PHILIPPINES WELCOMES AROUND 4,000 NEW LAWYERS PASSING THE BAR EXAMINATIONS

3,962examinees who hurdled the 2024 Bar examinations had passed; the Supreme Court made adjustments to address the shortage of lawyers in the country (Photo courtesy of Rappler)

The Philippine Supreme Court releases the names of the passers of the 2024 Bar exams, at least 3,962 out of 10,490 takers passed the bar examination. Over 900 of them almost failed to make the cut if not for an adjustment made by the High Court to the passing score.

The passing rate was adjusted from 75% to 74%, the number of examinees who passed this year is higher with 37% from last year’s 30%. "The justices would like to have more lawyers. They don't want only 3,000 new lawyers but they want more lawyers,” said Bar chairperson Justice Mario Lopez.

“And there are several reasons why we need more lawyers, and of course, one of the many reasons perhaps is the scarcity of lawyers in some areas.”

Lopez said the lowering of the passing grade was also the reason there was a delay in the announcement of the topnotchers and bar passers. He noted that the decision to lower the passing mark was a decision that went through the en banc.

He also explained that the advance information that some examinees received individually was due to a new technology that the Supreme Court used for the 2024 Bar Exams.

"We will know better. Of course, with this new technology, we can prevent this from happening again. But the integrity, I will assure you, of the Bar Examination was never diminished. There is total confidentiality and nobody had an access with the sensitive issue of the questions and answers from the bar examiners."

Kyle Christian Tutor of the University of the Philippines topped the examinations with a rating of 85.77%.

He was followed by Maria Christina Santos of the Ateneo de Manila University with 85.5400%, and Gerald Catayong Roxas of the Angeles University Foundation School of Law with 84.3550%.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, a lawyer, has urged the Bar passers to help protect the rights of others, promote justice, contribute to national progress, and serve the people with integrity and compassion. He said the country needs lawyers who are not only skilled but also principled and driven by a strong sense of duty to the people.

Source: GMA Integrated News 

Be part of ImHenyo community!

Get featured by sharing your stories, news, and comments

Email us at [email protected]