SC releases online clearance guidelines for 2019 Bar passers

The Supreme Court's Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) has released online clearance guidelines for the passers of the 2019 Bar examinations.

"In view of the current public health emergency, clearance procedure for the 2019 Bar passers will be conducted completely online. No Bar passer shall be allowed to physically visit the OBC for this purpose," the OBC said in a notice on Wednesday.

A total of 2,103 candidates passed last year's licensure exam

Mae Diane Azores of the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, formerly Aquinas University, was the topnotcher with a rating of 91.0490%.

Bar passers were told to email the OBC from May 11-22, stating their complete name in the subject line, contact numbers in the body, as well as a law school or government-issued ID bearing their photograph and a recent photo in which they are holding a paper containing their full name and signature as attached images with the prescribed format and dimensions.

Passers with surnames from Ababan to Del Rosario shall email obc2019.clearance1@sc.judiciary.gov.ph; those with surnames from Dela Cruz to Monteclaro shall send to obc2019.clearance2@sc.judiciary.gov.ph; and those with surnames from Montes to Zulueta shall send their emails to obc2019.clearance3@sc.judiciary.gov.ph, the OBC said.

Upon checking its records, the OBC will email Bar passers to notify them if they are cleared to take the lawyers' oath and sign the roll of attorneys, or state the reason for denial.

The OBC said the following will not be granted clearance: those who were conditionally admitted to take the 2019 Bar Examinations but failed to submit the requirements within deadline; and those with administrative and/or criminal cases filed against them.

"Nevertheless, such Bar Passers must still send the above-mentioned image files for the OBC's records," the office said, adding that it will announce when it will be accepting petitions to take the lawyers' oath from these passers.

The OBC said it will make further announcements on the oath taking ceremony and the signing of the roll for those who will be cleared. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News