ATTY. JOSEPH NOEL M. ESTRADA, fondly called “Atty. Erap” is a legal professional with an expansive background in law and education and the founding partner of the Estrada & Aquino Law. Recognized as a legal luminary in education law, he actively contributes to shaping the legal and policy landscape of Philippine education. He obtained his degree in Political Science at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1999 where he graduated with honors. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, and admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2005. In 2019, he completed an executive program on “Transforming Higher Education Leaders Through Effective Policy Reforms” at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.
Atty. Estrada is a trusted resource person of both chambers of Congress and in policy consultations of the different education agencies. Atty. Estrada was instrumental in the passage of landmark legislations on education which include Republic Act 10533 or “The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”; Republic Act 10687 or the UniFAST Law in 2015; Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education in 2017; and Republic Act 11984 or the “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act in 2024.
Atty. Estrada is counsel to several educational institutions which include Ayala Education, National Teachers College, St. Paul College-Pasig, Arellano University, University of Mindanao, Universidad de Zamboanga, University of Perpetual Help System, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Reedley International School, Claret School of Quezon of City, Lourdes School Mandaluyong, Colegio San Agustin-Makati; Cebu Institute of Technology University, Berkely School of Baguio, to name a few, and educational associations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA, Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities or PAASCU, Private Education Assistance Committee or PEAC, Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. or CEM, and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations or COCOPEA.
Atty. Joseph served as the Chief Legal Officer of the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM II, a body created by RA 11899 to review, assess, and evaluate the state of Philippine education and recommend innovative and targeted policy reforms.
Atty. Estrada also writes the weekly column, “The Legal Mind” at the leading newspaper, The Manila Times.
He has written three law books on education law published by Rex Publishing – “The Education Act” in 2019, the “Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers” in 2022, and the “Philippine Education Law” in 2024.
Atty. Estrada is one of the most sought-after lecturers in the field of law, a law school professor, and a regular MCLE lecturer on education law at the University of the Philippines Law Center.
His multifaceted roles underscore his commitment to advancing education through legal expertise and policy advocacy.