2-examiner policy set for 2020 Bar exams

The Supreme Court (SC) will once again be implementing a two-examiner policy for the 2020 Bar examinations in November.

Under the policy, each of the eight Bar subjects will be divided into two parts, and each examiner will be assigned a specific scope from which to formulate their questions, the SC Public Information Office (PIO) said Friday.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, this year's Bar chair, will be implementing the policy "to promote operational efficiency due to the increase in the number of admitted Bar candidates in recent years."

Last year's Bar chair, Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, also enforced the two-examiner policy, readopting a system that had last been in place in 2010.

The Bar exams cover the subjects of political and international law, labor and social legislation, civil law, taxation, mercantile law, criminal law, remedial law, and legal ethics and practical exercises.

The examinations will be held on November 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2020. The venue has not yet been announced.

The Office of the 2020 Bar chair has issued syllabus for the tests on political and international law and labor law and social legislation, the PIO said.

"Bar candidates are advised to be guided by the provisions of the Constitution, laws, rules, issuances, and canonical jurisprudential doctrines pertinent to the topics enumerated," it said.

In 2018, 1,800 examinees passed the Bar examinations, representing 22.07% of 8,155 Bar takers that year. Sean James Borja of the Ateneo De Manila University was the topnotcher with a score of 89.3060%.

Results of the 2019 Bar exams are expected to be announced later this year. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News