CONSOLIDATED

BAR TIPS

PREPARED BY:

Atty. Brandon Berad

Atty. Jemimah Faye Bisda
Atty. Samantha Famae Feril
Atty. Joel Ferrer
Atty. Anna Raeza Lacadin
Atty. Fatima Rodriguez
Atty. Carmina Sangalang
Atty. James Bryan Tan

SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2019

2019 BAR EXAM PASSERS

Caveat: Do not get too caught up with these tips, or any tips for that matter. Focus on what you are most comfortable
with and adjust according to your needs. These are meant only to guide and give you a background on what we found
effective during Bar review.
 PRE-BAR TIPS

Set a study schedule, taking into account your study habits

and reading needs. Some barristers can get by with only one
SCHEDULE
reading, while others prefer to have first and second readings.
1

Allot “buffer days” in case your planned schedule cannot be

followed for one reason or another.

For barristers who prefer two readings, the following are the recommended days
for each subject: 
( Please note that the schedule below is based on the review period for the Bar 2019
examinations and is merely recommendatory. You may adjust the number of days per
subject depending on your needs.)

FIRST Remedial Law: more or less 20 days

Legal Ethics: 1-2 days
READING Commercial Law: more or less 13 days
Criminal Law: more or less 13 days 

Civil Law: more or less 18 days

Taxation Law: more or less 13 days
Labor Law: more or less 8 days
Political Law: more or less 14 days 
Total days for first reading: more or less 101 days

SECOND Remedial Law: more or less 8 days

Legal Ethics: 1 day
READING Commercial Law: more or less 5 days
Criminal Law: more or less 5 days

Civil Law: more or less 6 days

Taxation Law: more or less 5 days
Labor Law: more or less 4 days
Political Law: more or less 6 days 
Total days for second reading: More or less 40 days

MOCK Remedial Law: more or less 2 days

Legal Ethics: 1 day
BAR Commercial Law: more or less 1.5 days
REVIEW Criminal Law: more or less 1.5 days
 PRE-BAR TIPS

Civil Law: more or less 2 days

Taxation Law: more or less 1.5 days
Labor Law: more or less 1.5 days
Political Law: more or less 1.5 days

Most of us recommend to take a break for one (1) day

REST before transitioning to another Bar subject (i.e. after
DAYS finishing commercial law, allot a rest day before moving
on to criminal law).

Get and evaluate your materials ahead. You can ask

others who have already read the materials for
MATERIALS
further assessment. However, it is advised that
2

you read materials which you are already familiar and

comfortable with.

Ideally, read one (1) main material for each subject and get supplemental
handouts if needed. Once you have evaluated and chosen your materials,  be
disciplined and stick with them. Don’t compare your materials with others.  It is
normal for you and your friends/co-barristers to not read the same materials.

Should there be an instance when you and your friends

do compare materials, do not be overwhelmed by their
MASTERY
3

comments about the materials you chose.  Focus on

what you have and aim for mastery.

Don’t attempt to read every handout you get from

HANDOUT
4

various review centers. Choose wisely and only when

necessary.

Don’t rely on red book or memory aid alone. These

BRB/MEMAID
5

are supplemental materials only.
 PRE-BAR TIPS

STUDY Look for a study area where you are most comfortable
6

AREA with.

Rest when needed . Do not feel guilty about taking

REST
7

breaks from time to time.

In any instance, always bring your codal (or any

CODAL preferred handout) wherever you may be. This is helpful
8

in case you feel the sudden need (or desire) to study

while idle.

Always check the Bar syllabus. Do not waste your

SYLLABUS
9

time on topics not included therein.

Answer two to five (2-5) Bar questions before going to bed .

BAR When answering, observe the format recommended in
10

answering Bar questions (i.e. ALAC). It is advisable to enroll in a

QUESTIONS review center which also gives importance to writing
techniques.

Do not consume anything (i.e.  medicine, sleeping aid,

MEDICINE etc.)  for the first time  during review, especially during
11

INTAKE the Bar month . It may cause adverse reactions to your

body and may eventually lead to unnecessary stress.

You do  not  need to attend  all  lectures in review

12

LECTURES centers .  Familiarize yourself with the lecturer and the

topics to be discussed. 
 PRE-BAR TIPS

It would be helpful to know what type of learner you are. (Auditory learners
prefer to attend and listen to lectures, while visual learners may prefer reading
materials than attending).

It is recommended to have a copy of Lex Pareto to have

LEX
a basis for Bar questions. This way you can mark codal
13

PARETO provisions according to the most recurring Bar

questions.

Do not dwell on rumors about who the examiners

are and what materials they allegedly prefer.   During
RUMORS
14

Bar review season, rumors about Professor X being the

examiner are inevitable, and will prompt others to pass
around materials which Professor X allegedly

used/preferred during his teaching days. While it is tempting to read those

materials, stick with what you already chose and evaluated. All the references
contain the same thing—the law.  Focus on mastering the law with the help of
the materials you already have.

Choose a pen that you will use for the Bar exams and
practice your penmanship with the pen you chose,
15

PENS preferably on a grade one notebook or a mock bar

booklet. When taking mock bar exams, it is highly
recommended to use your preferred pen.

Practice writing with margins  without  need of a

16

MARGINS ruler.  Some proctors during the Bar examinations do not

allow the use of the same.

Former barristers recommended the use of a small Toblerone or Cadbury bar to serve as
their ruler during the exams. However, some of us found the use of the same to be time
consuming (the chocolate ruler tip also does not apply to left-handed people). Hence, it is
best that you already master writing with margins without a ruler.
 PRE-BAR TIPS

It is highly recommended that you take down notes

during your first reading. When taking down notes, you can
17

NOTES put the page number of the book from where you got your
notes so you can easily refer to the book for verification. Your
notes will be of great help during pre-week.

Take mock bars which would likely have the same format as
the Bar exam.    This would help you practice your time
MOCK
management and would allow you to see how you
18

BARS translate what you studied, and gauge what you need to
study more.

We recommend you take at least two (2) mock bar examinations (or take as many as
you need) to experience and eventually make necessary adjustments.

If you prefer to take mock bar examinations at your own time, you can arrange for your
own simulated bar examinations by selecting a Bar exam year and timing yourself in.

(While mock bar examinations are not the actual Bar examinations, we recommend
you take them seriously as it gives you a good grasp of how it feels to take the Bar
examinations. However, remember that your mock bar examination scores will NOT
define your Bar performance.   If you do not do well in these mock exams, take
motivation in it. And if you do good, aim to do better.)
19

MATERIALS The following are the materials  we used  during pre-

bar:

(Please note that the following materials were used based on our own evaluations. If
you are not comfortable and/or familiar with the materials enumerated, or you already
have a preferred bar material, stick with them. Remember to not be swayed by the
comments of others. Focus on what you have and aim for mastery.)
 MATERIALS
POLITICAL LAW

OUTLINE REVIEWER IN POLITICAL LAW 

BY JUSTICE NACHURA

PROS CONS

Comprehensive and compact We had difficulty in reading it

Rich in jurisprudence; doctrines are considering the format of the outline
on-point Latest edition is  2016, hence, it may
not reflect recent jurisprudence

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW 

BY DEAN SARMIENTO

PROS CONS

In question and answer format  Lengthy. considering that PIL is only a

Brief explanations per answer small part of Political Law
Comprehensive

VICSON NOTES 
BY ATTY. VICSON MABANGLO

PROS CONS

Good format; patterned on the Some topics include codal provisions

codal and Atty. Gabriel's lectures only
Set of doctrines is up to date Some topics may take ample time to
read
 MATERIALS
LABOR LAW

BAR REVIEW ON LABOR LAW 2019 EDITION

BY ATTY. CHAN

PROS CONS

Tailor-fit with the 2019 Bar syllabus Brief explanations; lacks some
Topics are correlated doctrines
Easy to read Doctrines are limited to the topics
Good format included in 2019 Bar Syllabus only

MATERIALS
CIVIL LAW

CIVIL LAW REVIEWERS 1 & 2 

BY ATTY. RABUYA

PROS CONS

Volume 1 is comprehensive; contains Both volumes are too thick

well-thought of explanations; with considering the format
various set of doctrines Volume 2 requires additional
Tables are helpful for retention discussions and annotations

CIVIL LAW REVIEWERS

BY DEAN ALBANO

PROS CONS

Question and answer format Some topics need further discussions

Brief  and doctrines
Updated jurisprudence Some doctrines are repetitive
 MATERIALS
TAXATION LAW

TAX MADE LESS TAXING 

BY ATTY. INGLES

PROS CONS

Simple explanations; Not updated; requires the purchase

With bar questions and answers  of TRAIN supplement
Examples allow readers to easily
grasp concepts

TAX PRINCIPLES AND

REMEDIES AND INCOME TAXATION
BY JUSTICE DIMAAMPAO

PROS CONS

Rich in jurisprudence A bit difficult to understand if JD was

Reliable for income tax and general not your professor
concepts

LUMBERA NOTES AND LECTURES

BY ATTY. LUMBERA

PROS CONS

NEEEEEEEED!! Some views may contradict other

Good correlation; comprehensive authors' opinions
Tables are helpful to further
understand various concepts and
how they are interrelated
 MATERIALS
CRIMINAL LAW

CRIMINAL LAW REVIEWER 

BY JUDGE CAMPANILLA

PROS CONS

Good explanations May be tiring too read; information

Highly recommended for Penalties!! overload!!
Good illustration for crimes Some views may contradict that of
other authors

COMPACT REVIEWER 
BY JUDGE BOADO

PROS CONS

Brief Some views may contradict that of

Good format other authors
Lacks discussions on certain topics

PROSEC NOTES 
BY PROSEC. GARCIA

PROS CONS

Codal-based 2018 Prosec Notes needs revisiting

2017 version is more recommended
Good examples correlated with
jurisprudence
 MATERIALS
COMMERCIAL LAW

COMMERCIAL LAW REVIEWER 

BY DEAN SUNDIANG + ATTY. AQUINO

PROS CONS

Good format and sets of enumeration May need a bit more jurisprudence
Bar friendly

COMMERCIAL LAW RECAP

 BY ATTY. VILLANUEVA-CASTRO

PROS CONS

Good format Recommended to be supplemented

Bar friendly with Sundiang-Aquino Reviewer
Updated jurisprudence

COMMERCIAL LAW PRE-WEEK 

BY JUSTICE DIMAAMPAO

PROS CONS

Good for refreshing concepts Some topics are outdated

Question and Answer format
Answers are related to jurisprudence
 MATERIALS
REMEDIAL LAW

BAR LECTURE SERIES 

BY DEAN RIANO

PROS CONS

Good discussion and format Multiple books; not compact

Bar friendly Not updated considering revisions in
Recommended for foundation and the law
mastery of concepts 

REMEDIAL LAW REVIEWER 2019

BY ATTY. RIGUERA

PROS CONS

Q&A format Some questions are too long

Can be supplemented with Riano Few objective questions
Not compact
Not updated considering revisions in
the law

SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS NOTES

BY ATTY. DE LEON (FROM RECOLETOS)

PROS CONS

Easy-read Limited to SpecPro

Brief discussion
 MATERIALS
LEGAL ETHICS

REVIEWER IN LEGAL AND JUDICIAL ETHICS

BY DEAN AGUIRRE

PROS CONS

Good discussion and format No discussion on Notarial Practice

Brief and short (less than 200 pages) and other topics
 PRE-WEEK TIPS

General tip for Pre-week:  almost all review centers will

MATERIALS
1

be disseminating pre-week materials and this can be

overwhelming.

Refrain from reading all the materials as it can be time-consuming and

confusing. Handpick the materials that you are comfortable with, taking
into account the substance, format, and length.

Take your vitamins! Some barristers get sick on the

HEALTH
2

third Sunday due to exhaustion.

Again, do not consume anything (i.e.  medicine,

MEDICINE sleeping aid, etc.)  for the first time  during the Bar
3

INTAKE month. It may cause adverse reactions to your body

and may eventually lead to unnecessary stress.

MINIMUM READ YOUR CODALS AS WELL AS CASES PENNED BY THE

4

REQUIREMENTS CHAIR.

POSSIBLE In choosing your Pre-week materials:

Some of us chose Ateneo pre-week materials because we
SCHEDULES &
5

found it to be a more simplified version of our San Beda

MATERIALS mem-aid, thus delving into the very foundation of the
subject.

As regards the San Beda pre-week materials, it focused more on application of

the law and jurisprudence based on cases penned by the Chair.
 PRE-WEEK
SCHEDULES AND
MATERIALS
SCHEDULE REASON MATERIALS
Monday afternoon to This helped me ensure For all subjects:
Wednesday – Second that I will be able to Ateneo Pre-
subject read all the materials week or San Beda
Thursday to Saturday that I have prepared pre-week or USC Pre-
noon – First subject beforehand. week 
STYLE 1 Saturday afternoon Additional materials
onwards – LMT  per subject:
 For fourth Sunday- Labor Law: Chan Pre-
Monday to Tuesday Week
morning – Legal Ethics Taxation Law: Locke
Tuesday afternoon to Pre-Week
Friday – Remedial Law Remedial Law: Moya
Pre-week 
Criminal Law:
Campanilla Pre-Week

SCHEDULE REASON MATERIALS

Same with Style # 1 Same reason with For all subjects:
except: Style #1  Ateneo Pre-week
Saturday San Beda Pre-week
afternoon (until 6pm) – Own Pre-Bar notes  
Second Subject Magic Notes
Saturday Jurists last minute
STYLE 2 evening (6pm to materials
930pm) – LMT (Ateneo
and Jurists) 
For fourth Sunday-
Monday to Tuesday
morning – Legal Ethics
Tuesday afternoon to
Friday – Remedial Law
 PRE-WEEK
SCHEDULES AND
MATERIALS
SCHEDULE REASON MATERIALS
Monday – Rest day I rested on Mondays San Beda Pre-
Tuesday to because it helped me week OR Ateneo Pre-
Wednesday – First regain my strength and week for both subjects
subject composure for the San Beda Pre-Week
Thursday to Friday – coming pre-week, served as my default
Second subject considering that Bar Pre-Week material
Friday night – re-read Sundays were I only referred to
pre-week material for extremely tiring, Ateneo Pre-Week if the
First subject mentally and rumored examiner is an
STYLE 3 Saturday morning – physically. Atenean
re-read pre-week Cons: You can only
material for Second have one material for
subject both subjects,
Saturday afternoon considering the shorter
onwards – Codal for study time; this also
weakest subject  required me to study
For fourth Sunday- more swiftly.
Monday afternoon to
Tuesday – Legal Ethics
Wednesday to Friday –
Remedial Law

SCHEDULE REASON MATERIALS

Monday to Tuesday – I preferred to prioritize For all subjects:
Bar Subject I found the subject I found San Beda Pre-
more difficult (example, more difficult to avoid week and/or Ateneo Pre-
I have a harder time cramming. It also week
studying Labor law so I usually takes me Magic Notes
studied it first) longer time to read Jurists last minute
STYLE 4 Wednesday to the subject. materials 
Thursday – Subject
that I found relatively Additional materials:
easy to study Labor Law: Chan Pre-week
Friday – Chair's
cases or Review center
LMT or San Beda pre-
week (whichever is
deemed more useful
for both subjects)
Saturday – Magic
notes, other materials
as needed
 PRE-WEEK
SCHEDULES AND
MATERIALS
SCHEDULE REASON MATERIALS
Monday afternoon to Same reason with Style For all subjects:
Tuesday – First subject #4 San Beda Pre-
Wednesday to week and/or Ateneo Pre-
Thursday – Second week  
STYLE 5 subject Own Pre-bar notes  
Friday – last minute Jurists last minute
tips, Magic notes, and materials
other materials as Magic notes
needed

SCHEDULE REASON MATERIALS

Monday – QUAMTO or Reading the most San Beda Pre-
Bar Questions and frequently asked bar week and/or Ateneo
Answers questions allowed me Pre-week
Tuesday to Friday to anticipate possible
(every first half of the questions.
day) – First subject Reading two subjects
Tuesday to per day helped me
STYLE 6 Friday (every latter train my mind to focus
half of the day) – on two distinct
Second subject subjects.
Saturday – Attend last I listened to lectures on
minute lecture  Saturdays because
For fourth Sunday: some matters being
Monday – Legal ethics discussed are based on
Tuesday to Friday – topics that are more
 Remedial law likely to be asked. 
Cons: No ample time to
read all materials.

SCHEDULE REASON MATERIALS

Monday to Friday (every I tried Style # 1 during For all subjects:
first half of the day) – the First week but I Re-read my selected Pre-
First subject found that I had a hard bar materials during Pre-
Monday to Friday (every time recalling the week
latter half of the day) – subjects I read for the Magic notes
Second subject first few days of the Additional materials:
STYLE 7 Saturday – Magic notes week. Labor Law: Chan Pre-week
and other materials as Changing to this Criminal Law: Moya Pre-
needed schedule helped me week
For fourth Sunday- retain both subjects. Commercial Law:
Monday – Legal Ethics Dimaampao Pre-week
Tuesday to Friday –
Remedial Law
 PRE-WEEK TIPS

In scheduling your Saturdays, take into account

SATURDAYS
6

whether you would celebrate anticipated mass, attend

last minute lectures, join the send-off, check-in at a
hotel, and the like.

Since you will be checking-in at your hotels on Saturday,

ESSENTIALS it is advisable to prepare your stuff beforehand. The
7

following are recommended to be brought:

Bar ID and Exam Permit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BallpenSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
CLEAR BAG Ruler!!!!!!!!
Codal, LMT, essential study materials
Clipboard for your LMTs

 Jacket
Medicine, salonpas, band-aid
Other essential oils for headache, stress, as
needed
Tissue/wet wipes/napkin
Food and water

Candies (smint, mentos, chocolates)

Light (non-noisy) snacks
Rosary and other praying needs 

Clothes
HOTEL Hygiene essentials (toothbrush, napkin etc.), skincare
LUGGAGE Gadgets for softcopies of LMTs to be used, if any
Some books or reading materials, as needed
Clear bag

Resting on the Monday after the Bar Sunday  is highly

REST ON recommended, as taking the Bar exam would certainly take a toll,
MONDAYS both mentally and physically.  Assess whether you would need to
5 8

rest for the entire day, or if resting for a certain period of time
would suffice.
 BEST OF LUCK,
BAR CANDIDATES!

WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!

-CONSOLIDATED BAR TIPS-

PREPARED BY:

Atty. Brandon Berad

Atty. Jemimah Faye Bisda
Atty. Samantha Famae Feril
Atty. Joel Ferrer
Atty. Anna Raeza Lacadin
Atty. Fatima Rodriguez
Atty. Carmina Sangalang
Atty. James Bryan Tan

SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2019

2019 BAR EXAM PASSERS