SUMMARY - Chapter VI
The Bar Examinations (pp.54-60)
I. Nature and Extent of Bar Examinations
Bar examinations
• required in order to test one’s learning
and proficiency in law, since these are among
the requirements designed to avoid social
danger
• dictated by the demands of public
policy
• designed to exclude any person
whose intelligence, learning, and mental
capacity are inadequate to enable him to
assume and charge the duties of an attorney.
• Written examination held in 4 days
designated by the Chairman, Committee on
bar examinations (with the respective weights
of the ff. subjects)
Political Law -15%
Labor Law-10%
Civil Law- 15%
Taxation- 10%
Commercial/Mercantile Law- 15%
Criminal law- 10%
Remedial Law- 20%
Legal ethics and Practical Exercises- 5%
• Applicant must have sufficient
qualifications
• Venue city of Manila
• Schedule:
st
1 day- pol. & int’l. law (am), labor and social
legislation (pm)
2nd day- civil law (am), taxation (pm)
3rd day- commercial/mercantile law (am), criminal law
(pm)
4th day- remedial law (am), legal ethics and practical
exercise (pm)
• In order for to pass:
- Examinee must obtain an average grade of
at least 75% in all subjects without however
failing below 50% in any subject
- No partial passing (in view of the constant
development in laws and jurisprudence)
• An examinee who fails 3 times in the
bar exams
- disqualified from taking another one
UNLESS:
- he has shown to the satisfaction of the
Supreme Court that he has enrolled and
Villareal II, E. (2002). Legal Profession. Quezon City: Rex Printing Company, Inc.:
Content based from Villareal’s Legal Profession Book
passed regular fourth year in a
recognized law school.
- Must also submit not only a certification
under oath by the professors of the
individual review subjects attended by
him that he has regularly attended
classes and passed the subjects under
the same conditions as an ordinary
student, but also the rating obtained by
him the particular subject.
II. The Bar Examination Committee
• Judicia
l Function to admit candidates for admission
to the bar Supreme Court acts through Bar
Examination Committee
• Compo
sed of:
1. S
upreme Court Justice (designated by
the Chief Justice)
2. 8
members of the bar (serve as an
examiner with the 8 subjects with 1
subject assigned to each member)
• Bar Examination Committee shall serve
for 1 year
• Bar Confidant- liaison bet. SC, the
chairman and the individual members of
the committee (function purely ministerial)
III. Duties and functions of the Committee
• Every member is required to exercise with
greatest care and diligence in the
performance of his duties.
• Every act (In connection with the exercise of
discretion with the admission of the
applicants for membership in the bar) must
be always in accordance with the
established rules and subject to the final
approval of the SC
• Questions are same for all examinees
• Vested to the committee:
o Correction of exam papers
o Give grades obtained by examinee
o Submit corrected paper to the bar
confidant (who tallies the individual
Created: 08/08/09
 grades of the examinee in all
subjects, computes the general
average and prepares a
comparative date showing the
percentage of passing and failing
after which he shall submit the same
to the Bar exam Committee and to
the SC en banc.)
• Committee is enjoined to take necessary
precautions to prevent substitution of
papers or commission of frauds
IV. Conduct of the Examinations
• Examinee:
o Must know that failure to take any
subject will serve as bar from taking
the exams
o Given a Notice of Admission (serve
as a pass to the examination
compound/room)
o Not allowed to bring weapons,
cameras, tape recorders, other radio
or stereo equipment, communication
gadgets, and any other electronic
device/s.
o Eating, smoking, bringing of papers,
books or notes are also prohibited.
o Paramount Consideration keeping
the examinee’s identity secret to
avoid any influence to bear upon the
examiner
o Name card shall be given by the
proctor or head watcher which
should be accomplished strictly
following the rules, by printing his
name, affixing his customary
signature, indicating the school he
came from and affixing his right
thumb mark. (This shall insert the
name card into an envelop which is
attached at the back of examination
notebook.
o Shall answer questions in own
handwriting without help from
anyone.
o Use of fountain pen and sign pens in
permanent blue, blue-black or black
ink
o Variations in the style of writing or
color of ink must be avoided
o Not allowed to communicate with
other examinees
Villareal II, E. (2002). Legal Profession. Quezon City: Rex Printing Company, Inc.:
o If poor penmanship (from a verified
application made) allowed to use
a noiseless typewriter
o In correcting a mistake simply
draw a line across the word/words
he wants to change.
o Any other for of erasures as well as
writing the name of the examinee or
making unnecessary marking/
impression may be construed as a
means of identifying his booklet and
this may be a ground for
disqualification
o Must not influence any member of
the Committee on bar
Examinations further protect the
integrity of exams and avoid undue
pressure
o The identities of the examiners are
usually not being divulged pending
the release of the examination
results.
*Any candidate who violates the rules shall be barred
and be counted as a failure against him. The court
may also impose more severe penalty like permanent
disqualification from taking the bar
V. Coverage of the Bar Examinations
 Kindly refer to page 58 to 60 of the book
VI. Oath and Certificate
After the Examinee hurdles the bar...
 take an oath before the SC en banc (1st and
possibly the last time they appear such body- not all
lawyers may have chance to appear again or argue
with the SC en back because not all lawyers engage
themselves in active practice and if they are, not all
cases reach the said body)
• The court through the Office of bar confidant
designates a particular date and place
which to administer the mass oath taking.
• After that the successful examinee....
o Will have to sign in the roll of
attorneys before addressing himself
as an attorney.
o Pay IBP membership and
professional tax before he can
legally practice or appear in court
o Title of “Attorney” (in 1 case)
Created: 08/08/09
 Reserved to those who,
having obtained the
necessary degree in the
study of law and successfully
taken the bar examinations,
have been admitted to the
IBP and remain members
thereof in good standing, and
it is they alone who are
authorized to practice law in
the Philippines.

Created: 08/08/09
Villareal II, E. (2002). Legal Profession. Quezon City: Rex Printing Company, Inc.: