SC bulletin on 25 testing centers, Bar PLUS

The 2020/2021 bar exams will take place on November 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2021

Judge Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Chair of the 2020/2021 bar exams, announced that the Supreme Court will soon set up an online portal for digitally filing bar exam applications called the Bar Personalized Login Unified System (Bar PLUS). "No longer will a Bar applicant have to go to Manila, (to) line up at the Office of the Bar Confidant," he said. (Read more: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/19792)

With Bar PLUS, candidates for the bar exam can submit their personal data, access the forms required for their application, download the application requirements and pay for their application digitally. Candidates can also choose their preferred exam location, subject to the approval of the law office. Judge Leonen said that Bar PLUS is expected to hit the market on July 15th this year. (Read more: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/19792)

Judge Leonen also revealed that "to date, 16 local test centers have already accepted the MoU under the model approved by the Supreme En Banc Court:" 

1. Ateneo de Manila University; 

2. Manila Adventist College; 

3. SLU Baguio;

4. Saint Louis College – La Union; 

5. Saint Mary’s University; 

6. Cagayan State University; 

7. De La Salle Lipa;

8. University of Nueva Caceres; 

9. University of St. La Salle – Bacolod; 

10. Central Philippine University; 

11. University of Cebu – Banilad; 

12. Mindanao State University – Iligan; 

13. Mindanao State University – General Santos City; 

14. Ateneo de Davao University; 

15. Xavier University – Cagayan de Oro; 

16. Ateneo de Zamboanga University. 

Judge Leonen added that there could be a total of 25 testing sites across the country as the Supreme Court is still negotiating with several top schools in the country. (Read more: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/19792)

Chief Justice Gesmundo said the bar exam reforms will continue beyond this year as he will urge members of the Supreme Court to consider the revision of Article 138 (the rules governing bar exam coverage) The rules have not changed since they came into force in 1964. The law courses have become diverse; many changes have taken place in the field of law. Yet we have not examined these specific provisions of the Judicial Code, according to the Chief Justice. (Read more: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/19792)

The Chief Justice wants the court to further review the law school course offerings and the revised curriculum model being prepared by the Legal Education Board, adding that the courses offered by law schools must be synchronized with the coverage of the Bar Exams. (Read more: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/19792)