By: Margaret Padilla
After two years of no new lawyers due to suspended exams because of the pandemic, the
The Supreme Court of the Philippines welcomed on Tuesday, 8,241 new lawyers out of 11, 402 exam takers, or an equivalent of 72. 28% passing rate.
‘I congratulate each one of them,’ Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said of the first-ever digitalized Bar exam takers as its results were announced.
The two-day 2020/21 Bar Examinations were physically administered in 31 local testing sites across the country in 22 local government units. Strict COVID-19 protocols, including an antigen test for examinees, were implemented at each testing site.
The SC will not release topnotchers but instead, recognize examinees who obtained a total weighted score of 85.00% or higher for their “exemplary performance in the Bar examinations.”
Leonen previously stated that this is due to the different circumstances that the two groups of examinees faced during the pandemic.
A 9.23 percent or 761 test takers were recognized for exemplary performance, with grades ranging from 85% to 90%.
On the other hand, 14 Bar takers earned recognition for excellent performance after achieving grades of more than 90%.
The SC also ranked law schools with more than 100 Bar takers based on their percentage of pass rate among first-time takers.
The top five list is as follows:
- Ateneo de Manila University: 99.6429%
- University of the Philippines: 98.8406%
- San Beda University: 98.1061%
- University of San Carlos, 98.0000%
- University of Santo Tomas -Manila, 93.0556%
The top five law schools with the most number of exemplary passers:
- University of the Philippines: 147
- Ateneo de Manila University: 100
- San Beda University: 94
- University of San Carlos: 57
- Arellano University: 39
The oath-taking ceremony is set for May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Look here: FULL LIST: 2020-2021 Bar exam passers