The Bar Examinations

The Bar Examinations

Around a thousand barristers are expected to join the Integrated Bar every year. The results of the Bar examinations are always much-awaited—exciting to almost everyone but somehow dreadful to those who suffer sleepless nights while waiting for the announcement of the Supreme Court.

What makes the Bar examinations popular is open to many speculations. All guesses are either far fetch or accurate. Admiration and fear are the two emotions that afflict those who behold them. The Bar exams are always fascinating and mysterious to the observers. On the other hand, there is always a gnawing fear in the mind of those who had taken them—the exams may result in one’s greatest affirmation or failure!

 The examinations cover eight courses: Political Law and International Law, Labor and Soial Legislation, Civil Law, Taxation, Commercial Law, Criminal Law, Remedial Law and Legal Ethics which includes pratical exercises in forms and legal skills. They are spread out in the four sundays of the Bar month, which is used to be in September until the Supreme Court decided to transfer it to November, and just recently to October. The policy, which is at times not adhered to by the Supreme Court, speaks of disqualification grade of 50% and a requirement of a general percentile average (GPA) of 75%. Anyone who fails to beat these qualifications flunks the Bar unless the Supreme Court waives the policy for a particular Bar year.

            Essay questions used to dominate the Bar Examinations until the Supreme Court adopted the multiple choice (MCQ) exams in 2011. The Supreme Court redefined the coverage of the exams by mandating that their coverage shall be drawn up by topics and subtopics rather than by just stating the covered law. Another innovation is the attempt to measure the knowledge of law and its applications through the MCQ exams. Meanwhile, essay questions are still provided to test the lawyering skills of the bar candidates.

            Taking the Bar exams is psychological torture for most examinees. The uncertainties accompanying the examinations and those that afflict barristers while waiting for the results are beyond description. Many experience nightmares while a few others have to confront their anxieties and depressions as early as the last day of the exams. Well, some are lucky to be pre-occupied with other things—they do not have the luxury of time to delve into the possibilities of the Supreme Court’s final imprimatur on the Bar exams results.

             Of course the preparation for the Bar starts on the first day of the first year class in law school. Everything starts from the law school. The six months review serves merely as the winding up process for four to five years wrestling bouts with the law professors. Students are told to prepare for the Bar exams during the first day of their class. Despite these warnings, students still get to enjoy the wild side of the law school before they finally face the test of fire. The Bar examinations serve as the standard that law students have to measure up with. Thus, passing the Bar exams is always a source of profound joy and the proof of the indomitable spirit that one has earned during those difficult years in law school.