“Objection, Your Honor!” – My Journey from Comfort Zone to Courtroom

 

“Objection, your Honor!”

I never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth… at least not in real life. I used to imagine myself saying it in front of the mirror, holding a hairbrush like a microphone, just to see if it would sound dramatic enough. But lo and behold, lately I found myself blurting it out inside the courtroom—for real—while fighting for my client’s cause!

Finally! After more than a year of postponements, my trial proper had come. Direct and cross-examinations! But… between you and me… those postponements were secretly a relief! Why? Because honestly, I didn’t know how to do a direct examination. Moreso, a cross-examination! In short: lutang.

For context, I passed the bar three years ago. Yes, technically I’m a “young lawyer.” Young because… well, I want to believe I still look young. (Insert laugh). But seriously, I’m new in practice and still inexperienced.

When I passed the bar, I was exhausted. Imagine: 8 years in law school, 1 year bar review, bar exams postponed four times because of the pandemic. We finally took it in February 2022! Kaya pagkapasa, I said, “Di lng sa ko, please lang! Government work lang sa ko mag focus run.”

So I worked in the City Legal Office. My life was full of drafting contracts, appearing before the Sanggunian, lecturing barangays, even talking to illegal settlers. In hindsight, that first year gave me the rest I badly needed after the mental torture of law school and bar review.

To top it off, I became a notary public just four months after passing! Hashtag #blessed. Honestly, I was earning more than my peers at the time. While my fellow batchmates ranted in our group chat about low pay because they were just starting, ako naman, chill lang with my salary plus notarial services on the side.

But then… comfort zone alert! After one year, I realized I wasn’t growing anymore.

Enter the new batch of lawyers. And wow—trailblazers! Some of them quit their jobs, opened their own law offices, already litigating like they were veterans. Me? Still stuck with “contracts, contracts, contracts.”

One day, I even struggled to tell the difference between an “Annex” and an “Exhibit.” A newbie lawyer explained: “Annex if not yet admitted in court; Exhibit if already admitted.” That tiny explanation… hurt my ego! I thought, Grabe, ako nagno-notarize, sila nakikipaglaban na sa korte.

Scrolling through Facebook, I saw them looking successful, in their suites, smiling after hearings. Ako? Drafting resolutions.

I told myself, “If I’m not practicing, I’m not growing.”

Then came the drama at the office. October 2023: our boss suddenly banned notarization during office hours. Fair enough. But when he discovered we notarized during lunch breaks, he banned us completely! Ang saya, diba? Haha! Let’s just say things went messy, vindictive pa nga.

By March 2024, I did something unimaginable: I resigned. I thought I couldn’t stand on my own, but guess what—I built my own law office. 

Of course, in my mind, some people would say:

“Wala gani siyay experience sa court!”

“Wala gani nag-PAO or associate!”

“Tapos nag-law office dayon siya?!”

And me? Smile lang. God has bigger plans.

Now, am I suddenly great at litigation? No! Just last Monday, I objected, “Objection your Honor, speculative! My client has no personal knowledge of the said transaction!”

The Judge: “Overruled.”

Me: “Okay lang, at least nakapag-Objection na ako!” 

And I realized—I actually love this. Going to court, fighting for clients’ rights, feeling the thrill of practice—it’s cathartic. Yes, I still make mistakes. But every mistake makes me sharper.

And that’s the lesson I want to leave you with: God will not allow you to remain in your comfort zone. He will shake your faith, push you to grow, and prepare you for bigger things.

I’m far from being the best lawyer. But every day, with mentors, with friends, and with faith, I keep striving. And when I stand in court and say, “Objection your Honor!”—even if overruled—I know I’m growing, one hearing at a time.

And you! Yes you! May you also find the courage to step out of your own comfort zones.

#CourtroomChronicles