2024 Bar exams to be held on Sept. 8, 11, 15
Aspiring lawyers have about nine months to review before the next Bar examinations.
The Supreme Court of the Philippines has announced the schedule for the 2024 Bar examinations that will be held on three separate days in September next year.
In a memo signed by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, the examination days will be on Sunday, Sept. 8, Wednesday, Sept. 11, and Sunday, Sept. 15.
"The 2024 Bar Examinations #MostValuableLaban will bridge the gap between the study and practice of law and will usher qualified examinees in their transition from law students to 'practice-ready' and 'potentially capable' lawyers," the Bar Bulletin No. 1 read.
Moreover, the SC announced that the questions will be geared toward "practical skills and jurisprudential perspectives to evince analytical and problem-solving abilities, a strong sense of ethics, professionalism, empathy for clients, and commitment to public services." According to SC, these will serve as the minimum benchmarks for admission to the practice of law.
Additionally, the six core subjects will remain the same, and have the following weights:
September 8
- AM: Political and Public International Law – 15%
- PM: Commercial and Taxation Laws – 20%
September 11
- AM: Civil Law – 20%
- PM: Labor Law and Social Legislations – 10%
September 15
- AM: Criminal Law – 10%
- PM: Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises – 25%
The upcoming 2024 Bar Exam will mark the fourth consecutive year that the examination is administered digitally. The digital format was first adopted during the 2020-2021 Bar Examination, which was chaired by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.
The Office of the Bar Chairperson also said that the application procedures, venues of local testing centers, and other guidelines for conducting the 2024 Bar Exam will be announced in subsequent Bar bulletins.
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, 3,812 out of 10,387 examinees passed the 2023 Bar with a passing rate of 36.77%, lower than 2022's 43.47% or 3,992 out of 9,183.