Filipino Lawyer’s Illustrious Career Driven By Academic Excellence, Proves Education Gives It All

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Filipino Lawyer’s Illustrious Career Driven By Academic Excellence, Proves Education Gives It All
Filipino Lawyer’s Illustrious Career Driven By Academic Excellence, Proves Education Gives It All

Edzyl Josef Magante’s successful career as an international tax and business lawyer has been inspired by his father’s advice that one will not get very far in life without a strong education.

In 2004, Edzyl gained his Juris Doctor degree with honors from Ateneo de Manila Law School following which he has pursued graduate education at the world’s best law schools along with progressing his Philippine legal career.

He initially obtained an LLM (Master of Laws) in Corporate and Commercial Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), under a British Chevening Scholarship and then, an LLM from Harvard Law School with a concentration in international law.

Currently he works as an international associate at Roy Legal Group Inc. in California, USA.

A Long But Eventful Journey

Likening his journey to “a typical transatlantic flight”, Edzyl said that it has been long and “occasionally turbulent” but added that the destination was worth it.

He began his legal career at the Philippine’s top litigation firm, Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices, where he acted as a business-litigation attorney.

Next he joined the law faculty at Ateneo. During his time there, he coheaded with his mentor, Dean Sedfrey Candelaria, a major project funded by the British Embassy, entitled “Capacity Building on Public and Private International Law Issues for the Philippine Judiciary.”

This project yielded the country’s first Manual of Reference on international law for civil and commercial court judges, wherein Edzyl authored a chapter on fundamental principles.

Chevening Award To Attend LSE

In subsequent years, Edzyl sought graduate studies in the United Kingdom via the Chevening Scholarship program, which is a scheme offered by British Embassies worldwide for current and future leaders, influencers and decision-makers of each participating country.

In 2010, Edzyl won a Chevening award to study at the LSE, and was then one of the just three Filipino awardees across all fields. At that point in time, he was acting as the Court Attorney VI in the office of former Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, now the country’s Ombudsman.

After completing his LLM at the LSE with merit, Edzyl returned to join Ernst & Young Philippines as an Associate Director. In this role, he advised Fortune 500 companies on international tax and business-law issues. Ernst & Young recognized Edzyl as an Ernst & Young Visionary for his performance and strong communication skills.

Pursuing A Childhood Dream

Despite his legal career taking off, Edzyl continued to think of his childhood dream of attending Harvard. In 2015, he landed a place at Harvard’s LLM program, and again was one of only three Filipinos to be admitted.

After completing his Harvard course , he secured his current role in California, notwithstanding the tough conditions of the United States legal job market .

Edzyl has attributed to his success to his philosophy of “keep trying’ and not ruling out “any options.” He also stated that Harvard and the LSE had taught him that “the study and practice of law ought now to be borderless.”

Edzyl was recently awarded a Certificate of Congressional Recognition in Los Angeles. Congressman Ted W. Lieu of California’s 33rd District signed the certificate, which states that it was being awarded in “honor and recognition” of his outstanding community service and “with sincere appreciation for [his]remarkable dedication and commitment” to Los Angeles’ public welfare .

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