SC: Online oath taking for new lawyers approved pro hac vice

The Supreme Court En Banc approved today, 09 June 2020, a resolution allowing the conduct of the oath-taking ceremony of the 2019 BAR examination passers on 25 June 2020 via online video conference and linked to a government television network for broadcast.  Read more: Supreme Court (June 9, 2020). Online Oath Taking for New Lawyers on June 25, 2020. sc.judiciary.gov.ph/11677.

The Court noted that the current health crisis and COVID-19 pandemic made it not possible to hold the oath-taking ceremony the traditional way, as it had to take into consideration the existing government policies on public health, particularly on mass gatherings. More than 2,000 new lawyers will be taking their oaths.

However, the Supreme Court made it clear in its resolution that the unorthodox oath-taking was to be “pro hac vice.” This means that due to the current pandemic, the resolution was to be exclusive and limited only on the occasion of the oath-taking of the 2019 BAR passers.

The resolution cited Article VIII, Section 5 (5) of the Constitution which is the rule-making power of the Supreme Court concerning the admission to the practice of law as its basis.

The Court authorized the Bar Confidant, under the guidance of the 2019 BAR Chairperson, Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, to perform all necessary acts, under existing rules, regulations, and resources, to carry out the oath taking as contemplated in the resolution.

The Office of the Bar Confidant will be making the necessary announcements on the details, guidelines, and instructions to the new lawyers for the online oath-taking. Read more: Supreme Court (June 9, 2020). Online Oath Taking for New Lawyers on June 25, 2020. sc.judiciary.gov.ph/11677.