6,080 to take Bar tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 6,080 law graduates will take the 2009 Bar examinations for four Sundays starting tomorrow at the De La Salle University on Taft Avenue in Manila, the Supreme Court announced yesterday.

Of the 6,121 who applied to take the Bar exams, 23 were denied and 18 withdrew, according to lawyer Ma. Cristina Layusa, deputy clerk of court and Bar confidant.

Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura is chairman of this year’s committee on the Bar examinations.

The SC said it would be the first time that two examiners would be designated in each of the eight subjects.

In the new format, every subject would be divided into two parts, each with a designated examiner.

Layusa said the SC has tapped a record number of over 1,300 personnel, including building coordinators, superintendents, supervisors, head watchers, watchers, Bar assistants, and special assistants to help ensure the successful conduct of the exams.

Manila policemen and traffic enforcers from the Metro Manila Development Authority will be deployed around DLSU during all four Sundays of the Bar examinations.

DLSU gates will open as early as 5 a.m.

Taft Avenue from Quirino Avenue to Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street (formerly Vito Cruz) will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A total of 147 rooms distributed in seven buildings inside DLSU will be used for the examinations.

Last April 3, a total of 1,310 out of 6,364 examinees passed the 2008 Bar examinations.

The Rules of Court require that “a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination successfully if he has obtained a general average of 75 percent in all subjects without falling below 50 percent in any subject.”

In determining the average, subjects in the examinations are given the following relative weights:

• Political and International Law, 15 percent;

• Labor and Social Legislation, 10 percent;

• Civil Law, 15 percent;

• Taxation, 10 percent;

• Mercantile Law, 15 percent;

• Criminal Law, 10 percent;

• Remedial Law, 20 percent; and

• Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, five percent.

The first Bar examinations in the country were held in 1901, with only 13 examinees.