MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW BAR EXAMINATIONS

by Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen

Hosted by Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc. (ALAAI)
 Key basic concepts/principles + canonical doctrines

RATIO DECIDENDI OR RULE OF THE CASE VS DOCTRINE VS CANONICAL DOCTRINE

 Not a divided court, only en banc

ANALOGY WITH A CAR

1st Level. Driver = Qualifying for the bar.
 Questions will be asked based only on the qualifying level.
2nd Level. Mechanic = Practicing for law firms.
3rd Level. Engineer = Reforms.
4th Level. Designer = Academic level.
5th Level. Physicist = Philosophical.

BAR QUESTIONS PROPER

 3 Bar Examiners per subject. “Mabait daw”, magmmukhang santo si J.
Leonen.
 Textual and canonical interpretation.
 QUALIFYING QUESTIONS.
 1 PROBLEM FOR 1 QUESTION, NO SUB QUESTIONS; 15 TO 18 PER
SUBJECT.
 Nothing beyond the syllabus.

SAMPLE QUESTION AND ANSWER; POINTING SYSTEM

QUESTION: After due demand, X Corporation filed an action with the Regional
Trial Court of Manila to recover payment arising from a contract of loan against
Y. The complaint only asks for payment of twenty thousand pesos (Php20,000).
ANSWER: Yes, given the facts of the case Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended
by Republic Act No. 7691, requires that cases involving collection of debt
amounting to Php20,000 be filed with the Metropolitan Trial Court.

Four Points: Three Points: Two Points: One Point: No Point:

“Yes. B.P. 129“Yes, however, “No, No, the [No
is the
the court has jurisdiction is Regional Trial answer]
governing law.”
to check determined by Court can do
whether the the existing summary [Depends
NOTE: Correct case has law, B.P. Blg. procedure”. on Liza
answer, already 129 as Soberano]
correct prescribed.” amended”.
reasoning but [Prayer]
incomplete. NOTE: Correct
B.P. Blg. 129 answer, wrong [Please,
has been reasoning. please
amended. ipasa mo
na ako]

ECADC
Good luck! 1
 MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW BAR EXAMINATIONS
by Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen
Hosted by Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc. (ALAAI)
MODALITY OF THE BAR EXAM
23 testing sites; 5 more to catch up

EXAMPLIFY PROGRAM
August 15 tentative (?) for download (?)
The exemplify comes with a Mock Bar Exam. Test runs marami.

 Applications process in a digital portal; digital payment

 Personal appearance only if you have a problem in the application
 Randomized questions, same set but different numbers per student
 No changing of font
 Sign the HONOR CODE.

July 15 opening of digital portal.

NOTE: I am unsure of the dates. Wait for Bar Bulletins.

VENUE OF THE BAR EXAMINATIONS

Under the Venue Matching Protocol, there are four levels:
• First choice –where the student likes to take the exam
• Second choice – where they resides
• Third choice – where they graduated
• Fourth choice – discretion of the Bar Chair
 This is NOT on a “first come, first serve basis”. First to be served are those
farthest from Manila, keeping in mind “Equity and Inclusivity”.

BAR PAYMENT
 Bar Fee: P10,000
Digital Payment. Protocols not yet said.

NOTE: The Bar Fee already involves the payment of the program. If a prospective
bar taker paid for an examplify program from a bar review center or a law school,
it is possible that the program of the latter is DIFFERENT from what is to be
used in the 2021 Bar Exams.

MISINFORMATION
Basically, do not spread misinformation. Just follow and be updated with
the Bar Bulletins and announcements from the Bar Chair himself.

GETTING COVID
Proper protocols to be formulated. BUT if one tested positive, hindi ka na
magttake ng Bar.

ECADC
Good luck! 2
 MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW BAR EXAMINATIONS
by Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen
Hosted by Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc. (ALAAI)
QNA SESSION
VACCINE FOR BAR REVIEWEES
Suggestion for bar reviewees to be included in the A4 category.

SCRATCH PAPERS
Sheets of Paper for the Examinees. 1 point for every answer, with legal
basis. The mock bar questions are much more difficult than the actual bar.
Digital “scratch sheet” is actually found in the program itself.

TIPS
 Wait for Bar Application. Download the exam and practice all you want.
 Practice the Mock Bar Exam, if you do not practice, you will not be
allowed to take the Actual Bar Exam. The Bar Chair will have a list of the bar
takers who downloaded the exam and practiced the same.

 No External keyboard and external mouse. No replacement laptop.

NOTE: Check the protocols again for the Pilot Mock Bar Exam, held last January
2021.

 UP College of Law will serve as the command center.

 FAQ to be released, aside from the Bar Bulletins.

3 BAR EXAMINERS
Hopefully, they will use laptops in checking. Clicking 0 to 5 points. They
will not compute the total score themselves, examplify will do it for them.

NOTE: If there are 15 to 18 questions per subject, it would seem that each
examiner will provide/check 5 to 6 questions each.

Ranking of Law schools.

ECADC
Good luck! 3