Legal Literacy - As humans who have (or are) dedicating the rest of their sanity to gain knowledge at the faculty of law, there is one eternal curse that is attached to our diploma equivalent to the wet stamp ink of the rectorate: being considered as a Google walking by extended family, neighbors, to elementary school friends who have been ten years lost contact.
This phenomenon usually occurs in sacred moments that should be full of warmth, such as family gatherings, high school reunions, or just hanging out at the guard post. When Economics graduates are asked "what is a good investment this year?" or Engineering graduates are asked "why isn't the house AC cold?", we Bachelor of Laws will get questions with a weight equivalent to a comprehensive exam, but are expected to be answered within a duration Instagram Story.
"Excuse me, if my grandfather's inherited land is seized by a neighbor who turns out to be the brother-in-law of the second wife, but the certificate is still Letter C and has not been transferred since the Dutch era, what article does that fall under? Can the person be imprisoned?"
Instantly, the nastar in the arisan jar tasted as bitter as an interlocutory decision rejected by the judge.
The Palugada Human Myth (Whatever You Want, I Have)
There is a massive and structured misunderstanding in our society that law graduates are superhumans who memorize the entire contents of the laws and regulations in Indonesia. In fact, let's be honest while staring at the ceiling of the room. The number of regulations in this country is more than the number of false hopes given by your crush.
Starting from the 1945 Constitution, Laws, Government Regulations in Lieu of Laws, Government Regulations, Presidential Regulations, Ministerial Regulations, to Regional Regulations that take care of parking levies in impromptu markets. Do you think we memorize all of that by heart? Of course not, Bestie.
People often forget—or don't know—that law has specializations. Like medicine. If your tooth hurts, you go to a dentist, not to an obstetrician, right? Well, it's the same in law. Some focus on Criminal Law (blood and prison), Civil Law (money and inheritance), Constitutional Law (elections and the Constitutional Court), or Administrative Law (permits and bureaucracy).
But for my aunt in the village, a Bachelor of Laws is a Bachelor of Laws. Period.
Imagine how awkward I was. My thesis discussed a heavy and intricate matter "Trading in Influence" alias trading in influence in criminal acts of corruption. My days were spent dissecting how state officials abuse their positions for personal gain. Suddenly, at the dining table, I was confronted with the question:
"How do I take care of a divorce so that marital assets don't fall into the hands of a gold digger?"
Oh dear, Madam. My research is about white-collar corruption, about officials who collude to sell influence, not about domestic dramas like the series "Layangan Putus". But if I answer "I don't know", I'll be accused of not taking my studies seriously. If I give a reckless answer, I'll be accused of being misleading. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Just like the fate of the common people in the face of the oligarchy.
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