Ateneo Law Journal
The Ateneo Law Journal (the "Journal") is a journal of legal scholarship published by an independent student group at Ateneo School of Law.
Overview
The Journal is one of the most prestigious law journals in the Philippines. It is published four times in each academic year, with its first issue released on June. Beginning volume 48, the June issue is dedicated to covering the most outstanding cases decided by the Supreme Court for the previous year. The review has a circulation of about 1,000. The online edition of the Journal publishes the first few paragraphs of articles published beginning in volume 46. The Supreme Court of the Philippines has cited articles published in the Journal in its decisions.
History
The Ateneo Law Journal published its first issue on 1951. It began as a bi-monthly publication and featured articles of legal interest, the latest legislation, case law, and book reviews. Early volumes previously featured the digests of Supreme Court decisions in the final issue, and questions and suggested answers to Bar Examination.
Selection
Staffers were selected using a competitive process that takes into account a written commentary on a novel legal issue and an editing examination. Members of the Board of Editors, which included the Editor-in-chief, Associate Editor-in-chief, Managing Editor, Article Editor and Notes and Comments Editor, were selected under a competitive process that includes an editing examination and a panel interview conducted by the outgoing Board of Editors.
Beginning volume 47, the Journal stopped the admission of staffers and adopted a more stringent admission process and criteria that where only editors would be admitted, directly to the Journal's Board of Editors. The upgraded admission process includes the setting of a minimum cumulative quality point index for candidates, the exclusion of candidates on academic probation, an editing examination, a written commentary on a novel legal issue or Supreme Court decision, and a panel interview conducted by the Membership Committee of the Journal. The Executive Committee was established to head the Board of Editors. Executive editors are selected by the Board of Editors through election.
The Board of Editors comprises of around 20 student editors. Around 10 new editors are admitted each year from the first, second and third year classes of the Ateneo School of Law, comprising of around 600.
Alumni
Prominent alumni of the Ateneo Law Journal include Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna, Renato Corona, Court of Appeals Justice Hector Hofileña, Sandiganbayan Justice Francis E. Garchitorena, Congressmen Sergio Apostol, Regalado E. Maambong, and Exequiel B. Javier, Department of Finance Undersecretary Gaudencio R. Mendoza, Jr., Central Bank Governor Gabriel Singson, Presidential Commission for Good Government Chairman Camilo L. Sabio, Bureau of Customs Commissioner Antonio M. Bernardo,Philippine Stock Exchange Presidents Eduardo De Los Angeles and Francisco Ed. Lim, Professor Jacinto D. Jimenez, Deans Cynthia Roxas Del-Castillo and Cesar L. Villanueva and media personality Dong Puno.
Significant Ateneo Law Journal articles
- Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castañeda, The Origins of Philippine Judicial Review, 1900-1935, Vol. 46, Issue 1, (2001).
- Ricardo C. Puno, Sr., Legacies in Civil Law from Justice Arsenio P. Dizon and His Peers, Vol. 46, Issue 3 (2001).
- Cesar L. Villanueva, Revisiting the Philosophical Underpinnings of Philippine Commercial Laws, Vol. 46, Issue 3 (2001).
- Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J., From One-Man Rule to "People Power", Vol. 46, Issue 1 (2001).
- Aloysius P. Llamzon, "The Generally Accepted Principles of International Law" as Philippine Law: *Towards a Structurally Consistent Use of Customary International Law in Philippine Courts, Vol. 47, Issue 1 (2002).
- Adolfo S. Azcuna, The Role of Judicial Decisions in Forging a Just Society, Vol. 48, Issue 1 (2003).
- Renato C. Corona, The Importance of Public Attention to Far-reaching Public Issues and Policies, Vol. 48, Issue 1 (2003).
- Vicente V. Mendoza, Towards Meaningful Reforms in the Bar Examinations, Vol. 48, Issue 3 (2003).
- ALJ Ed. Board, The Father of Philippine Liberal Constitutionalism (In the Feschrift issue for Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J.), Vol. 49, Issue 2 (2004).
- Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J., Justice Davide’s Contribution to the Formulation of the 1987 Constitution, Vol. 49, Issue 3 (2004).
External links
Sources: 1. Ateneo Law Journal online 2. Ateneo Law Journal, Vol. 46, Issue 3.