01 What are the qualifications of a Philippine bar candidate?
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A Bar Candidate must meet the following academic requirements:
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1.) Holder of a Professional Degree in Law from a recognized Law School in the Philippines.
2.) Holder of a Bachelor's Degree with academic credits in certain required subjects from a recognized college or university in the Philippines or abroad.
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He or she should also meet certain non-academic requisites:
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1.) A Filipino citizen.
2.) At least twenty-one (21) years of age.
3.) A resident of the Philippines.
4.) Satisfactory evidence of good moral character.
5.) No charges involving moral turpitude have been filed and are pending in any court in the Philippines.
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02 What are the requirements for the bar examination for new applicants?​ Applicants for the Bar Examination must file a verified petition in the form prescribed by the Supreme Court. (The form is available at the Office of the Bar Confidant.)
A. New Applicants (Without Cases)
Filing Fee: PhP 3,700.00 (2019 Bar Exams Rate)
1.)Birth certificate issued by PSA (In cases where the PSA copy is not legible, applicant must, in addition to the non-legible PSA copy, attach an original or certified true copy of his/her Birth Certificate issued by the Local Civil Registrar. In the absence of a Birth Certificate, submit a Certificate of Late Registration. In case of discrepancy in the entries in the Birth Certificate and Transcript of Records (TOR), applicant is required to submit a corrected Birth Certificate or corrected TOR as the case maybe.
2.) Marriage Certificate for Married Female Applicants (issued by PSA of Local Civil Registrar)- Original or Certified True Copy.
3.) Two (2) Testimonials of Good Moral Character executed by a member of the Philippine Bar.
4.) Official Pre-Law Degree Transcript- Original or Certified True Copy. In case Rizal course is integrated with other subject/s, applicant must submit a certification from his/her school to this effect.
5.) Official Law Degree Transcript (Original or Certified True Copy)
6.) Certificate of No Derogatory Record
7.) Certification by the School Registrar executed under oath and noted by the Law Dean that the applicant graduated a four (4) year course and that his/her name is included in the LEB Certification {per Resolution No 2012-06 by the Legal Education Board (LEB).
8.) Three (3) copies of latest un-retouched photos with name IMPRINTED thereon (1 1/2 x 1 1/2)
9.) Self-addressed stamped envelop.
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B. New Applicants (With Cases)
In addition to the above-enumerated requirements, applicants shall also submit:
1.) Pending Cases (Civil, Criminal, Administrative, including those filed with the Prosecutor's Office and the Office of the Ombudsman)
- Certified true copy of the Complaint/ Information
- Certificates as to the pendency or status of the case.
2.) Decided Cases (Civil, Criminal, Administrative, including those filed with the Prosecutor's Office and the Office of the Ombudsman)
-Certified true copy of the Decision
-Certificate of Finality of the Decision
-Clearance from the Court, Prosecutor's Office or Office of the Ombudsman as the case may be.
03 What are the requirements for the bar examination for repeaters and refreshers?
Applicants for the Bar Examination must file a verified petition in the form prescribed by the Supreme Court. (The form is available at the Office of the Bar Confidant.)
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A. Repeaters (Without Cases)
Filing Fee: PhP 3,750.00 plus PhP 200.00 for every unsuccessful attempt)
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1.) Two (2) Testimonials of Good Moral Character executed by a member of the Philippine Bar.
2.) Three (3) copies of latest un-retouched photos with name IMPRINTED thereon (1 1/2 x 1 1/2)
3.) Self-addressed stamped envelop.
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B. Refreshers (Without Cases)
Covered by Section 16 Rule 138 of the Rules of Court or those who failed the bar examinations for three or more times filing fee (PhP 3750.00 plus PhP 200.00 for for every unsuccessful attempt.
In addition to the above enumerated requirements, applicant shall also submit:
1.) Completion of a Refresher Course
a. Individual Certification under oath by Professors that the applicant passed the following subjects and indicating therein the grades obtained:
-Political/ Constitutional Law Review.
-Labor Law Review
-Civil Law Review I
-Civil Law Review II
-Taxation Law Review
-Commercial Law Review
-Criminal Law Review
-Remedial Law Review I
-Remedial Law Review II
b. Certification under oath by the Law Dean or School Registrar that the Professors mentioned are bona fide professors of the school where the Refresher course was taken.
2.) Enrollment in a Pre-Bar Review Course (Certification executed under oath by the School Registrar that the applicant is currently enrolled in and is regularly attending the Pre-Bar Review Course.)
3.)Completion of a Pre-Bar Review Course (Certification executed under oath by the School Registrar that the applicant completed a Pre-Bar Review Course (to be submitted after completion of the course)
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C.) Repeaters and Refreshers (With Case)
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In addition to the above enumerated requirements, applicants shall also submit:
1.) Pending Cases (Civil, Criminal, Administrative, including those filed with the Prosecutor's Office and the Office of the Ombudsman)
- Certified true copy of the Complaint/ Information
- Certificates as to the pendency or status of the case.
2.) Decided Cases (Civil, Criminal, Administrative, including those filed with the Prosecutor's Office and the Office of the Ombudsman)
-Certified true copy of the Decision
-Certificate of Finality of the Decision
-Clearance from the Court, Prosecutor's Office or Office of the Ombudsman as the case may be.
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04What is the Bar Exam Coverage?
The following are the Bar Exam Subjects:
1. Political Law- (Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Election Law, Public Officers, Local Government Code, Public International Law).
2. Labor Law- (Labor Relations, Legal Standards, Social Legislation)
3. Civil Law- (Agency and Partnership, Credit Transactions, Land Titles and Deeds, Lease, Obligations and Contracts, Persons and Family Relations, Property, Sales, Succession, Torts and Damages, Trust)
4. Taxation- (General Principles, Judicial Remedies, Local Taxation, National Internal Revenue Code, Tariff and Customs Code)
5. Mercantile Law- (Banking Laws, Corporation Law, Insurance Code, Intellectual Property Law, Letters of Credit, Negotiable Instruments Law, Securities Regulation Code, Special Commercial Laws, Transportation Law, Trust Receipts Law, Warehouse Receipts Law)
6. Criminal Law- (Revised Penal Code, Special Penal Laws)
7. Remedial Law- (Rules on Civil Procedure, Rules on Criminal Procedure, Rules on Evidence, Rules on Special Proceedings)
8. Legal and Judicial Ethics- ( Code of Judicial Conduct, Code of Professional Responsibility, Practical Exercises and Practice of Law).
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​05What is the passing score?
The Passing Average is 75% with no grade lower than 50% in any subject.
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​06What is the grading system?
The bar subjects are graded separately. The following are the eight (8) Bar Subjects and their corresponding weight:
1. Political and International Law- 15%
2. Labor Law and Social Legislation- 10%
3. Civil Law- 15%
4. Taxation- 10%
5. Mercantile Law- 15%
6. Criminal Law- 10%
7. Remedial Law- 20%
8. Legal and Judicial Ethics- 5%
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