10/07/2026
Thank you UPHSL College of Law Student Council
The UPHSL College of Law community shines the spotlight on:
Atty. / Engr. John Daniel Tubillo Valencia
Alumni, UPHSL College of Law
To our incoming first-year law students, welcome to the starting line.
Right now, you are probably feeling a mix of intense excitement and overwhelming anxiety. That is completely normal. Law school is a massive shock to the system, but I want to give you the exact strategy you need to navigate this journey successfully.
First and foremost, focus on your pacing. Law school is not a sprint; it is a four-year marathon. If you try to sprint right out of the gate, you will burn out before midterms. Establish a steady, daily routine and stick to it. Consistency will beat cramming every single time.
Second, make the textbooks and codals your number one priority. There will be times when you are tempted to rely solely on shortcuts, summaries, or digests just to get through a heavy week. Avoid that trap. Your textbooks build your framework, and your codals are the actual law. Treat them as your ultimate weapon. If you master them now, they will be the very tools that will carry you safely through the Bar Exam years later.
Third, work efficiently and manage your time wisely. Focus heavily on your necessary readings and what is on your syllabus. Do not get distracted by the noise. Learn how to read with purpose, filter out the fluff, and grasp the core legal principles.
Finally, take a good rest. Never treat sleep as a luxury or a reward you only get when you finish everything. Rest is a mandatory part of your preparation. A sleep-deprived mind freezes under pressure; a well-rested mind can reason its way through the toughest recitations and exams.
Protect your peace, trust your materials, and take it one page at a time.
Best of luck, and welcome to the legal profession!
May you continue to empower and elevate everyone around you!