Hon. J. Ermin Ernest Louie R. Miguel, Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan, challenged the graduates of the Isabela State University (ISU) Cauayan Campus College of Law Class of 2026 to build their legal careers through preparation, competence, and discipline, stressing that lasting distinction in the profession is earned through sustained performance rather than institutional prestige.

Delivering the commencement address during the 2026 College of Law Commencement Exercises, Associate Justice Miguel drew from his own professional journey, from working as a janitor and service crew member to becoming a Court Legal Researcher, lawyer, trial judge, government official, and eventually Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan, to emphasize that every stage of his career strengthened the same enduring lesson.

“The legal profession eventually rewards those who do the work. Experience has taught me that excellence is not the monopoly of any institution. I have encountered brilliant lawyers from the country’s most prestigious schools. I have encountered equally brilliant lawyers from schools located far from Manila. What ultimately distinguishes a lawyer is not the name printed on the diploma. It is preparation, it is competence, it is discipline and above all, willingness to do the work,” Associate Justice Miguel said.

Drawing on his years in the judiciary, Associate Justice Miguel dismantled the notion that professional stature is dictated by the name of one’s law school, asserting instead that a lawyer’s reputation is shaped through mastery of the law, courtroom readiness, ethical judgment, and the quality of one’s work. He urged the graduating class to approach the Bar Examination as the gateway to the profession and to continually sharpen their craft long after they earn the title of attorney.

He concluded by reminding the Class of 2026 that while the Bar Examination opens the door to the legal profession, it is their work, decisions, and conduct that will ultimately define their legacy.

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