Integrative Lawyers of the World
Tanya Lat, Philippines - Integrative Lawyers of the World, Series 2 Episode 2
Episode Summary
In this episode, Tanya Lat talks with us about her thoughts on human rights and people having a say in things that will affect their lives, their health, and their environment; her work on trade relations between the Philippines and Japan, and on finding common ground even with those who disagree with us. She also shares her great awakening to see our interconnectedness. Music for this podcast was created by Toby Leach. He may be contacted at: tobby.leach@gmail.com
Episode Notes
Tanya Lat
Email: atty.tanyalat@gmail.com
Graduate Program Coordinator at University of the Philippines College of Law
Brief Bio:
Tanya left big firm practice looking for a meaningful way to practice law that was aligned with her values. She is a professor of law teaching ethics such courses as :
- Legal and Judicial Ethics,
- Legal Profession,
- Legal Technique and Logic,
- The Lawyer as Leader and Policymaker,
- Legal Education, and
- International Trade Law.
She is working with the Legal Education Advancement Program in the Philippines to reshape legal education for more impactful and meaningful experience for students. For her own lectures and classes, she starts each class with a meditation. This is one example of how she integrates her values into her work.
Previously, she was Legal Adviser of the International Trade Unit of the Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Project Manager of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, Consultant of the Perterson Institute for International Economics, and Legal Consultant of the Akbayan Citizens Action Party. In her role as legal advisor, she worked to give ordinary people a voice in the international negotiations between the Philippines and Japan.
She has earned many awards and is engaged in political discussions.
Show Notes:
Some major themes in our discussion:
- human rights and people having a say in things that will affect their lives, their health, and their environment;
- finding common ground even with those who disagree with us
- Great Awakening to a new consciousness of see our interconnectedness
In our conversation, we discussed:
- Why she left big firm law practice and how she knew when it was time to leave
- Asking God to give her a sign when it was time to leave and how that sign showed up
- Transitioning from large firm and the doors that opened for her when she was authentic with herself and stayed true to her authenticity
- Her role as consultant in the trade negotiations between the Philippines and Japan. She explains that she worked with a young group of lawyers who wanted to help Filipino people – advising them on the effects of trade and investment negotiations between the Philippines and Japan and how this trade deal would affect them.
- Whether and how people can have a say in international treaties between their governments.
- Having people be a part of the process and the decisions that will affect their lives – and addressing how to deal with misinformation and propaganda that may influence or manipulate one’s involvement in the process
- Teaching meditation to law students; starting every class with a meditation
- What if international negotiations, summits, negotiations etc. started with group meditation and moments of stillness?
- How to engage with others who think differently from us without name-calling and without aligning into divisive teams but by finding our common ground
- What it means to be an integrative lawyer or what integrative law means to her
- Changing the consciousness of law and how this is important to change systems and structures
- The “Great Awakening” to an understanding that we live on one planet and that we are one human family and this awakening is necessary for us to solve the problems facing us such as climate change and the pandemic.
- The Legal Education Advancement Program and how it is changing the legal education in the Philippines