Next Bar examination set for November 2021

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court en banc has approved the schedule of the next Bar examination, which is November 2021.

“By approval of the Court En Banc, the next Bar Examination will be held [in] November 2021,” Bar Bulletin No. 13 signed by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the 2020 Bar Examination Committee Chairman.

But examination periods and venues will be announced in a separate Bar Bulletin.

High Court’s Public Information Chief and Spokesman Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka said November 2021 is the earliest Bar examination schedule.

As for the chairmanship of the Bar Committee, he said: “As far as the November 2021 Bar is concerned, it is Justice Leonen.”

“Anyone who is qualified to take the Bar exams in November 2021 will be allowed to take it regardless of what year they graduated,” he said.

Hosaka said they expect that the number of applicants could double.

“Yes [the number of applicants could increase] since two batches of law school graduates will presumably be qualified to take the Bar,” Hosaka said.

The 2020 Bar examination was postponed by the Supreme Court due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, its social and economic effects, and the strict community quarantine. [ac]