attystela.com

Hello and welcome to AttyStela.com 👋

I’m Stela Benitez, sometimes “Attorney Stela,” sometimes “Attorney S,” mostly just Stela. One L. Two would have been overkill.

I’m a qualified lawyer with a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. I work across commercial contracts, SaaS agreements, data privacy, AI governance, and employment law for companies operating across the Asia-Pacific region. Outside the day job, this site is where I write about the law in a way that doesn’t require a law degree to understand.

I got here the long way. I put myself through law school while working full-time and side-hustling part-time, which is a nice way of saying I did not sleep much for several years. Somewhere in that stretch I graduated with my Juris Doctor here, later worked as a Court Decongestion Officer at the Supreme Court, and eventually found my way into data privacy, tech, and commercial law, which is where I’ve stayed because the work never stops changing and neither do I.

Why this site exists

I grew up with my grandmother, who raised me and made sure I got an education even when it wasn’t easy to afford. I remember crying over a 10 USD school fee because we genuinely didn’t have it. She taught me that education, dignity, and integrity are the three things nobody can take from you.

I know a lot of Filipinos carry that same struggle, and legal problems are rarely cheap to solve. This site is my way of paying that forward: plain-language legal content on privacy, tech, employment, and the everyday legal questions people are too intimidated (or too broke) to ask a lawyer about directly.

What you’ll find here

• Practical explainers on different topics: law and life.
• Commentary on legal developments that actually affect regular people and businesses, not just law firms
• Occasional templates and resources for the things people need most and can least afford (more on this soon)

A necessary disclaimer

Everything on this site is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship between us. The law is fact-specific and constantly evolving, and I can’t responsibly advise on your particular situation without knowing the actual facts, reviewing documents, and going through a proper engagement. If you need advice on an actual legal problem, please consult a lawyer directly, ideally one who can review your specific facts and documents.

Beyond the law

When I’m not deep in research, I’m usually behind a camera, tinkering with digital design, or attempting a “healthy” dessert that occasionally succeeds. I fall down rabbit holes easily and read too much when something catches my interest. I’d like to call this intellectual curiosity. It might just be a mild obsession problem.

Be passionate, be curious, be genuine, act with integrity. That’s the whole ethos.

Questions, comments, or strongly worded reactions? Reach out through the contact form. You may also email me at info@attystela.com.