This challenge is one of the hurdles given when the passing of the torch comes into play.
In the case of Atty. Roland Rhonnel M. Suarez, stepping into a profession where family members have already made a mark can be a double-edged sword. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Management from De La Salle University – Manila, Atty. Rhonnel soon found himself enrolling in San Beda University – Mendiola College of Law to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. During his stay, he ranked 11th in the graduating class of 1997 and has since continued his path toward excellence by living up to the hallmarks of Bedan education.
Atty Rhonnel expanded his horizons by placing fourth in the Real Estate Broker’s Licensure Examination to leading the more traditional path of a lawyer by being a partner at Suarez, Zamora, Suarez Law Offices, while also gaining the title as a former Commissioner at the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission and former Assistant Secretary at the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs. He also gained his merits as a lawyer as a former Legal Consultant at the Department of Agrarian Reform, and a former faculty member at the Manuel L. Quezon University College of Law. He has continually struck a balance between honoring tradition and forging a path as an individual.
“My inspiration was my father when I was in grade four or grade five, I was going into his office, I was even going to San Beda Law School because he was a professor then under Dean Regalado,” he answered when asked about his source of inspiration in pursuing law.
However, there are always two sides to the same coin. Privileges such as inherited networks, opportunities, and educational advantages aside, there are also distinctive barriers for lawyers in succeeding their predecessors. According to Atty. Rhonnel, when he entered law school, their professors were his father’s students before. Because of this, he would always be called first since his name was very similar to his father’s. Naturally, they would ask if he was the son of Atty. Rolando, since the same had been under their tutelage.
Having been born with a father who achieved many great things, people might have expected him to be his father’s legacy. He did not cower. He conquered all the standards while proving himself capable of carrying the torch into the future.
He successfully forged his own identity throughout his journey as a lawyer by setting his standard for himself when it comes to practicing the legal profession, to quote: “Iyong Christian values and morale compass ko nung law school, andiyan pa rin hanggang ngayon. If the time comes I lose compassion for my client, iyong jaded ka na, that’s the time I will quit law practice, I will not handle a case anymore and start going to business. Kapag ako binigyan (assignment), I give my all, every fiber of my body. I could crack my bones for it. I have this internal standard na hindi bababa na nakasanayan natin sa Beda.”
ATTY. REINA RICCI SUAREZ (Atty. Ricci) – The Globally Competitive Lawyer
“As a lady lawyer, I had my fair share of challenges. I entered law school as married. I have kids. I have a daughter and I even gave birth before my Bar Examination. I had two surgeries (pa).”
During her childhood, Atty. Reina Ricci Suarez was already exposed in the legal field. Her playhouse was the office of her father. Unlike her older brother, she initially wanted to take up medicine because her relatives told her that they already had lawyers in their family and it was time to have a doctor. But just like as the saying goes, “Kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga.” She also became a lawyer and is excelling in her chosen field.
She took a degree in Bachelor of Science at De La Salle University Manila and ranked 1st in the graduating batch in the entire College of Sciences in 1994, where she was also awarded Honorable Distinction. She then proceeded to San Beda University College of Law and graduated in 2000, ranked 14th in the graduating class.
For her practice, she practiced litigation for a few years. Eventually, she moved on to corporate practice, legal counseling, and risk consulting. She pursued additional studies in Canada and the United States, where she received scholarships and awards for academic achievement. Apart from being a lawyer, she is also globally recognized as a Canadian Risk Management Consultant in all major cities and provinces across Canada. She is a seasoned corporate executive with over two decades of legal experience, including risk consulting and advocacy. She has worked as a corporate legal counsel and risk management consultant for domestic and multinational firms.
Atty. Ricci also shared that she had her fair share of challenges during her law school days and the pressure she was getting for being the daughter of Atty. Rolando was then a law professor at the same university and author of multiple law books. She shared that her professors were former students of his father, and they experienced being the target of questions in recitations.
As parting words, Atty. Ricci quipped, “It is not enough that you are intelligent (in San Beda), you are (must be) resilient. You cannot be not resilient.”
Passing the profession from one generation to another is a common story. What made it different was how the endeavor was cultivated into a new spirit. From here on, the torch stays but the flame is ever-changing, ever-new, and ever-vibrant encompassing a difference from one another.
THE BARRISTER 