The mission of the Ateneo Law School is to form graduates who are academically excellent and competent, spiritually developed, socially involved, culturally rooted, and globally connected.
Academically Excellent and Competent
"The Ateneo Law School adheres to the long-standing tradition of academic excellence in the University. In pursuit of academic competence and excellence, we have recently enhanced our J.D. curriculum with a Tracking Program, which allows students to choose electives that specialize in one of three tracks: Corporate and Business Law, Dispute Resolution, and International Law and Development. With the launch of the enhanced curriculum, we have once again raised the bar of excellence in legal education in the country as we did 25 years ago when we first shifted from a Bachelor of Laws to a Juris Doctor program. We pursue this direction hand in hand with the strengthening of the core bar-oriented subjects for a more wholistic approach in the preparation of our students for both domestic and international law practice."
- Sedfrey M. Candelaria
Dean (2011-2018), Ateneo Law School
Spiritually Developed
"The Ateneo way is more than just a way of schooling you to become proficient and successful in the professional world. Yes, you will be stretched here to hone your talents, deepen your knowledge, and develop your character. But the Ateneo way is more than just a matter of education and excellence.
We will dare you to discover a larger vision of yourselves and our world. We will challenge you to dream of and do greater things because we know you are more than what the grade-givers of this world make you out to be. We do this because the Ateneo is more than just a school.
The Ateneo is a mission we share in Christ who we believe sends us to change the world for the better. That includes reshaping our very selves to be always ready to offer our lives for others.
The Ateneo way is a way of oblation, iconized by a small man named Ignatius Loyola who bent his knees and his life for the greater glory of God."
- Fr. Jose T. Villarin, S.J.
President (2010-2020), Ateneo de Manila University
Socially Involved and Culturally Rooted
"As change catalysts: we can better serve society as facilitators rather than as the main actors of social development. Our primary and direct action is mainly in education. In other social sectors, it is better for us as an institution to enable the mobilization and convergence of various actors in society. If our intervention in a community or institution is to be direct, it is always with a view to making social templates that can be eventually replicated and multiplied by others.
As strategic thinkers: our place in higher education is to help society do some higher-order thinking on the complex, culture-bound, non-linear mechanisms and systems that perpetuate the collective burden of poverty and conflict. Understanding these, we can help propose systemic solutions that are hopefully effective and lasting. On this, it is also imperative for a higher education institution such as ours to plot the long-term, wider impact of national and global currents on local communities.
As culture shapers: we are in the “business” of changing mindsets and converting lives. As I shared in the Rizal sesquicentennial celebration, we cannot build what we do not love. And we cannot love what is not ours. A privileged role then for us as a school is to cultivate love of country. Only by defining and strengthening our national identity will we be able to participate meaningfully on the global track of development. This will demand new work on expanding our notion of nation and nationalism in view of the Filipino diaspora. In cultivating this love of country, the humanities and the arts play an instrumental part."
- Fr. Jose T. Villarin, S.J.
President (2010-2020), Ateneo de Manila University
Globally Connected
"In pursuit of the University's drive to become global, we are increasing our capacity to address emerging global and cross-border issues and to participate in shaping the world in this millennium. With the new academic calendar that runs from August to May, we are better able to build lasting academic partnerships with global universities and international organizations; increase avenues for student and faculty exchange in cooperation with partner universities in Europe, Asia, and North America; and offer our J.D. graduates the opportunity to pursue a double degree with an international partner university."
- Sedfrey M. Candelaria
Dean (2011-2018), Ateneo Law School
