For law graduates, 4 longest weeks start today

MORE than 5,000 law graduates are set to take the bar examinations on all four Sundays of this month, starting today.

Two local universities were kept busy in recent days preparing their barristers for what could be the longest four weeks of their lives.

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Lawyer Jonathan Capanas, dean of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) College of Law, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday some 100 candidates from their university will be taking the exams this year.

Compared to last year’s bar exams, which were hounded by the onset of typhoon Ondoy, USJ-R’s barristers can sleep more soundly and concentrate more on their studies as they have relocated to a new hotel near Luneta Park, said Capanas.

More than 5,000

While they usually house their barristers in the Atrium Hotel in Pasay City, they decided to change venue this year, after their examinees last year were stranded.

In a separate interview, lawyer Baldomero Estenzo, dean of the University of Cebu (UC) College of Law, said he is confident their barristers will pass the exams.

Only 20 candidates from UC will be taking the bar today, the university’s fourth and smallest batch so far.

The yearly examinations will be held at the De La Salle University on Taft Ave., Manila and will be chaired by Supreme Court (SC) Justice Conchita Carpio Morales.

2 examiners

In an announcement, SC Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Atty. Maria Cristina Layusa said 5,012 graduates from more than 118 law schools will be participating in this year’s exams.

The number is lower than last year’s 6,080.

About 24.5 percent passed last year.

The SC has tasked around 1,200 personnel, including building coordinators, superintendents, supervisors, watchers, assistants and special assistants to help ensure the successful conduct of the exams.

This is the second time that two examiners were designated in each of the eight exam subjects.

The Rules of Court provide that “a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination successfully if he has obtained a general average of 75 percent in all subjects without falling below 50 percent in any subject.”