Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado
FROM BEST BAR EVER TO PRO HAC VICE BAR EXAMINATIONS
Because of the threat of the new strain of COVID-19, the Omicron variant, and the destruction and devastation brought by Super Typhoon Odette, the Supreme Court decided to adopt an unprecedented Reduction of Coverage and Revision of Schedule of the 2020/21 Bar Examinations. Despite a Resolution from the Deans of Cebu Law Schools, the Supreme Court still decided to proceed with this month’s Bar Examinations. The reason is that the country needs new lawyers. For the past two (2) years, no Bar Examination was held because of COVID-19.
Instead of the usual four (4) Sundays, the Examinations will be on 23 January 2022 (Sunday) and 25 January 2022 (Tuesday). Instead of the Eight (8) Bar Subjects, there will be Four (4) Subjects, to wit: 1) The Law Pertaining to the State and its Relationship with its Citizens (formerly Political Law, Labor and Local Legislation and Taxation Law); 2) Criminal Law; 3) The Law Pertaining to Private Personal and Commercial Relations (formerly Civil Law and Commercial Law); and 4) Procedure and Professional Ethics (formerly Remedial Law, Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises).
It is expected that the Supreme Court will be more lenient as it decided to proceed with the Bar Examinations despite the examinees from the South (Visayas and Mindanao) being affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette. If the 2016 Bar Examinations produced around 3,000 new lawyers, my prediction is around 5,000 lawyers from the two (2) batches will emerge as new Panyeros and Panyeras. Good luck to the Bar Examinees especially those who are from Bohol.