Lopez graduated cum laude with a degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He proceeded to take up his Law studies at the same University where he became a brother of the Sigma Rho Fraternity, the oldest and most distinguished law-based fraternity in Asia.[2][3][4] He passed the Bar examinations in 1989 with an average of 84.55%.[3]
He served as a city councilor of the 3rd District Manila from 1992 to 1998 and 2001 to 2006.[5]
Justice of court of appeals
Lopez was appointed as associate justice of the Court of Appeals on May 17, 2012 and served for more than eight years until his appointment to the Supreme Court.
Associate justice of the Supreme Court
On January 26, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Lopez as associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Lopez fills the post vacated by Justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla who retired on November 3, 2020.[1]