Our 200-hour internship at Z. Soriano & Associates is nearing its end as the Lenten Season begins, and because of this, we could not help but engage in self-reflections. The Lent, a 40-day period of spiritual preparation for Easter, is a time for Christians to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, practice repentance, and deepen their faith through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
As Office Administration students at Cavite State University - Main Campus, we are honored to be interns at Z. Soriano & Associates and its non-profit arm, the Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre, Inc.. During the internship, we somehow became part of the firm's practice and advocacy. It was a humbling experience to be exposed to the real-world setting, especially in a law office. We were introduced to the different departments of the firm and we were assigned with buddy-staff whom we are currently working with.
Our mood for reflection was stimulated by the office motto “Integritas et virtute” and S-M-A-R-T planning. At ZSALO and C-Help, integrity is a core value and smart planning is key to effective legal work.
Integrity is a value of being honest of doing what is right, even though no one is watching. SMART planning, on the other hand, is the act of setting goals and prioritizing tasks to achieve objectives efficiently and effectively. Each letter in “SMART” stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Meaning, the workplan of every member of the team has concrete and well-defined goals, the criteria for success are quantifiable, the goals are attainable within a given timeframe and aligned with the mission, vision and values of the firm, and have deadlines. Every member, subteam, regular team and the entire workforce has weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual workplans. Even us, interns, co-developed with the staff our own internship workplans.
During our internship at ZSALO and C-Help, we observed firsthand how integrity and smart planning shape the firm’s professional culture and environment. The legal team is always truthful and straightforward with clients, ensuring they understand the merits of their cases without false hope. They set realistic expectations, they liquidate and report their expenses to the clients, do monthly case updating and provide guidance for the best possible outcome of the case. We witnessed their debates and struggles to avoid mistakes, and their vigilance to give their best in everything that they do.
Smart planning is evident in how the firm strictly follows deadlines, conducts weekly meetings, and ensures that every task is completed efficiently. It enables lawyers to plan their every step, from gathering evidence to creating arguments. It also allows us to manage workloads effectively. Just like recently, A C-Help meeting was conducted with the objective of breaking down a 3-year plan into annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly plans of the team. Weekly huddles of each department are necessary in the office to review the progress, discuss challenges, and to remind each member of priorities and urges. Smart planning helps the office be aware of timelines and ensures that tasks are progressing.
The legal team’s commitment to office values and time management allows them to handle multiple cases effectively. For example, we also witnessed how lawyers prepared case documents well in advance, preventing last-minute issues, and ensuring clients received timely legal assistance. They follow a 3-layer internal review and observe a fact-checking system with the clients.
What is more admirable is that a fourth of the law office’s income is donated to C-Help so that the latter can provide free legal services to indigent communities affected by environmental problems. See C-Help cases that include MASIPAG, Greenpeace, et al. v. DA, et al. (the famous GMO case); DLHB, et al. v. DoTr, et al. for just transition; consumer complaint against plastic Andrade, et al. v. Coca Cola, et al. and PAMALAKAYA, Kalikasan, et al. v. PRA, et al. against reclamation and seabed quarrying in Manila Bay. Compassion for the poor and advocacy for the protection of the environment are also what make Z. Soriano & Associates unique.
The positive impact of these values, advocacy and practices is clear. Integrity fosters trust, strengthens professional credibility, and ensures ethical legal service in the pursuit of justice. This experience has taught us the importance of integrity, honesty, discipline, team work, compassion, advocacy and time management which will benefit both our future career and personal growth.
Reflecting further on integrity and smart planning of ZSALO and C-Help, we realize these are are not just office values for growth, these are what is required of us, and it reminds us of Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”.
There are so many problems—political, environmental, and even interpersonal—that have many, different causes and effects, that we must act and contribute to their solutions. But, as our internship at ZSALO and C-Help taught us, we can effectively do so by first ensuring that we work with integrity and through SMART planning, and with compassion and advocacy in our hearts.
This Lenten season calls for the values of honesty, discipline, mercy, and humility; and the firm embodies this by practicing honesty, mercy through donating legal service to C-Help, and humility through diligent work.
In sum, we must say that Z. Soriano & Associates is a law office for learning, and shaping individuals in the legal profession. As interns at ZSALO and C-Help, our journey has been truly enlightening, offering lessons that go beyond the workplace. The values we assimilated resonate deeply, especially in this Lenten season which is a time for reflection and renewal.
We are proud to say that holding an internship at ZSALO is a great stepping stone for students like us to gain real-world experience and skills for legal and office management careers.
For those seeking an opportunity to develop skills, uphold strong values, and make a difference, we encourage you to hold your internship here at ZSALO and C-Help. It is more than just a professional experience, it is a journey of purpose, integrity, and transformation!
