Regionalizing the Bar Exams: Expanding Access to Legal Practice in the Philippines

The Supreme Court has taken a significant step toward making the legal profession more accessible by approving the regionalization of the Bar Examinations. In a Resolution dated April 29, 2020, the Court designated Cebu City as the first regional site for the Bar Exams, alongside Manila. This move addresses long-standing concerns about the financial and emotional burden placed on law graduates from the Visayas and Mindanao, who previously had to travel to and stay in Manila to take the exams.

The Legal Foundation

The Court's authority to make this change comes from its constitutional power to promulgate rules concerning the admission to the practice of law. Prior to this Resolution, Rule 138, Section 11 of the Rules of Court provided that the Bar Examinations would be held in Manila. The Resolution amends this provision to allow for a regional site.

This amendment is not a sudden development. The Court noted that calls for regional Bar exam sites date back to at least 2002, when the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter proposed Cebu City as an alternative venue. Similar requests followed in 2009 and 2011 from law school associations and local government units in Cebu.

A History of Unsuccessful Attempts

The Court acknowledged that a prior attempt to hold regional exams in 2016 did not push through. The plan then was to hold exams in both Manila and Cebu City if at least 1,000 candidates expressed interest in the regional site. However, fewer than that number signed up, and the plan was disallowed.

Retired Court of Appeals Justice Portia Hormachuelos, who championed the earlier proposal, attributed the low turnout to insufficient time to survey prospective examinees and the distance between provinces that delayed responses.

The 2020 Decision

The turning point came with a February 2020 survey by the Philippine Association of Law Schools. Of the law school deans who responded, 89% favored a regional site for the next Bar Examinations, with many preferring Cebu City. Even respondents from Metro Manila and Luzon schools expressed support.

The Court emphasized the social impact of regionalization. It noted that holding the exams in Manila had been "a continuous financial and emotional burden" on candidates from the Visayas and Mindanao. These candidates had to spend significant sums to sustain their stay in Manila and were separated from family and friends who could provide tangible and emotional support during the review period.

The Resolution also cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor making regionalization "more crucial than ever." Government restrictions on movement between provinces and curfew regulations created additional logistical challenges for candidates who would need to travel to Manila.

What the Resolution Provides

The Court approved the following measures:

• Cebu City shall be designated as a regional site for the next Bar Examinations, with a suitable venue to be identified once travel restrictions are lifted.
• Manila exams shall be held at the University of Santo Tomas.
• Law graduates from the Visayas and Mindanao may choose to take the exams in either Manila or Cebu City.
• Bar application fees shall be increased to cover the additional costs of the regional site, with the Office of the Bar Confidant directed to submit a budget proposal that accounts for social distancing and safety precautions due to the pandemic.

Practical Takeaways

• Reduced financial burden: Candidates from the Visayas and Mindanao can now save on travel, accommodation, and living expenses by taking the exams closer to home.
• Stronger support systems: Examinees can remain near their families and communities during the stressful review and exam period, which can improve their well-being and performance.
• Potential for expansion: The Resolution notes that the move "may even lead to more regional sites in future examinations," signaling possible further decentralization of the Bar Exams.
• Application process: Candidates who wish to take the exams in Cebu City should watch for Bar bulletins announcing the specific guidelines and deadlines.
• Higher fees: Expect an increase in Bar application fees to fund the regional site, a necessary trade-off for greater accessibility.

This article is general information and not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a lawyer or ask ASG Legal AI.