SC shortens sched, coverage of Bar exams

CEBU, Philippines —  The Supreme Court yesterday decided to shorten the 2020-2021 Bar Examination and reduce its coverage following concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Omicron variant, and the effects of Typhoon Odette.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the High Court said that upon the recommendation of the Bar chairperson, it resolved to reduce the coverage and shorten the duration of the 2020/21 Bar Examinations pro hac vice, meaning, for this particular case only.

Per the Court en banc's resolution dated January 4, 2022, the examinations with the revised coverage will be held on January 23, 2022, Sunday and on January 25, 2022, Monday.

“The Court noted that the Bar examinees for this coming Bar has reviewed for longer than all the other batches taking the Bar exams under very difficult conditions,” the Supreme Court said.

‘Best Compromise’

Stakeholders in Cebu have welcomed the development.

“It is the best compromise. It is a solution, albeit unconventional, that considers all parties involved. Certainly, it will test the nimbleness of both the Bar exam hosts and the candidates, and an interesting but much-awaited ending of the 2-year journey of some of the candidates,” said University of Cebu School of Law Dean Al-Shwaid de Leon Ismael when sought for comments on the matter.

Ismael said that although he recognized the psychological impact of the solution approved by the Supreme Court, especially with the challenges currently experienced in areas affected by the recent catastrophe, he is confident that the Bar candidates will be able to adjust quickly.

“Their resilience over the past (two) years will help them cope adaptively and bounce back after changes, challenges, setbacks, and disappointments,” he said.

He said that the Supreme Court has been called to adapt to the recent circumstances.

“The law schools and the barristers are called to adapt, in return. We will accept the challenge. UC Banilad is also ready to host the #BestBarEver,” he added.

Lawyer Michelle Mendez-Palmares, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter, said that the Supreme Court “surely understands the plight of every bar candidate and the state of our nation, and, in arriving at these changes in the Bar Exam, it intends to hold the Bar Exam to produce lawyers in a manner that is more fair and humane to all than postponing it.”

“These changes are in pursuit of the higher duty of the Court to produce more lawyers who will help improve the administration of justice and enable the bar to discharge its public responsibility,” she said.

Palmares said that the decentralization and compression of subjects has been a pending proposal for years by Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) and the Cebu Law Deans.

“Bar Chair and Supreme Court Associate Justice Leonen made both happen taking into consideration all the attendant circumstances,” she said, adding, “the Bar Exam has to proceed but we thank SAJ Leonen and the Supreme Court for acting on the resolution submitted by IBP Cebu City and the Cebu Law Deans.”

She further said that while candidates are about to face the most challenging bar to date, they are confident in Leonen's commitment to make it the #BestBarEver and they look forward to welcoming new lawyers to the IBP Cebu City Chapter very soon this year.

Bar examinees will take four sets of examinations, encompassing the usual eight subjects: The Law Pertaining to the State and Its Relationship With Its Citizens; Criminal Law; The Law Pertaining To Private Personal and Commercial Relations; and Procedure and Professional Ethics.

The Supreme Court further said that all examinees are advised to undergo self-quarantine beginning January 9 or at least two weeks before the exams. — KQD (FREEMAN)