d. Bar Examinations

Bar Examinations

Concept

Bar examinations are qualifying licensure examinations for admission to the Philippine bar. They test an applicant’s basic knowledge and skills in law and ethics, as well as practice-readiness. The Supreme Court’s stated policy is that the examinations be inclusive, fair, and non-discriminatory, with equal access to admission to the bar. Their integrity must be ensured, and their conduct must be efficient and technology-enabled. (Rule 138, Sec. 6, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)¹

Governing provisions

Amended Section 6 of Rule 138 states the nature and governing principles of the examinations. Amended Section 9 fixes their frequency, testing venues, month, duration, and distribution of subjects. Applications to take the examinations, with the required evidence, must be filed with the Office of the Bar Confidant within the time prescribed by the Supreme Court. (Rule 138, Sec. 6, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)¹ (Rule 138, Sec. 9, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)² (Rule 138, Sec. 4, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)³

Requisites / Rules

• Schedule and venue. The examinations take place annually in local testing centers across the Philippines, at venues designated by the Supreme Court En Banc. They are held for three days in September, as designated by the Supreme Court. (Rule 138, Sec. 9, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)²
• First day. Political and Public International Law is scheduled in the morning; Commercial and Taxation Laws, in the afternoon. (Rule 138, Sec. 9, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)²
• Second day. Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds is scheduled in the morning; Labor Law and Social Legislation, in the afternoon. (Rule 138, Sec. 9, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)²
• Third day. Criminal Law is scheduled in the morning; Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics, with Practical Exercises, in the afternoon. (Rule 138, Sec. 9, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)²

Distinctions

The earlier Section 9 lists examination subjects without the amended provision’s three-day, morning-and-afternoon distribution. For the schedule and subject groupings under A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC, use amended Section 9 rather than the earlier list. In particular, the amended third-day afternoon grouping expressly includes Judicial Ethics alongside Remedial Law, Legal Ethics, and Practical Exercises. (Rule 138, Sec. 9, Rule 138 — Attorneys and Admission to Bar)⁴ (Rule 138, Sec. 9, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)²

Key doctrines

The Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction to determine who may take the bar examinations. This authority must not be confused with a law school’s academic freedom to determine who may be admitted to study law. Thus, questions about access to legal education and questions about eligibility to take the bar examinations concern distinct decision-makers. (Pimentel v. Legal Education Board (Leb), G.R. No. 230642, 9 November 2021)⁵

Exceptions

An applicant who discloses pending charges involving moral turpitude at the time of application may conditionally take the examinations. Disclosure is not automatically taken against the applicant. The Supreme Court may, however, defer oath-taking or impose other warranted preventive measures in its assessment and sole discretion, considering the gravity of the claim or offense charged, prior cases filed against the applicant, and similar reasons. (Rule 138, Sec. 2, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)⁶ (In Re: Petition to Take the Lawyer'S Oath, B.M. No. 4530, 3 December 2025)⁷

Bar tip

Remember the amended schedule by day: political/commercial, civil/labor, then criminal/remedial-and-ethics. Do not mistake conditional permission to take the examinations for an unconditional determination of admission. (Rule 138, Sec. 9, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)² (Rule 138, Sec. 2, A.M. No. 24-10-05-SC)⁶