BAR EXAM SEASON

The University of Northeastern Philippines - College of Law have just received a packet of documents from the Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of the Philippines. For me, this is the start of the Bar Exam Season.

I was the one who received it considering that I am now the Acting Dean of the UNEP-College of Law. Its former Dean for decades now, Dean Mariano Baranda has already retired upon reaching the obligatory age and decided to enjoy the rest of his fruitful years.

The packet includes the Requirements for the Bar Examinations for New Applicants and Guidelines for the 2010 Bar Examinations. It also includes statistical data on the passing percentages of ALL law schools in the Philippines.

The National Passing Percentage for the 2009 Bar Examinations was 24.58%. Out of 5,903 takers, only 1,451 passed. It is interesting to note that 68,78% or 998 of the passers were first takers, while only 453 passers or 31.22% were repeaters. This is despite the fact that out of the 5,903 takers, 3,005 or 50.91% were repeaters, almost half of the takers.

I think this is a warning to repeaters. Only 15% of the repeaters passed. I am not saying that they have to give up their dream of becoming lawyers, especially that I am a one-take passer. That would be too arrogant of me. What I am saying is that, repeaters should assess themselves before they embark on this strenuous journey of taking the bar again.

Questions on how I passed the bar hound me everytime I meet law students who are really interested to pass. I always tell them that the matter of passing is always different for each person. The key is to KNOW YOURSELF.

Recently, my husband's fraternity brother passed the bar on his third take. I asked him how did he do it this time. He said he really made time and prepared for it even more than he did the last time. He resigned from his job, asked his siblings to support him in this endeavor. He even lived in a dorm inside the campus of the law school where he took his refresher to get all his efforts focused on his bar review.

He arrived at his plan upon honestly assessing himself and accepting his weaknesses. In the previous exams, he was working while he reviewed. He also spent more time drinking and cavorting with his brods and airsoft friends than studying. You see, this guy is quite intelligent and felt he had been studying the law for more than five years and thought he can wing it. But, if you do not give time to preparing for the exams, it won't give you time also.

As we start another season of preparation and study for the Bar Exams 2010, I pray that all who endeavor to hurdle this exam do so without much pain and obstacles. Good luck to you all!