BAR EXAMINATION – Here is the history and some facts about the history of licensure examinations for lawyers in the Philippines.
The BAR examination is an important rite of passage for aspiring lawyers in the Philippines in the fields of legal education and the pursuit of justice. This difficult and prestigious exam serves as the entry point into a legal career, putting applicants’ knowledge, talents, and dedication to the final test.
The term “BAR” stands for “Barrister at Law,” a term derived from British legal tradition. In the Philippines, it refers to the bar of lawyers admitted to practice law in the country. The BAR exam is administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippines and is held annually in November.
The BAR Exam consists of eight subjects: Political Law, Labor Law, Civil Law, Taxation, Mercantile Law, Criminal Law, Remedial Law, and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises.
The first Philippine BAR exam was held in 1901, with only 13 applicants taking it, and less than half of them passing. The third Philippine Bar Exam was held in 1903, but the results were released in 1905.
The first female lawyer in the Philippines, Josefa Llanes Escoda, passed the BAR in 1930, breaking gender barriers and inspiring generations of aspiring female lawyers.
Since then, the BAR exam’s content and structure have developed in response to developments in legal education and the needs of the legal profession.
Preparing for the BAR exam is a time-consuming process that usually takes many years. It all starts with obtaining a bachelor’s degree in law, which involves an intense curriculum covering many aspects of Philippine and international law.
Following graduation, aspiring lawyers must complete a mandated review phase, which can last several months, in order to refresh their knowledge and refine their legal skills. The pass rates for the BAR exam vary from year to year, with some years seeing higher success rates than others.
