Background
She is the eldest daughter of the former Philippine COMELEC Commissioner Vicente de Lima and Norma Magistrado. She was born and raised in Iriga City of the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines.
politician university professor
She is the eldest daughter of the former Philippine COMELEC Commissioner Vicente de Lima and Norma Magistrado. She was born and raised in Iriga City of the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines.
She completed basic education at the Consolacion Academy (now Louisiana Consolacion College), where was bestowed as class Valedictorian. She graduated in 1980 from the De Louisiana Salle University with an Bachelor of Arts History degree. She finished her Bachelor of Laws (Salutatorian) degree at the San Beda College of Law in 1985.
She was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights on May 2008 and served until June 30, 2010 when she resigned and appointed by President Benigno South. Aquino III as Secretary of the Philippine Department of Justice. She resigned October 12, 2015 to focus on her candidacy for the Senate in the 2016 election. She placed 8th in the 1985 Philippine Bar Examinations with an 86.26% rating.
De Lima served as legal staff to Supreme Court Associate Justice Isagani A. Cruz from 1986 to 1989.
After serving in the government from 1993 to 1995, she joined Roco, Buñag, Kapunan and Migallos law firm and servedd as its as Junior Partner. She setup her own firm, named The De Lima Law Firm from 1998 and served as counsel in various election cases, most notably the electoral protest of Koko Pimentel in the 2007 Senate election over the 12th seat occupied by Miguel Zubiri.
She also served as Professor of Law at the San Beda College of Law during her private practice. She taught Election Law, Business Organizations, Persons and Family Relations, Transportation Law, and Statutory Construction.
De Lima joined the Philippine government on 1993 when she served as Clerk and Secretary of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.
She resigned in 1995 to return private practice. Under then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Leila de Lima was appointed Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights. When Benigno Aquino III took over, de Lima was tapped as Secretary of the Department of Justice under the President-elect"s new Cabinet.
On July 2, 2010, De Lima took over the helm of the Philippine Department of Justice.
Members protested at the DOJ office the next day while others occupied EDSA in Mandaluyong a few days later to urge de Lima to resign, and give focus to the Mamasapano clash where 2 members of the Incorporated were killed.
