Legal education in the Philippines

(See: wikipedia.org. Some of the data in this Wikipedia

article may need verification ).
Legal education in the Philippines is developed and
offered by Philippine law schools, supervised by the
Legal Education Board, and regulated by the Commission
on Higher Education and the Supreme Court of the
Philippines.
Law degree programs are considered graduate programs in
the Philippines. As such, admission to law schools
requires the completion of a bachelor's degree, with a
sufficient number of credits or units in certain
subject areas.
Graduation from a Philippine law school constitutes the
primary eligibility requirement for the Philippine Bar
Examinations, the national licensure examination for
practicing lawyers in the country. The bar examination
is administered by the Supreme Court during the month
of September every year.
Members of the bar in the Philippines are required to
take mandatory continuing legal education in order to
continue practicing their profession.
Legal education in the Philippines normally proceeds
along the following route:
Undergraduate education (usually 4 years)
Law school (usually 4 years)
Admission to the bar (usually by taking a
Philippine bar exam)
Legal practice and mandatory continuing legal
education
History
The University of Santo Tomas established its faculties
of canon law and civil law in in 1733 From 1734 to
1800, of only 3,360 students, only 29 graduated with
the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law, 8 with the degree
of Licentiate in Civil Law and 3 with the degree of
Doctor of Civil Law in that university.
[1]

In 1890, the Universidad Literia de Filipinas was
established in Malolos, Bulacan. It offered Law as well
as Medicine, Surgery and Notary Public. In 1899, Felipe
Calderon founded the Escuela de Derecho de Manila and
adopted the name Manila Law College in 1924. The
University of the Philippines opened its College of Law
in 1910. There were around 50 Filipino and American
students.
[2]
Justice Sherman Moreland of the Supreme
Court of the Philippines was named its first Dean, but
after he ultimately declined the position, he was
replaced by George A. Malcolm, who is recognized as the
college's first permanent dean.
Legal Systems
The Philippine legal system is an amalgamation of the
world's major systems which are the Roman Civil Law and
the Canon Law of the Catholic Church inherited from the
Spanish, EnglishCommon Law from the United States, and
Islamic Law.

Law degree programs
Law degrees in the Philippines may be classified into
three types--professional, graduate level, and
honorary.

Professional law degrees
In order to be eligible to take the bar examinations,
one must complete one of the two professional degrees:
The Bachelor of Laws (Ll.B.) program or the Juris
Doctor (J.D.) program. Advanced degrees are offered by
some law schools, but are not requirements for
admission to the practice of law in the Philippines.
Bachelor of Laws (Ll.B.) - The Ll.B. is the most
common law degree offered and conferred by
Philippine law schools. It is a standard four-year
law program covering all bar exam subjects. Almost
all law schools follow a standard LL.B.
curriculum, wherein students are exposed to the
required bar subjects. Other schools, like the
University of the Philippines College of Law,
allow students to substitute electives for bar
review subjects offered in the fourth year of
study.
[3]

Juris Doctor (J.D.) - The J.D. program is a four-
year law program. Like the standard Ll.B. program,
the J.D. curriculum covers the core subjects
required for the bar examinations. Unlike the
Ll.B., the J.D. program requires students to
finish the core bar subjects in 2 1/2 years, take
elective subjects, undergo an apprenticeship, and
prepare and defend a thesis.
[4]
The J.D. degree was
first conferred by the Ateneo School of Law in
1991. Aside from the Ateneo, only two other law
schools offer the J.D.: the University of Batangas
College of Law and the Far Eastern University
Institute of Law.
[5]

o Juris Doctor-Master of Business
Administration (J.D.-M.B.A.) - The J.D.-
M.B.A. program is a double degree program in
law and management offered at the graduate
level. It was introduced and is so far only
offered by the La Salle-FEU MBA-JD Program,
a consortium of Far Eastern University
Institute of Law and De La Salle Graduate
School of Business. Under this program, the
requirements of the J.D. and M.B.A. programs
are satisfied by the taking of concurrent
units of study, allowing students to
complete the program in five instead of six
years.
[6]


Graduate law degrees
Beyond the J.D. or Ll.B., members of the Philippine bar
have the option of pursuing graduate degrees in law.
Master of Laws (LL.M.) - The Ll.M. is a graduate
law degree offered to holders of basic law degrees
(LL.B. and J.D.). It is generally offered to law
graduates and lawyers of any nationality. Only
five Philippine law schools so far conduct the
program--University of Santo Tomas Faculty of
Civil Law, which first offered the program;
University of ManilaManuel L. Quezon University
College of Law; San Beda Graduate School of Law;
and PLM Graduate School of Law of the Pamantasan
ng Lungsod ng MaynilaAteneo School of Law, the Far
Eastern University Institute of Law, the Escuela
de Derecho de Manila (now Manila Law College
Foundation), and the University of the Philippines
College of Law
[7]
College of Law; (University of
the City of Manila). LL.M. programs were once
offered by the but were eventually phased out due
to lack of enrollment and funding.
There are two kinds of doctoral programs in law offered
in the Philippines:
Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.) - The D.C.L. program
is a doctoral program in law offered to holders of
the LL.M degree. Candidates who hold only LL.B.
degrees may be admitted upon completion of
prerequisite LL.M. subjects. The D.C.L. was
pioneered by the University of Santo Tomas Faculty
of Civil Law. Their program structure is highly
similar to the D.C.L. offered in the Complutense
University of Madrid.
[8]
The PLM Graduate School of
Law has already opened its own D.C.L. program.
[9]

Doctor of the Science of Law (S.J.D.) - a doctoral
program in law soon to be offered in the San Beda
Graduate School of Law.
[10]


Honorary law degrees
Some Philippine universities also confer the honorary
Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree. It is given to famous
individuals who, in the discretion of the awarding
institution, were found to have made significant
contributions to a certain field, or to the improvement
of society or development of the conditions of mankind
in general. Honorary law doctorates in the past
include:
King Juan Carlos I of Spain (LL.D., honoris causa,
University of Santo Tomas)
[11]

UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura (LL.D.,
honoris causa, University of Santo Tomas)
[11]

former International Court of Justice Judge Cesar
Bengzon (LL.D., honoris causa, Ateneo de Manila
University and University of Santo Tomas)
[12]

[11]

former United Nations General Assembly President
Carlos P. Romulo (Ll.D., honoris causa, University
of Santo Tomas)
[11]

former Philippine President Corazon Aquino (LL.D.,
honoris causa, University of the Philippines and
University of Santo Tomas)
[13]

[11]

former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
(LL.D., honoris causa, University of the East)
[14]

former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay
(LL.D., honoris causa, University of the East)
[14]

former Philippine Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban
(LL.D., honoris causa, University of Iloilo)
[15]

Canadian Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin, P.C.
(LL.D., honoris causa, Ateneo de Manila
University)
[12]

former chairman of the United Nations Security
Council, Carlos P. Romulo (LL.D., honoris causa,
University of the East)
[14]

former Philippine First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon
(LL.D., honoris causa, University of Santo
Tomas)
[11]

former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos (LL.D.,
honoris causa, University of the Philippines).
[13]

Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago
(LL.D., honoris causa, Centro Escolar University
and Xavier University)
[16]

[17]

former Philippine Senator Raul Manglapus (LL.D.,
honoris causa, Ateneo de Manila University)
[12]

former Philippine Commission on Elections Chairman
Christian Monsod (LL.D., honoris causa, Ateneo de
Manila University)
[12]


Practicality
While advanced law degrees (LL.M., D.C.L., S.J.D.,
LL.D.) may elevate a lawyer's standing in academic
settings, the basic law degree (LL.B., J.D.) remains
the most important academic qualification to be
admitted to the practice of law in the Philippines.
[18]


Ecclesiastical law degrees
A few Roman Catholic seminaries and graduate schools
offer degree programs in Canon Law, an ecclesiastical
program that is not required in the Philippine Bar
Examinations.The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of
Canon Law runs the oldest academic programs of this
kind. Its Licentiate of Canon Law (J.C.L.) and Doctor
of Canon Law (J.C.D.) programs are open to priests,
nuns, theologians, and even to lay people (i.e., trial
court judges, law deans, family lawyers etc.). Judges
of the Roman Catholic Marriage Tribunal typically hold
academic degrees in the field.
[19]
Degrees in canon law,
strictly speaking, are not considered law degrees in
the Philippines.

Developments
There is a move among members of the Philippine
Association of Law Schools (PALS) to convert their
Ll.B. programs into J.D. curricula.
[4]
There are
currently two possible directions for the change:
First, the conversion of Ll.B. programs through
adopting a model substantially similar to the J.D.
curriculum introduced by the Ateneo School of Law (the
J.D. Programs of the FEU-La Salle consortium and the
University of Batangas Law School are of this mold),
and second, simply changing the name of the degree
conferred from Ll.B. to J.D. while essentially
retaining the same course offerings as those in the
DECS Model Law Curriculum (DECS Order No. 27, series of
1989).
[4]


Admission to the practice of law
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines has given the
Supreme Court the sole power to admit individuals to
the practice of law in the Philippines.
[20]
This power is
exercised through a Bar Examination Committee, an ad
hoc academic group tasked to formulate questions,
administer proceedings, grade examinations, rank
candidates, and release the results of the Philippine
Bar Examination.
To be eligible to take the national bar exam, a
candidate must be a Filipino citizen, at least twenty-
one years of age, and holder of a bachelor's degree and
a law degree obtained from a government recognized law
school in the Philippines. Graduates of law schools
from other countries must obtain a law degree from the
Philippines to qualify for the Philippine Bar.
[21]


Philippine Bar Examinations
The Philippine Bar Examinations is the national
licensure exam for admission to the practice of law. It
is conducted during the four Sundays of September of
every year. It is arguably the hardest and the most
media-covered of all government licensure examinations
in the country.
[22]
It is also reputedly one of the
hardest bar examinations in the world.
[23]

For candidates intending to practice Islamic law in the
Philippines, the Special Bar Exams for Sharia Court
Lawyers is given every two years. The Supreme Court Bar
Office conducts the exam while the Office of Muslim
Affairs determines the qualification and eligibility of
candidates to the exams.
[24]


Attorneys-at-law
To be a full-fledged lawyer in the Philippines and be
eligible to use the title Attorney, a candidate must
graduate from a Philippine law school, take and pass
the Philippine Bar Examinations, take the Attorney's
Oath, and sign his name in the Rolls of Attorneys of
the Supreme Court.
[25]

The full names of lawyers are found in the Rolls of
Attorneys of the Supreme Court, and in a similar list
included in a Supreme Court publication entitled Law
List.
[26]


Legal Education Board
The Legal Education Board supervises all law schools
and continuing legal education providers in the
Philippines.
[27]
The Board is headed by a Chairman who is
a retired justice of a collegiate court (i.e., Supreme
Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax
Appeals, etc.). Regular members of the Board include a
representative from each of the following:
[28]

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS)
Philippine Association of Law Professors (PALP)
active law practitioners
bonafide law students
The Board has made legal reforms which include--the
stricter selection of law students and law professors;
improvements in quality of instruction and facilities
of law schools; provisions for legal apprenticeship of
law students; and the requirement of attendance to
continuing legal education seminars for practicing
attorneys.
[29]


Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
Lawyers with names appearing in the Rolls of Attorneys
of the Supreme Court, unless disbarred, are all members
of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
[30]

However, to be IBP members of good standing, lawyers
are required to complete, every three years, at least
thirty-six hours of continuing legal education seminars
approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
Committee (MCLE). Members who fail to comply shall pay
a non-compliance fee, and shall be listed as a
delinquent member.
[31]

The Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Office,
established by the Supreme Court, is the official
government agency tasked to implement compliance with
the MCLE requirement.
[32]


Philippine law schools
There are eighty-nine law schools
[33]
legitimately
operating throughout the Philippines. They include
independent law schools, resident colleges, and
affiliated units of much larger private and public
universities:
[34]

Name Location
Adamson University
College of Law
900 San Marcelino St., Manila
Andres Bonifacio
College
College Park, Dipolog City
Aquinas University
College of Law
2-S King's Building, JAA Penaranda
St., Legazpi City
Araullo University
College of Law
Bitas, Cabanatuan City
Arellano University
Law Foundation
Taft. Ave. cor. Menlo St., Pasay
City
Ateneo de Davao
University School of
Law
Jacinto St., Davao City
Ateneo de Manila
University School of
Law
Ateneo Professional Schools
Building, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell
Center, Makati City
Basilan State
University College
of Law
Basilan City
Bicol University
College of Law
Daraga, Albay
Bukidnon State
College
Malabalay, Bukidnon
Cagayan Colleges-
Tuguegarao
Cagayan
Cagayan State
University
Tuguegarao, Cagayan
Camarines Norte
School of Law
Itomang, Talisay, Camarines Norte
Central Philippine
University College
of Law
Jaro, Iloilo City
Christ the King
College
Calbayog City
Colegio dela
Purisima Concepcion
IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Roxas
City
Cor Jesus College Digos, Davao del Sur
Cordillera College Bugayan, La Trinidad, Benguet
Don Mariano Marcos
Memorial State
University College
of Law
San Fernando, La Union
Dr. Vicente Orestes
Romualdez Education
Foundation, Inc.
Tacloban City, Leyte
East Central
Colleges
San Fernando City, Pampanga
Far Eastern
University Institute
of Law
Nicanor Reyes Sr. St., Sampaloc,
Manila
(The La Salle-FEU MBA-JD Program
is offered at De La Salle
Professional Schools, RCBC Plaza,
Ayala Ave., Makati City. It is
offered in consortium with the De
La Salle Graduate School of
Business.)
Fernandez College of
Arts & Technology
Gil Carlos St., Baliuag, Bulacan
Foundation Dr. Miciano St., Dumaguete City
University
Harvardian Colleges San Fernando, Pampanga
Holy Name University
College of Law
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Jose Rizal
University College
of Law
82 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City
Leyte Colleges Zamora St., Tacloban City
Liceo de Cagayan
University College
of Law
Rodolfo N. Pelaez Blvd., Carmen,
Cagayan de Oro
Luna Goco Colleges Calapan, Oriental Mindoro
Luzon Colleges Quezon
Lyceum of the
Philippines
University College
of Law
L.P. Leviste St., Makati City
Lyceum-Northwestern
University College
of Law
Dagupan City, Pangasinan
Manila Law College
Foundation (formerly
Escuela de Derecho
de Manila)
Sales St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
Manuel L. Quezon
University College
of Law
R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila
Manuel S. Enverga
University
Foundation College
of Law
Foundation St., Lucena City
Masbate Colleges Masbate, Masbate
Medina Colleges Ozamiz City
Mindanao State
University College
of Law
Marawi City
Misamis University
College of Law
Bonifacio St., Ozamiz City
New Era University
College of Law
St. Joseph St., Milton Hills
Subd., Bgy. New Era, Quezon City
Northeastern College Santiago City, Isabela
Northwester
University College
of Law
Laoag City
Notre Dame
University College
of Law
Notre Dame Ave., Cotabato City
Pagadian College of
Criminilogy &
Sciences
Pagadian City
Palawan State
University College
of Law
Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa,
Palawan
Pamantasan ng
Lungsod ng Maynila
College of Law
Intramuros, Manila
Philippine Advent
College
Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte
Philippine Law
School
F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City
Polytechnic
University of the
Philippines College
of Law
Mabini Campus, Santa Mesa, Manila
Samar Colleges Catbalogan, Samar
San Beda College of
Law
Mendiola St., San Miguel, Manila
San Beda College of
Law-Alabang
Don Manolo Boulevard, Alabang
Hills Village, Muntinlupa City
San Pablo Colleges San Pablo City
San Sebastian
College-Recoletos
College of Law
Claro M. Recto Ave., Manila
Saint Louis College San Fernando City, La Union
St. Louis University
College of Law
Bonifacio St., Baguio City
Silliman University
College of Law
Hubbard Ave., Dumaguete City,
Negros Oriental
Southwestern
University College
of Law
Urgillo St., Sambag District, Cebu
City
Tabaco Colleges Tabaco, Albay
University of
Batangas College of
Law
Batangas City
University of Bohol
College of Law
Tagbilaran City
University of the
Cordilleras
(formerly the Baguio
Colleges Foundation)
College of Law
Harrison Rd., Baguio City
University of the
East College of Law
Claro M. Recto Ave., Manila
University of
Eastern Philippines
College of Law
Catarman, Northern Samar
University of Iloilo
College of Law
Iloilo City
University of Manila Mv. delos Santos, Manila
College of Law
University of
Mindanao College of
Law
Bolton St., Davao City
University of Negros
Occidental-Recoletos
College of Law
Iriga City
University of Nueva
Caceres College of
Law
Dagupan City, Pangasinan
Unversity of
Perpetual Help-Rizal
College of Law
Las Pias City
University of
Perpetual Help
System College of
Law
Bian, Laguna
University of the
Philippines College
of Law
Malcolm Hall, U.P. Diliman Campus,
Quezon City
University of San
Agustin College of
Law
Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City
University of San
Carlos College of
Law
P. Del Rosario St., Cebu City
University of San
Jose-Recoletos
College of Law
Cebu City
University of Santo
Tomas Faculty of
Civil Law
Main Building, U.S.T. Campus,
Espaa St., Sampaloc, Manila
University of
Southern Philippines
Cebu City
Foundation College
of Law
University of
Visayas College of
Law
Cebu City
Urios College
San Francisco St. cor. J.C. Aquino
Ave., Butuan City
Virgen de los
Remedios College
10 Fontaine St., East Bajac-bajac,
Olongapo City
Virgen Milagrosa
University College
of Law
Zamboanga City
Western Mindanao
State University
College of Law
Corales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City
Zamboanga A.E.
College
J.S. Alano St., Zamboanga City

Notable law schools

Oldest law schools

The eleven oldest law schools are as follows:
[35]

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law,
established in 1734, is the oldest law school in
the Philippines. In 1734, the University of Santo
Tomas opened a Faculty of Civil Law and a Faculty
of Canon Law. From 1734 to 1800 (66 years), out of
3,360 students, only 40 students graduated from
various law programs: 29 in Bachelor of Civil Law,
8 in Licentiate in Civil Law, and 3 in Doctor of
Law, reflecting the rigid training in these
courses. The school has produced four Philippine
Presidents, three Vice Presidents, and six Chief
Justices of the Philippine Supreme Court.
Universidad Literia Filipinas, established in
1898, was the second oldest law school in the
country. It is no longer operating. The university
was established in Malolos, Bulacan and offered
progams in law and notary public. The school later
moved to Tarlac.
Escuela de Derecho de Manila (now Manila Law
College Foundation) was established in 1899. Don
Felipe Calderon, author of the 1899 Malolos
Constitution, founded the school. In 1924, the
school was renamed the Manila Law School. It was
further renamed Manila Law College Foundation.
University of the Philippines College of Law,
established in 1910, is the flagship law school of
state colleges and universities in the
Philippines. In 1910, the College of Law of the
University of the Philippines opened with fifty
{50) Filipino and American students. Justice
Sherman Moreland of the Philippine Supreme Court
was named as the first dean, but after he
ultimately declined the post, he was replaced by
George A. Malcolm, the first permanent dean of the
College. The school has dominated past and present
memberships in the Philippine Supreme Court and
other collegiate courts.
Philippine Law School was established in 1915.
Former Presidents Diosdado MacapagalCarlos P.
Garcia attended the school. and
University of Manila College of Law was
established in 1918. Cecilia Muoz Palma, the
first woman to be appointed Associate Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court and the President of
the 1986 Constitutional Commission, earned her
Master of Laws from this institution.
Far Eastern University Institute of Law,
established in 1934, is the alma mater of former
Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban,
former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, former
Philippine Court of Appeals Presiding Justices
Oscar Herrera and Salome A. Montoya, and
Sandiganbayan senior associate justice Edilberto
Sandoval.
Southern College of Law was established in 1935.
It is no longer operating.
Ateneo de Manila University School of Law,
established in 1936, is the alma mater of former
Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee, 1986
Constitutional Commissioner Fr. Joaquin Bernas,
S.J.., and former Philippine Vice President
Teofisto Guingona.
Arellano Law College (now Arellano Law Foundation)
was established in 1938. Former Court of Appeals
Presiding Justice Manuel Gaviola, Former
Congressman and Senator Francisco Sumulong and
Former Congressman Jose Zafra] attended the
school.
Francisco Law School was established in 1940. It
is now defunct.
University of the East College of Law, established
in 1950. Famous graduates are ManilaAlfredo Lim
and Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice
Dante Tinga. Philippine Court of Appeals Associate
Justices Demetrio G. Demetria, Japar B. Dimaampao,
Arturo G. Tayag and Normandie B. Pizarro. mayor
and former Philippine Senator
San Beda College of Law,was founded in 1948. Over
the years, it has produced senators, justices of
collegiate courts, judges of lower courts, active
lawyers and law professors. It has also achieved
one of the highest bar passing rates and largest
number of law graduates among law schools in the
country.[3] A famous alumnus, Florenz D. Regalado,
is a Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, an
established author, and the holder of the highest
bar exam grade in the history of the bar exams in
the Philippines.

Bar Performance
The performance of law schools in the annual bar exam
can be measured using two criteria:

Bar passing rate
The bar passing rate is the proportion of successful
bar exam passers in relation to the total number of bar
exam takers coming from a particular law school. The
national bar passing rate (proportion of all bar exam
passers in relation to all bar exam takers) changes
every year, and has gone from an all-time high of
75.17% in 1954 to an all-time low of 16.59% in 1999.
[36]

Law schools with the highest average bar passing rates
include:
Ateneo de Manila University School of Law - 89.19%
San Beda College of Law - 85.27%
University of the Philippines College of Law -
85.19%
Ateneo de Davao University School of Law - 65.57%
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law -
56.70%
University of San Carlos - 54.45% passing rate
Arellano University - 46.18% passing rate
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, College of Law -
41.26%
Xavier University - 37.45%
Lyceum of the Philippines - 32.40%
St. Louis University - 31.38%
Far Eastern University - 26.25.

In the 2006 bar examinations, Basilan State
University's lone bar candidate passed, giving the
school a 100% passing rate.
[39]


Bar topnotchers
Bar topnotchers are bar examinees who garnered the
highest bar exam grades in a particular year. Every
year, the Supreme Court releases the bar top ten list.
The list contains the names of bar examinees who
obtained the ten highest grades. It is possible for
more than ten examinees to place in the top ten because
numerical ties in the computation of grades usually
occur.
[40]

Schools which have produced bar topnotchers (1st
placers)
[41]
include:
University of the Philippines College of Law -
forty-nine (49) bar topnotchers
Ateneo de Manila University School of Law -
eighteen (18) bar topnotchers
Philippine Law School - seven (7) bar topnotchers
University of Manila College of Law (former
Escuela de Derecho) - six (6) bar topnotchers
San Beda College of Law - six (6) bar topnotchers
Far Eastern University Institute of Law - four (4)
bar topnotchers
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law -
four (4) bar topnotchers
University of the Cordilleras (formerly Baguio
Colleges Foundation) College of Law - two (2) bar
topnotchers
Manila Law College Foundation (formerly Escuela de
Derecho de Manila) - one (1) bar topnotcher
Manuel L. Quezon University College of Law - one
(1) bar topnotcher
Divine Word College - one (1) bar topnotcher
University of the East College of Law - one (1)
bar topnotcher
Two bar examinees topped the bar exams without
graduating from any Philippine law school:
Jose Diokno - former Senator of the Philippines;
1st placer, 1945 bar exams
Carolina C. Grio-Aquino - former Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court; 1st placer, 1950 bar
exams
In the past, non-law school graduates were allowed to
take the bar. However, the Revised Rules of Court and
Supreme Court Circulars allow only Philippine law
graduates to take the bar, necessarily excluding non-
law graduates and foreign law graduates from taking
part in the exercise.

Law schools with prestigious alumni
The quality of law schools is often measured by the
prestige, influence, or wealth of famous law alumni.
[42]

Some of the law schools and their famous alumni
include:
Ateneo de Manila University School of Law
alumni:
[43]

o Teofisto Guingona - former Vice President of
the Philippines
o Claudio Teehankee - former Chief Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court
o Adolfo Azcuna - Associate Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Renato Corona - Associate Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Jose Miguel Arroyo - First Gentleman of the
Philippines
o Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J. - Member of the
1986 Constitutional Commission
o Alan Peter Cayetano - Senator of the
Philippines
o Ignacio Bunye - Presidential Spokesman
o Arturo D. Brion - Secretary of Labor and
Employment
o Rolando Andaya Jr. - Secretary of Budget and
Management
o Sergio Apostol - Chief Presidential Legal
Counsel
o Ernesto Maceda - former Senate President
o Hernando Perez - former Secretary of Justice
o Evelio Javier, former Governor of Antique
Far Eastern University Institute of Law alumni:
[44]

o Corazon Aquino - former President of the
Philippines
o Artemio Panganiban - former Chief Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court
o Court of Appeals Presiding Justice and
Remedial Law expert Oscar Herrera
o Jose Nolledo - Member of the 1986
Constitutional Commission, Delegate of the
1971 Constitutional Convention
o Salome Montoya - former Presiding Justice of
the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Eliezer R. De los Santos - Associate Justice
of the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Juan Q. Enriquez Jr. - Associate Justice of
the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Edilberto Sandoval - Associate Justice of
the Sandiganbayan (Philippine Anti-Graft
Court)
o Manuel Collantes - former Secretary of
Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the United
Nations
o Sedfrey Ordonez - former Solicitor General,
Secretary of Justice, Ambassador to the
United Nations, and Chairman of the
Commission on Human Rights
o Edgar Ilarde - former Senator of the
Philippines
o Wenceslao Lagumbay - former Senator of the
Philippines
o Neptali Gonzales Jr. - former Mayor of
Mandaluyong City and Majority Floor Leader
of the Philippine House of Representatives
o Manuel J. Laserna Jr. (3rd placer, 1984 bar
exams, 90.95%; AB, Ll.B, Ll.M) and Myrna C.
Mercader. CPA, DBA, Ph.D. - FEU law
professors and bar reviewers (1985-2006),
trial lawyers, bar leaders, and founders of
the Las Pinas City Bar Association (2001).
o Diosdado "Dado" Arroyo - youngest son of
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
San Beda College of Law alumni:
[45]

o Florenz D. Regalado - former Associate
Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court;
holder of the highest bar exam grade
o Raul Roco - former Senator, Secretary of
Education, IBP President, and 1998 & 2004
Presidential candidate
o Rene Saguisag - former Senator of the
Philippines
o Antonio Eduardo Nachura - Associate Justice
of the Philippine Supreme Court, former
Solicitor General
o Antonio Martinez - Associate Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Romeo Callejo - Associate Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Justo P. Torres, Jr. - former Associate
Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court
o Bienvenido L. Reyes - Associate Justice of
the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Noel G. Tijam - Associate Justice of the
Philippine Court of Appeals
o Jose C. Mendoza - Associate Justice of the
Philippine Court of Appeals
o Jose C. Reyes Jr. - Associate Justice of the
Philippine Court of Appeals
o Fernanda Lampas-Peralta - Associate Justice
of the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Eduardo Joson - former Governor of Nueva
Ecija
University of the Philippines College of Law
alumni (Associate Justices not included):
[46]

o Jose P. Laurel - former President of the
Philippines
o Manuel Roxas - former President of the
Philippines
o Elpidio Quirino - former President of the
Philippines
o Ferdinand Marcos - former President of the
Philippines
o Jose Yulo - former Chief Justice of the
Philippines
o Ricardo Paras - former Chief Justice of the
Philippines
o Cesar Bengzon - former Chief Justice of the
Philippines
o Fred Ruiz Castro - former Chief Justice of
the Philippines
o Enrique Fernando - former Chief Justice of
the Philippines
o Felix Makasiar - former Chief Justice of the
Philippines
o Querube Makalintal - former Chief Justice of
the Philippines
o Pedro Yap - former Chief Justice of the
Philippines
o Ramon Aquino - former Chief Justice of the
Philippines
o Marcelo Fernan - former Chief Justice of the
Philippines
o Hilario Davide Jr. - former Chief Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court
o Reynato Puno - current Chief Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Cecilia Muoz Palma - President of the
Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986
and first woman Associate Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law
alumni:
[47]

o Manuel L. Quezon - former President of the
Philippines
o Sergio Osmea - former President of the
Philippines
o Jose P. Laurel - former President of the
Philippines
o Diosdado Macapagal - former President of the
Philippines
o Emmanuel Pelaez - former Vice President of
the Philippines
o Fernando Lopez - former Vice President of
the Philippines
o Arturo Tolentino - former Vice President of
the Philippines
o Cayetano Arellano - former Chief Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court
o Victorino Mapa - former Chief Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Manuel Araullo - former Chief Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Ramon Avancea - former Chief Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court
o Roberto Concepcion - former Chief Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court
o Andres Narvasa - former Chief Justice of the
Philippine Supreme Court and Chairman,
Preparatory Commission for Constitutional
Reform
o Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez- Associate
Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court
o Rosalinda Asuncion Vicente - Associate
Justice of the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Monina Arevalo Zenarosa - Associate Justice
of the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Diosdado Peralta- Associate Justice of the
Sandiganbayan (Philippine Anti-Graft Court)
o Raul Gonzalez - Secretary of Justice and
former Tanodbayan {Special Prosecutor)
o Arturo Buena - former Associate Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court and Presiding
Justice of the Philippine Court of Appeals
o Bernardo Pardo - former Associate Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court and Commission
on Elections Chairman
o Alfredo Benipayo - former Commission on
Elections Chairman, Solicitor General, and
Supreme Court Administrator

External links
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Integrated Bar of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education, Republic of the
Philippines

See also
Philippine Bar Examinations
Integrated Bar of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Posted by Philippine Laws and Cases - Atty. Manuel J.
Laserna Jr. at 5:41 AM
6 comments:
1.
Atty. MANUEL J. LASERNA JR.October 7, 2007 at 6:06
AM
Philippine Bar Examination
From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia


The Philippine Bar Examination is the professional
licensure examination for lawyers in the
Philippines.

It is the only professional licensure exam in the
country that is not supervised by the Professional
Regulation Commission. The exam is exclusively
administered by the Supreme Court of the
Philippines through the Supreme Court Bar
Examination Committee.
Admission requirements

A bar candidate must meet the following academic
qualifications:

* Holder of a professional degree in law from a
recognized law school in the Philippines[1]
* Holder of a bachelor's degree with academic
credits in certain required subjects from a
recognized college or university in the
Philippines or abroad.[2]

He should also meet certain non-academic
requisites:[3]

* A Filipino citizen.
* At least twenty-one (21) years of age.
* A resident of the Philippines.
* Satisfactory evidence of good moral character
(usually a certificate from the dean of law school
or an immediate superior at work).
* No charges involving moral turpitude have been
filed against the candidate or are pending in any
court in the Philippines.

Committee of Bar Examiners

The Supreme Court appoints memberships in the
Committee of Bar Examiners, the official task
force for formulating bar exam questions,
instituting policy directives, executing
procedures, grading bar examination papers, and
releasing the results of the annual bar
examination.[4]

The committee is chaired by an incumbent Justice
of the Supreme Court, who is designated by the
Supreme Court to serve for a term of one year. The
members of the committee includes eight (8)
members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines,
who also hold office for a term of one year.[5]
While the Justice who shall act as Chairman is
immediately known, committee members must exert
every effort to conceal their identities until the
oath-taking of the successful bar examinees,
approximately six months after the bar exam.[6]


Bar review programs

Candidates who meet all the admission requirements
usually enroll in special review classes after
graduating from law school. These programs are
held from April to September in law schools,
colleges, universities, and review centers.

Program schedule, content, and delivery differs
from one review program to another. Lecturers in
these programs are called bar reviewers. They are
usually full-time professors and part-time
professorial lecturers in law schools and
universities. Most review programs invite
incumbent and retired justices and high ranking
public officials both as a marketing tool and as a
program innovation.[7]


Venue and itinerary

The examinations are held during the four Sundays
of September of every year in the campus of De La
Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila.

Examinations for the eight bar subjects follow a
fixed schedule:[8]

* First Sunday:

o Political and International Law (morning
session)
o Labor and Social Legislation (afternoon session)

* Second Sunday:
o Civil Law (morning session)
o Taxation (afternoon session)

* Third Sunday:

o Mercantile Law (morning session)
o Criminal Law (afternoon session)

* Fourth Sunday:

o Remedial Law (morning session)
o Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises (afternoon
session)


Coverage

The examination covers the following topics,
popularly known as the bar subjects:[9]

* Political and Public International Law
o Constitutional Law
o Political Law
o Administrative Law (only the basic doctrines,
excluding implementing rules abd regulations of
government agencies)
o Law on Public Officers
o Public Corporations
o Suffrage
o Public International Law

* Labor and Social Legislation
o Labor Law (Labor Code of the Philippines,
excluding the implementing rules and regulations)
o Social Legislation
+ Social Security Law
+ Revised Government Service Insurance Act of 1977
(including Employees Compensation Act of 1977)
+ Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law

* Civil Law
o Civil Code of the Philippines (excluding the
Code of Muslim Personal Laws, Water Code, Rental
Law, Law on Sale of Subdivision of Lots and
Condominiums)
o Family Code of the Philippines (including the
Child and Youth Welfare Code)
o Property Registration Decree (excluding the
Public Land Law)
o Conflict of Laws (Private International Law)

* Taxation
o General principles of Taxation
o Republic Act No. 1125, creating the Court of Tax
Appeals
o National Internal Revenue Code (including the
Expanded Value Added Tax or EVAT)
o Tariff and Customs Code (excluding Arrastre and
Classification of Commodities)

* Mercantile Law
o Negotiable Instruments Law and Other Allied Laws
+ Negotiable Instruments Law (with the Uniform
Currency Act)
+ Merchants and Commercial Transactions (including
Articles 1 to 63 of the Code of Commerce, Retail
Trade Law, Bulk Sales Law)
+ Letters of Credit under the Code of Commerce
o Insurance Code
o Transportation Laws
+ Common Carriers (Articles 1732 to 1766 of the
New Civil Code)
+ Commercial Contracts for Transportation Over
Land (Articles 349 to 379 of the Code of Commerce)
+ Maritime Commerce
+ Public Service Act
o Corporation Law
+ Corporation Code
+ Securities Act
+ Banking Laws
# Laws on Secrecy of Bank Deposits
# Deposit Insurance Corporation
# Trust Receipts Law (excluding the General
Banking Act)
+ Other Special Laws
# Chattel Mortgage Law
# Warehouse Receipts Law
# Laws on Intellectual Creations
* Copyright Law
* Patent Law
* Trademark Law
# Insolvency Law
# Truth in Lending Act

* Criminal Law
o Revised Penal Code (Books I & II excluding
penalties for specific felonies)
o Indeterminate Sentence Law
o Probation Law
o Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
o Anti-Fencing Law
o Bouncing Checks Law
o Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972
o Heinous Crimes Law (excluding penalties)

* Remedial Law
o Revised Rules of Court
o 1991 Revised Rule on Summary Procedure
o Local Government Code on Conciliation Procedures
(Chapter VII)

o Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (excluding
purely administrative provisions, Military Justice
Law, Judiciary Act of 1948, and the Law
Reorganizing the Court of Agrarian Relations)

* Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises
o Legal Ethics
o Judicial Ethics
o Code of Professional Responsibility
o Grievance Procedures (Rules 139-B, Revised Rules
of Court)
o Forms



Grading system

The eight bar subjects are separately graded. Each
subject contributes to the general average in the
following proportion:[10]

* Civil Law - 15%
* Labor and Social Legislation - 10%
* Mercantile Law - 15%
* Criminal Law - 10%
* Political and International Law - 15%
* Taxation - 10%
* Remedial Law - 20%
* Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises - 5%

The passing average fixed by law is 75%, with no
grade falling below 50% in any bar subject.[11]



Passing average vs. Passing rate

The passing average is the minimum grade in the
exam required to be admitted to the practice of
law. The passing rate is the proportion of total
number of bar passers in relation to the total
number of bar examinees. It is usually computed on
two levels--the national level (national bar
passing rate), and the law school level (law
school passing rate).

In the past, passing averages were considerably
lower to admit more new lawyers (i.e. 69% in 1947,
69.45% in 1946, 70% in 1948). Since 1982, the
passing average has been fixed at 75%. This has
led to a dramatic decrease in the national passing
rate of bar examinees, from an all-time high of
75.17% in 1954 to an all-time low of 16.59% in
1999. In recent years, the annual national bar
passing rate ranges from 20% to 30%.[12]



Law school passing rates

Law schools with the highest bar passing rates
include:[13]

Schools with more than 30 examinees:

* Ateneo de Manila University School of Law - 80-
95% passing rate
* San Beda College of Law - 70-85% passing rate
* University of the Philippines College of Law -
60-75% passing rate
* University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law -
40-70% passing rate
* Far Eastern University - 40 - 70% passing rate

Schools with 30 or less examinees:

* Ateneo de Davao University School of Law - 50-
80% passing rate
* University of Perpetual Help-Rizal College of
Law - 50-80% passing rate


Bar topnotchers

Bar topnotchers are bar examinees who garnered the
highest bar exam grades in a particular year.
Every year, the Supreme Court releases the bar top
ten list. The list contains the names of bar
examinees who obtained the ten highest grades. It
is possible for more than ten examinees to place
in the top ten because numerical ties in the
computation of grades usually occur.[14]

Schools which have produced bar topnotchers (1st
placers) include:[15]

* University of the Philippines College of Law -
forty-nine (49) bar topnotchers
* Ateneo de Manila University School of Law -
eighteen (18) bar topnotchers
* Philippine Law School - seven (7) bar
topnotchers
* University of Manila College of Law (formerly
Escuela de Derecho de Manila) - six (6) bar
topnotchers
* San Beda College of Law - six (6) bar
topnotchers
* Far Eastern University Institute of Law - four
(4) bar topnotchers (Amante Liberato placed number
5 in the 1996 Bar Exams)
* University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law -
four (4) bar topnotchers (Diokno, Concepcion,
Macapagal,Maneja)
* University of the Cordilleras (formerly Baguio
Colleges Foundation) College of Law - two (2) bar
topnotchers
* Manila Law College Foundation (formerly Escuela
de Derecho de Manila) - one (1) bar topnotcher
* Manuel L. Quezon University College of Law - one
(1) bar topnotcher
* Divine Word College - one (1) bar topnotcher
* University of the East College of Law - one (1)
bar topnotcher


Two bar examinees topped the bar exams without
graduating from any Philippine law school:[16]

* Jose Diokno - former Senator of the Philippines;
1st placer, 1945 bar exams (Mr. Diokno, who tied
for Number One with Mr. Jovito Salonga in the 1945
Bar Exams, would have graduated from the
Philippine Law School had not World War II
supervened. Mr. Diokno's success in the bar exams
is further underscored by the fact that he was
also under-age){{fact]}
* Carolina C. Grio-Aquino - former Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court; 1st placer, 1950 bar
exams (Ms. Aquino, wife of Mr. Ramon Aquino, 6th
placer in 1939 Bar Exams, is officially a graduate
of the UP College of Law although she took her
first two years of law school at the Colegio de
San Agustin)[citation needed]

In the past, non-law school graduates were allowed
to take the bar. However, the Revised Rules of
Court and Supreme Court Circulars only allow
Philippine law graduates to take the bar,
necessarily excluding non-law graduates and
foreign law graduates from taking part in the
exercise.[17]



Highest and lowest topnotcher grades

Among all bar topnotchers, the highest general
average is 96.7%, attained by Florenz D. Regalado
(future Supreme Court Associate Justice) of San
Beda College of Law in 1954. The lowest is 84.10%,
obtained by Adolfo Brillantes of Escuela de
Derecho de Manila (now Manila Law College
Foundation) in 1920.[18]



Highest scores in specific bar subjects

While no bar examinee has ever reached a 100%
general average, several bar examinees have
garnered perfect and near-perfect grades in
specific bar subjects.

In 1953, Juan Ponce Enrile (future Senator) of the
University of the Philippines College of Law
earned 100% in Taxation Law and placed 11th in the
bar exams of that year.[19]

In 1955, Raul Gonzales (future Secretary of
Justice) of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty
of Civil Law earned 99% in Remedial Law and 95% in
International Law. However, he did not place in
the top ten.[20]

In 1997, Maria Celia H. Fernandez of the
University of the Philippines College of Law
earned 100% in Legal Ethics and emerged as the
year's bar topnotcher.[21]

In 2001, Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada, that year's
valedictorian of the University of the Philippines
College of Law obtained a perfect score of 100% in
Remedial Law, the highest weighted of the bar
subjects. The difference (3.75%) between his final
bar examination score (93.80%) and that of the
second-placer, Jesus Paolo U. Protacio (90.05%),
that year's valedictorian of the Ateneo de Manila
University School of Law, is the highest of all
time. That year's valedictorian of the San Beda
College of Law, Adonis V. Gabriel, placed 8th
(88.25%).[citation needed]

In 2005, Gladys V. Gervacio of the University of
Perpetual Help-Rizal earned 100% in two bar
subjects--Legal Ethics and Labor Law. She placed
6th in the bar exams of that year.[22]



Increasing difficulty

The difficulty of the recent bar examinations,
compared to exams of the past, can be attributed
to the following factors:[23]

* The growing volume of Philippine case and
statutory laws is unprecedented. Laws,
jurisprudence, and legal doctrines of the past
constitute only a small fraction of contemporary
Philippine legal materials, which are increasing
on a daily basis.[24]

* The 75% passing average with no grade lower than
50% in any subject is already fixed by law. Actual
candidates who scored 74.99% in the general
average were not admitted to the practice of law,
unless they retake the bar exams.[25]

* The Three-Failure Rule is now in place.
Candidates who have failed the bar exams for three
times are not permitted to take another bar exam
until they reenroll and pass regular fourth-year
review classes and attend a pre-bar review course
in an approved law school.[26]

* The Five-Strike Rule is implemented since 2005.
The rule limits to five the number of times a
candidate may take the Bar exams. The rule
disqualifies a candidate after failing in three
examinations. However, he is permitted to take
fourth and fifth examinations if he successfully
completes a one year refresher course for each
examination.[27]

* The four-year bachelor's degree is required
before admission to law school. Hence, every bar
examinee has to hold at least two degees--one in
law and one in another field. In the past, law
schools readily admit high school graduates and
two-year Associate in Arts degree holders.[28]

After the end of the Second World War, the passing
rate in the succeeding years was remarkably high,
ranging from 56 to 72% percent. However, after
Associate Justice J.B.L. Reyes, a noted scholar,
was appointed Chairman of the 1955 Bar
Examinations, the passing rate for that year
dropped dramatically to 26.8%, with a mortality
rate of 73.2%. That ratio has been invariably
maintained in the 50+ years since.[29]



Waiting period

The largely essay-type exams are manually checked
by members of the Committee of Bar Examiners.
Candidates have to wait from the last Sunday of
the bar exams in September up to the date of the
release of results, which traditionally happens
before or during the Holy Week (the last week of
March or the first week of April) of the following
year.

During this period, candidates (who already hold
law and bachelor's degrees) may opt to work in law
firms and courts as legal researchers, teach in
liberal arts and business colleges, function in
companies and organizations using their pre-law
degrees (i.e. Communication Arts, Accounting,
Economics, Journalism, etc.), help run the family
business, or take a long vacation.[30]



Admission of Successful Bar Examinees

The Office of the Bar Confidant of the Philippine
Supreme Court releases the Official List of
Successful Bar Examinees, usually during the last
week of March or the first week of April of every
year. Candidates whose names appear in the list
are required to take and subscribe before the
Supreme Court the corresponding Oath of
Office.[31]

Candidates shall take an Oath of Office and sign
their names in the Roll of Attorneys of the
Supreme Court.[32] The oath-taking is usually held
in May at the Philippine International Convention
Center (PICC) with a formal program where all
Justices of the Supreme Court, sitting en banc,
formally approve the applications of the
successful bar candidates. The eight bar examiners
are officially introduced to the public. A message
to the newly inducted lawyers is delivered by one
of the justices. Candidates who made the bar top
ten list are also introduced and honored. The
deans of all Philippine law schools are requested
to attend the ceremony and grace the front seats
of the plenary hall.[33]



Bar Top Ten List

The Office of the Bar Confidant releases an
official Bar Top Ten list together with the list
of names of all successful bar examinees. The Bar
Top Ten contains the names of the candidates who
garnered the ten highest general averages in the
bar exam for that year. The highest ranking
candidate in the list is known as the bar
topnotcher. The list has always been the subject
of much media attention and public
speculation.[34]

Making a place in the list is widely regarded as
an important life achievement, an attractive
professional qualification, and a necessary
improvement in a lawyer's professional and social
status.[35]



Famous bar top ten placers

Prominent lawyers who made the bar top ten
include:[36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43]
[44] [45]



Presidents and Vice Presidents

* Manuel Roxas - former Philippine President; 1st
placer, 1913 Bar Exams
* Diosdado Macapagal - former Philippine
President; 1st placer, 1936 Bar Exams
* Ferdinand Marcos - former Philippine President;
1st placer, 1939 Bar Exams
* Jose P. Laurel - former Philippine President;
2nd placer, 1915 Bar Exams
* Sergio Osmea - former Philippine President; 2nd
placer, 1903 Bar Exams
* Manuel L. Quezon - former Philippine President;
4th placer, 1903 Bar Exams
* Carlos P. Garcia - former Philippine President;
7th placer, 1923 Bar Exams
* Emmanuel Pelaez - former Philippine Vice
President; 1st placer, 1938 Bar Exams
* Arturo Tolentino - former Philippine Vice
President; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams



Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices

* Roberto Concepcion - former Philippine Chief
Justice; 1st placer, 1924 Bar Exams
* Claudio Teehankee - former Philippine Chief
Justice; 1st placer, 1940 Bar Exams
* Pedro Yap - former Philippine Chief Justice; 1st
placer, 1946 Bar Exams
* Ricardo Paras - former Philippine Chief Justice;
2nd placer, 1913 Bar Exams
* Andres Narvasa - former Philippine Chief
Justice; 2nd placer, 1951 Bar Exams
* Jose Yulo - former Philippine Chief Justice; 3rd
placer, 1913 Bar Exams
* Artemio Panganiban - former Philippine Chief
Justice; 6th placer, 1960 Bar Exams
* Ramon Aquino - former Philippine Chief Justice;
9th placer, 1939 Bar Exams
* Jose P. Laurel - former Philippine Supreme Court
Justice; 2nd placer, 1915 Bar Exams
* J.B.L. Reyes - former Philippine Supreme Court
Justice; 6th placer, 1922 Bar Exams
* Cecilia Muoz Palma - former Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 1st placer, 1937 Bar Exams
* Ambrosio Padilla - former Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 3rd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
* Amuerfina Melencio Herrera - former Philippine
Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1947 Bar Exams
* Irene Cortes - former Philippine Supreme Court
Justice; 9th placer, 1948 Bar Exams
* Carolina A. Grio-Aquino - former Philippine
Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1950 Bar Exams
* Isagani A. Cruz - former Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 8th placer, 1951 Bar Exams
* Florentino Feliciano - former Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 6th placer, 1952 Bar Exams
* Florenz D. Regalado - former Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 1st placer, 1954 Bar Exams
* Tomas Matic Jr. - former Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 1st placer, 1955 Bar Exams
* Sabino Padilla Jr. - former Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 5th placer, 1957 Bar Exams
* Adolfo Azcuna - Philippine Supreme Court
Justice; 4th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
* Antonio Eduardo Nachura - Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 7th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
* Presbitero Velasco, Jr. - Philippine Supreme
Court Justice; 6th placer, 1971 Bar Exams
* Antonio Carpio - Philippine Supreme Court
Justice; 6th placer, 1975 Bar Exams
* Bienvenido V. Reyes - former Philippine Court of
Appeals Presiding Justice; 5th placer, 1954 Bar
Exams
* Salome A. Montoya - former Philippine Court of
Appeals Presiding Justice; 6th placer, 1954 Bar
Exams
* Alicia V. Sempio-Dy - former Philippine Court of
Appeals Justice; 5th placer, 1950 Bar Exams
* Oscar M. Herrera - former Philippine Court of
Appeals Justice; 8th placer, 1953 Bar Exams
* Demetrio Demetria - former Philippine Court of
Appeals Justice; 2nd placer, 1964 Bar Exams
* Mario Guaria III - former Philippine Court of
Appeals Justice; 2nd placer, 1967 Bar Exams
* Lucas Bersamin - Philippine Court of Appeals
Justice; 9th placer, 1973 Bar Exams
* Arturo D. Brion - former Philippine Court of
Appeals Justice; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams
* Celia Librea-Leagogo - Philippine Court of
Appeals Justice; 5th placer, 1981 Bar Exams



Senators and Representatives

* Manuel Roxas - former Philippine Senate
President and Speaker of the House of
Representatives; 1st placer, 1913 Bar Exams
* Manuel L. Quezon - former Philippine Senate
President; 4th placer, 1903 Bar Exams
* Arturo Tolentino - former Philippine Senate
President; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
* Ferdinand Marcos - former Philippine Senate
President; 1st placer, 1939 Bar Exams
* Jovito Salonga - former Philippine Senate
President; 1st placer, 1944 Bar Exams
* Neptali Gonzales - former Philippine Senate
President; 9th placer, 1949 Bar Exams
* Ernesto M. Maceda - former Philippine Senate
President; 10th placer, 1956 Bar Exams
* Franklin Drilon - former Philippine Senate
President; 3rd placer, 1969 Bar Exams
* Lorenzo Sumulong - former Philippine Senator;
1st placer, 1929 Bar Exams
* Jose Diokno - former Philippine Senator; 1st
placer, 1944 Bar Exams
* Renato V. Saguisag (Rene Saguisag) - former
Philippine Senator; 6th placer, 1963 Bar Exams
* Sergio Osmea - former Speaker of the House of
Representatives; 2nd placer, 1903 Bar Exams
* Jose Yulo - former Speaker of the House of
Representatives; 3rd placer, 1913 Bar Exams
* Aguedo F. Agbayani - former Pangasinan
Representative; 5th placer, 1947 Bar Exams
* Antonio Eduardo Nachura - former Samar
Representative; 7th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
* Ronaldo B. Zamora - San Juan Representative; 1st
placer, 1969 Bar Exams
* Prospero Nograles - Davao City Representative;
2nd placer, 1971 Bar Exams
* Arturo D. Brion - Assemblyman, Philippine
National Assembly; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams
* Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro Jr. - former
Tarlac Representative; 1st placer, 1989 Bar Exams



Appointees and career service officials

* Roberto Concepcion - Member, 1986 Constitutional
Commission; 1st placer, 1924 Bar Exams
* Lorenzo Sumulong - Member, 1986 Constitutional
Commission; 1st placer, 1929 Bar Exams
* Arturo Tolentino - Member, Philippine Civil Code
Commission; former Minister of Foreign Affairs;
2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
* Ambrosio Padilla - Member, 1986 Constitutional
Commission; 3rd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
* Diosdado Macapagal - President, Philippine
Constitutional Convention of 1971; 1st placer,
1936 Bar Exams
* Cecilia Muoz Palma - President, Philippine
Constitutional Commission of 1986; Chairperson,
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; 1st placer,
1937 Bar Exams
* Jovito Salonga - former Chairman, Presidential
Commission on Good Government; 1st placer, 1944
Bar Exams
* Amuerfina Melencio Herrera - Chancellor,
Philippine Judicial Academy; Chairperson, Legal
Publications Committee, Supreme Court Centenary
Celebrations; 1st placer, 1947 Bar Exams
* Alicia V. Sempio-Dy - Member, Philippine Civil
Code Revision Committee; former Commissioner,
National Commission on Women; 5th placer, 1950 Bar
Exams
* Andres Narvasa - Chairman, Preparatory
Commission for Constitutional Reform; 2nd placer,
1951 Bar Exams
* Gabriel Singson - former Governor of the Central
Bank of the Philippines; 2nd placer, 1952 Bar
Exams
* Florentino Feliciano - Chairman, Feliciano
Commission investigating the Oakwood Mutiny; 6th
placer, 1952 Bar Exams
* Florenz D. Regalado - Member, 1986
Constitutional Commission; 1st placer, 1954 Bar
Exams
* Jose Nolledo - Delegate, 1971 Constitutional
Convention & Member, 1986 Constitutional
Commission; 3rd placer, 1958 Bar Exams
* Haydee Yorac - former Chairperson, Presidential
Commission on Good Government; former
Commissioner, Commission on Elections; 8th placer,
1962 Bar Exams
* Adolfo Azcuna - Member, 1986 Constitutional
Commission; 4th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
* Joaquin G. Bernas - Member, 1986 Constitutional
Commission; Member, Feliciano Commission
investigating the Oakwood mutiny; 9th placer, 1962
Bar Exam
* Sergio A. Apostol - Chief Presidential Legal
Counsel; 7th placer, 1958 Bar Exams
* Ismael G. Khan Jr. - former Spokesperson,
Philippine Supreme Court; 6th placer, 1959 Bar
Exams
* Antonio Eduardo Nachura - former Solicitor
General; 7th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
* Fulgencio S. Factoran Jr. - former Executive
Secretary; 9th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
* Jose Mario Buag - former Bureau of Internal
Revenue Commissioner; 2nd placer, 1968 Bar Exams
* Ronaldo B. Zamora - former Executive Secretary;
1st placer, 1969 Bar Exams
* Franklin Drilon - former Secretary of Labor and
Employment; 3rd placer, 1969 Bar Exams
* Arturo D. Brion - Secretary of Labor and
Employment; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams
* Antonio Carpio - former Chief Presidential Legal
Counsel; 6th placer, 1975 Bar Exams
* Avelino Cruz Jr. - former Secretary of National
Defense; 7th placer, 1977 Bar Exams
* Simeon Marcelo - former Philippine Ombudsman;
5th placer, 1979 Bar Exams
* Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee - former
Undersecretary of Justice; Ambassador to the World
Trade Organization; 1st placer, 1983 Bar Exams
* Antonio M. Bernardo - former Bureau of Customs
Commissioner; 2nd placer, 1988 Bar Exams
* Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro Jr. -
Secretary of National Defense; 1st placer, 1989
Bar Exams
* Persida V. Rueda-Acosta - Chief Public Attorney
of the Philippines; 5th placer, 1989 Bar Exams
* Ruben Carranza Jr. - Commissioner, Presidential
Commission on Good Government; 8th placer, 1990
Bar Exams
* Maria Celia H. Fernandez - former Chief,
Presidential Management Staff; 1st placer, 1997
Bar Exams
* Janet T. Abuel - Regional Director, Department
of Budget and Management; 1st placer, 1998 Bar
Exams
* Edwin R. Enrile - former Assistant Executive
Secretary, Office of the President; Deputy
Executive Secretary, Office of the President; 1st
placer, 1999 Bar Exams
* Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada - former Assistant
Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice President;
Director, Social Housing Finance Corporation; 1st
placer, 2001 Bar Exams



Local officials

* Pablo P. Garcia - former Governor of Cebu; 3rd
placer, 1951 Bar Exams
* Aguedo F. Agbayani - former Governor of
Pangasinan; 5th placer, 1947 Bar Exams
* Roldan Dalman - former Governor of Batangas; 6th
placer, 1975 Bar Exams
* Pablo John F. Garcia - Mayor of Cebu City; 4th
placer, 1993 Bar Exams



Academe

* Custodio O. Parlade - President Emeritus,
Philippine Dispute Resolution Centre; Lecturer and
Bar Reviewer; 4th placer, 1959 Bar Exams
* Joaquin G. Bernas - former President, Ateneo de
Manila University; Dean Emeritus, Ateneo School of
Law; 9th placer, 1962 Bar Exam
* Jovito Salonga - former Dean, Far Eastern
University Institute of Law; 1st placer, 1944 Bar
Exams
* Neptali Gonzales - former Dean, Far Eastern
University Institute of Law; 9th placer, 1949 Bar
Exams
* Andres Narvasa - former Dean, University of
Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law; 2nd placer, 1951
Bar Exams
* Norberto S. Gonzales - Dean, Manuel L. Quezon
University School of Law; 5th placer, 1958 Bar
Exams
* Agustin O. Benitez - former Dean, University of
the East College of Law; 1st placer, 1959 bar
Exams
* Virgilio B. Jara - Dean, San Beda College of
Law; 5th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
* Cesar L. Villanueva - Dean, Ateneo School of
Law; 2nd placer, 1981 Bar Exams
* Jose Jesus G. Laurel - former Dean, Lyceum of
the Philippines College of Law; 6th placer, 1981
Bar Exams
* Roy Joseph M. Rafols - former Dean, Palawan
State University College of Law; 2nd placer, 1984
Bar Exams
* Pacifico N. Castro - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 8th placer, 1954 Bar Exams
* Manuel T. Muro - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer,
former Trial Court Judge; 6th placer, 1955 Bar
Exams
* Roberto San Jose - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 1st placer, 1966 Bar Exams
* Ruben F. Balane - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 2nd placer, 1966 Bar Exams
* Jacinto D. Jimenez (Jack Jimenez) - Law
Professor and Bar Reviewer; 3rd placer, 1968 Bar
Exams
* Arturo De Castro - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 3rd placer, 1970 Bar Exams
* Rene Gorospe - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer;
2nd placer, 1979 Bar Exams

* Manuel J. Laserna Jr. - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer (Far Eastern University, Manila, 1985-
2006); 3rd placer, 1984 Bar Exams (90.95%); trial
lawyer; Bar leader; founder of the Las Pinas City
Bar Association (2001); and managing partner of
the Laserna Cueva-Mercader & Associates Law
Offices (LCM Law, Las Pinas City).

* Abelardo T. Domondon - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 4th placer, 1985 Bar Exams, graduate of
Adamson University College of Law
* Roberto A. Gana - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 5th placer, 1986 Bar Exams
* Jose Maria G. Hofilea - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 10th placer, 1987 Bar Exams
* Michael G. Aguinaldo - Law Professor; 7th
placer, 1992 Bar Exams
* Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castaeda - Law Professor;
1st placer, 1993 Bar Exams
* Maria Socorro Z. Manguiat - Law Professor; 10th
placer, 1993 Bar Exams
* Maria Paz Romana S. Angeles - Law Professor; 10
placer, 1994 Bar Exams
* Carla E. Santamaria-Sea - Law Professor; 5th
placer, 1995 Bar Exams
* Shennan A. Sy - Law Professor; 6th placer, 1995
Bar Exams
* Arnold De Vera - Law Professor; 8th placer, 1987
Bar Exams
* Florin T. Hilbay - Law Professor; 1st placer,
1999 Bar Exams
* Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada - Professor of Law (UP
and Ateneo); 1st placer, 2001 Bar Exams
* Solomon F. Lumba - Professor of Law (UP); 4th
placer, 2001 Bar Exams
* Adonis V. Gabriel - Professor of Law (SBC); 8th
placer, 2001 Bar Exams
* Samson S. Alcantara - Practicing Lawyer;
Professor and Bar Reviewer (MLQU); Author-
Philippine Labor and Social Legislation; 3rd
placer, Bar Exams

[edit] Private sector

* Manuel Montecillo - Name Partner, Siguion Reyna
Montecillo & Ongsiako (oldest law firm); 1st
placer, 1948 Bar Exams
* Manuel S. Abello - Co-founder, Angara Abello
Concepcion Regala & Cruz (ACCRALAW) ; 1st placer,
1958 Bar Exams
* Nelly Favis-Villafuerte - Editor, Manila
Bulletin; 7th placer, 1959 Bar Exams
* Avelino V. Cruz - youngest to top the bar, 1st
placer, 1962 Bar Exams
* Mercedita V. Santiago-Nolledo - Corporate
Secretary, Ayala Corporation; 2nd placer, 1965 Bar
Exams
* Rodolfo D. Robles - General practitioner; 1st
placer, 1967 Bar Exams
* Januario B. Soller Jr. - Co-founder, Soller
Chain of Pawnshops; 1st placer, 1972 Bar Exams
* Jesus M. Manalastas - Name Partner, PECABAR Law
Firm; 2nd placer, 1972 Bar Exams
* Victor P. Lazatin - Partner, ACCRALAW; 3rd
placer, 1972 Bar Exams
* Barbara Anne Migallos - Name Partner, Roco Buag
Kapunan Migallos Law Firm; Co-founder, Migallos &
Luna Law Office; 3rd placer, 1979 Bar Exams
* Mario Luz Bautista - Co-founder, Poblador
Bautista Reyes Law Firm; 6th placer, 1979 Bar
Exams
* Arthur Lim - former National President,
Integrated Bar of the Philippines; 3rd placer,
1981 Bar Exams
* Rey C. Espinosa - Partner, SyCip Salazar
Hernandez & Gatmaitan; Executive Director,
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company;
President and CEO, ePLDT; Vice Chairman, Philweb
Corporation; 1st placer, 1982 Bar Exams
* Menardo L. Guevarra - Co-founder, Serapio
Guevarra Medialdea Law Firm; 2nd placer, 1985 Bar
Exams
* Edward S. Serapio - Co-founder, MOST Law; 7th
placer, 1985 Bar Exams
* Marlon Manuel - Director, SALIGAN (non-profit
legal assistance group); 5th placer, 1994 Bar
Exams
* Patricia-ann T. Prodigalidad - Junior Partner,
ACCRALAW; 1st placer, 1996 Bar Exams
* Maria Celia H. Fernandez - In-house counsel,
Yuchengco group of companies; 1st placer, 1997 Bar
Exams
* Eliseo M. Zuiga Jr. - Associate, Quisumbing
Torres Law Firm; 1st placer, 2000 Bar Exams
* Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada - Associate, SyCip
Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan; 1st placer, 2001
Bar Exams
* Arlene Maneja - Associate, Siguion Reyna
Montecillo & Ongsiako; 1st placer, 2002 Bar Exams
* Aeneas Eli S. Diaz - Associate, Villaraza &
Angangco (the firm servicing President Arroyo's
family); 1st placer, 2003 Bar Exams
* January A. Sanchez - Senior Associate, Puno &
Puno; 1st placer, 2004 Bar Exams
* Joan A. De Venecia - Associate, SyCip Salazar
Hernandez & Gatmaitan; 1st placer, 2005 Bar Exams
* Noel Neil Q. Malimban - Business Law Lecturer
and Reviewer, University of the Cordilleras; 1st
placer, 2006 Bar Exams

[edit] 1st place in the Philippine Bar
Examinations
Name Year School Hometown
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
Manuel Roxas 1913 University of the Philippines
Roxas City, Capiz
Manuel Goyena 1914 Manuel L. Quezon University
Francisco Villanueva 1915 University of the
Philippines
Paulino Gullas 1916 University of the Philippines
Felipe Ismael 1917 University of the Philippines
Alejo Labrador 1918 University of the Philippines
Gregorio Anonas 1919 Philippine Law School
Adolfo Brillantes 1920 Escuela de Derecha
Pablo C. Payawal 1921 University of the
Philippines
Amando L. Velila 1922 University of the
Philippines
Roque Desquitado 1923 University of the
Philippines
Roberto Conception 1924 University of Sto. Tomas
Manila
Rafael Dinglasan 1925 University of the
Philippines
Eugeniano Perez 1926 Philippine Law School
Cesar Kintanar 1927 University of the Philippines
Filomeno B. Pascual 1928 Philippine Law School
Lorenzo Sumulong 1929 University of the
Philippines Manila
Tecla San Andres 1930 University of the
Philippines
Jose Leuterio 1931 University of the Philippines
Hermenegildo Atienza 1932 University of the
Philippines
Lope C. Quimbo 1933 University of Manila
Marciano P. Catral 1934 Philippine Law School
Enrique Estrellado 1935 University of the
Philippines
Diosdado Macapagal 1936 University of Sto. Tomas
Lubao, Pampanga
Cecilia Monuz-Palma 1937 University of the
Philippines Bauan, Batangas
Emmanuel Pelaez 1938 University of Manila Medina,
Misamis Oriental
Ferdinand Marcos 1939 University of the
Philippines Sarrat, Ilocos Norte
Claudio Teehankee 1940 Ateneo de Manila University
Manila
Emmet P.D. Shea 1941 University of the Philippines
1942
1943
Jovito Salonga and Jose Diokno 1944 University of
the Philippines(Salonga)/ Special(Diokno) Pasig
(Salonga)
Gregoria Cruz 1945 University of the Philippines
Pedro Yap 1946 University of the Philippines San
Isidro, Leyte
Amuerfina Melencio Herrera 1947 University of the
Philippines
Manuel Montecillo 1948 Far Eastern University
Anacleto C. Magaser 1949 Philippine Law School
Carolina A. Grio-Aquino 1950 Special
Vicente R. Acsay 1951 University of Manila
Pedro Samson C. Animas 1952 University of the
Philippines
Leonardo A. Amores 1953 University of Manila
Florenz D. Regalado 1954 San Beda College
Concepcion, Iloilo
Tomas P. Matic, Jr. 1955 Far Eastern University
Francisco C. Catral 1956 San Beda College
Gregorio R. Castillo 1957 University of the
Philippines
Manuel G. Abello 1958 University of the
Philippines
Agustin O. Benitez 1959 Far Eastern University
Ismael Andres 1960 Manuel L. Quezon University
Avelino V. Cruz 1961 San Beda College
Deogracias G. Eufemio 1962 University of the
Philippines
Cornelio C. Gison 1963 Ateneo de Manila University
Jesus P. Castelo 1964 San Beda College
Victor S. de la Serna 1965 San Beda College
Roberto San Jose 1966 University of the
Philippines
Rodolfo D. Robles 1967 San Beda College
Oscar B. Glovasa 1968 University of Bohol
Ronaldo B. Zamora 1969 University of the
Philippines
Romulo D. San Juan 1970 University of the
Philippines
Henry R. Villarica 1971 University of the
Philippines
Januario B. Soller, Jr. 1972 Ateneo de Manila
University
Vicente R. Solis 1973 Ateneo de Manila University
Arturo D. Brion 1974 Ateneo de Manila University
Manila
Nicanor B. Padilla, Jr. 1975 University of the
East
Enrique Y. Teehankee 1976 University of the
Philippines
Virgilio B. Gesmundo 1977 Ateneo de Manila
University
Cosme D. Rosell 1978 University of the Philippines
Gregorio M. Batiller, Jr. 1979 Ateneo de Manila
University
Rafael R. Lagos 1980 University of the Philippines
Irene Ragodon-Guevarra 1981 Ateneo de Manila
University
Ray C. Espinosa 1982 Ateneo de Manila University
Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee 1983 Ateneo de Manila
University
Richard M. Chiu 1984 Ateneo de Manila University
Janette Susan L. Pea 1985 University of the
Philippines
Laurence L. Go 1986 Ateneo de Manila University
Mario P. Victoriano 1987 Ateneo de Manila
University
Maria Yvette O. Navarro 1988 University of the
Philippines
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro, Jr. 1989
University of the Philippines
Aquilino L. Pimentel III 1990 University of the
Philippines Cagayan de Oro City
Joseph P. San Pedro 1991 Ateneo de Manila
University
Jayme A. Sy, Jr. 1992 Ateneo de Manila University
Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castaeda 1993 Ateneo de
Manila University
Francisco Noel R. Fernandez 1994 University of the
Philippines
Leonor Y. Dicdican 1995 University of the
Philippines
Patrcia-ann T. Progalidad 1996 University of the
Philippines
Ma. Cecilia H. Fernandez 1997 University of the
Philippines
Janet B. Abuel 1998 University of the Cordilleras
Edwin R. Enrile 1999 Ateneo de Manila University
Eliseo M. Zuiga, Jr. 2000 University of the
Philippines
Rodolfo Ma. A Ponferrada 2001 University of the
Philippines
Arlene Maneja 2002 University of Sto. Tomas
Aeneas Eli S. Diaz 2003 Ateneo de Manila
University
January A. Sanchez 2004 University of the
Philippines
Joan A. De Venecia 2005 University of the
Philippines
Noel Neil Q. Malimban 2006 University of the
Cordilleras