CJ to new lawyers: Practice in provinces
Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno yesterday urged new lawyers who took their oath before the Supreme Court (SC) to practice their profession in their own hometowns or provinces. STAR/File
MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno yesterday urged new lawyers who took their oath before the Supreme Court (SC) to practice their profession in their own hometowns or provinces.
A total of 3,747 passers of the 2016 Bar exams were joined by relatives and friends in facing the SC justices in a special session for the oath-taking ceremony at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
In addressing the new lawyers, Sereno cited the significance of the 2016 Bar results where all the top 10 came from law schools in the provinces.
It was the first time that no graduate from a law school in Metro Manila placed in the top 10.
Sereno said it was an indication of the dispersal of quality education throughout the country.
Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., chair of last year’s Bar exams, echoed the Chief Justice’s call.
“We definitely need lawyers in the provinces and in providing legal aid services to the poor and marginalized,” Velasco said.
Sereno reminded the new lawyers to be true to their oath and always uphold the rule of law.
“Preserve and defend the rule of law. Arm yourselves with idealism, passion and knowledge of the law,” she told the young lawyers, whom she branded as the “lifeblood of the legal profession.”
“Do not waver, uphold the truth and dispense justice. Know that inequality and poverty exists. Serve the people,” Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, for his part, said in a post on Twitter.
Velasco noted that this year’s batch represents one of the highest passing rate in the history of the Bar exams, or 59.06 percent of the total of 6,344 takers who completed the exams last November.
It was the second highest passing rate in the history of the Bar exams since 1954 when the passing rate was 75.17 percent.
“The exam was fair and reasonable. Many actually thought it was difficult,” he said.
Karen Mae Calam of the University of San Carlos law school in Cebu City topped the 2016 Bar exams with an average of 89.05 percent.
In an interview with reporters before the ceremony, she said her achievement comes with big pressure for her to do well in law practice.
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