Here are the top law schools in the Bar Exams held in September 2023. The results are released on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. The 2023 bar examinations were held on November 9 (Wednesday), 13 (Sunday), 16 (Wednesday), and 20 (Sunday).
Bar Exam Results 2023 Summary
- Main Page: Bar Exam Results 2023
- A-G Passers: September 2023 Bar Exam Results
- H-Q Passers: September 2023 Bar Exam Results
- R-Z Passers: September 2023 Bar Exam Results
- List of Topnotchers in the September 2023 Bar Exam
Top Law Schools
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Bar Exam 2023
Headed by Bar chairperson and Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, the simultaneous digital bar exams were administered at fourteen (14) local testing centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
| Bar 2023 Testing Centers |
|---|
| Luzon San Beda University – Manila University of Santo Tomas San Beda College – Alabang University of the Philippines Diliman Manila Adventist College University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City Saint Louis University Cagayan State University University of Nueva Caceres |
| Visayas University of San Jose – Recoletos University of San Carlos Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation |
| Mindanao Ateneo de Davao University Xavier University |
SC conducted the exams through Examplify, a secure examination delivery program in which examinees will use their devices in their preferred venue, monitored by in-person proctors and closed-circuit television cameras in exam rooms.
How many examinees took the Bar Exams 2023?
As per SC, 10,791 aspiring lawyers are expected to take the exams, 5,821 are first-timers, and 4,970 re-takers. Below is the turnout of examinees in the 3-day grueling exams:
- First Day: 10,404
- Second Day: 10,392
- Third-Day: 10,387
Coverage of Bar Exams
The September 2023 licensure exams for aspiring lawyers covered core bar subjects and their respective weights.
- Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises (25%)
- Commercial and Taxation Laws (20%)
- Civil Law (20%)
- Political and Public International Law (15%)
- Labor Law and Social Legislation (10%)
- Criminal Law (10%)
Passing Percentage of Bar Exams 2022
To pass the Bar exams, an examinee must have a general average of 75% and no grade lower than 50% in any subject. While this is typical, SC En Banc may also adjust and lower the passing percentage.
In 2012, the passing percentage was lowered to 70%, while in the 2013 and 2014 bar exams, it was likewise reduced to 73%.
Previous Bar Exams
The Bar Exam is one of the highly anticipated licensure exams conducted yearly by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Here is the summary of results in previous years.
| Year | No. of Examinees | No. of Passers | Passing Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9,183 | 3,992 | 43.47% |
| 2020-2021 | 11,402 | 8,241 | 72.28% |
| 2019 | 7,685 | 2,103 | 27.36% |
| 2018 | 8,158 | 1,800 | 22.07% |
| 2017 | 6,748 | 1,724 | 25.55% |
| 2016 | 6344 | 3747 | 59.06% |
| 2015 | 6,605 | 1,731 | 26.21% |
| 2014 | 5,984 | 1,126 | 18.82% |
| 2013 | 5,292 | 1,174 | 22.18% |
| 2012 | 5,343 | 949 | 17.76% |
| 2011 | 5,987 | 1,913 | 31.95% |
| 2010 | 4,847 | 982 | 20.26% |
About Bar Exams
The Philippine Bar examination is an annual licensure exam conducted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines through the SC’s Bar Exam Committee. This is the only licensure exam for professionals not regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
The September 2023 Bar exams are the 121st licensure exams for all aspiring lawyers.
Candidates who have failed three times in the bar exam are not permitted to retake it unless they re-enroll, pass the regular fourth-year review classes, and attend a pre-bar review course in an approved school.
Updates
December 5, 2023 (8:00 AM): SC said that the gates of the Supreme Court Main Building are open from 12:00-6:00PM .
December 5, 2023 (5:00 AM): Bar Exam results will be released today and will be live-streamed in Facebook and YouTube! See the details here.
November 8, 2023: SC PIO announces that the oath-taking and roll-signing ceremonies for the Bar 2023 passers will be held on December 22, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
November 16, 2023: The Supreme Court official announced, through an official notice, that the results will be released on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
September 20, 2023: The 2023 Bar exam results will be released before Christmas, December 25, 2023 according to the Bar Chairperson, Associate Justice Hernando. He added,
“Moreover, there will be simultaneous oath taking and signing of the Roll of Attorneys in December also before Christmas Day so that we will have our new batch of full-fledged lawyers before 2023 ends.”
Before officially posting results, SC is conducting a special en banc session to decode the bar exam results. This is the process of opening the sealed envelopes with the names of passers.
The list of passers will also be posted on the SC’s official website and flashed via widescreen at the Supreme Court’s front yard. You may also refer to this article, as we will post the names of successful examinees.