New format, tight security for today’s bar exams

ASPIRING lawyers are up for a challenge as the annual Bar Examinations start today in Manila amid tight security.

For the first time, a new format of multiple choice questions (MCQ) will be used, making up 60 percent of the total score.

Essay-type items, which used to be the sole format, will make up 40 percent.

A total of 6,200 law graduates from over a hundred law schools nationwide will take the exams, which will be held at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in Manila on four  consecutive Sundays of November.

The Supreme Court said the number of this year’s applicants is 23.26 percent higher than last year.

Around 100 Manila policemen will be fielded at the UST campus and nearby areas, with bomb-sniffing dogs on patrol.

The extra precautions are being taken to avoid a repeat of last year’s fraternity-conflict-related grenade blast on the last day of the Bar Exams held at the De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila where 47 were injured.

Anthony Nepomuceno, a member of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity, was later charged with multiple frustrated murder and illegal possession of explosive . Before that, Cebuano law student Jed Lazaga was tagged as suspect in the September explosion but he was later cleared when the National Bureau of Investigation identified Nepomuceno as the alleged culprit.

“After last year’s blast, security during the Bar Exams must be tightened. I don’t think they will allow a similar incident to happen,” said Cebu Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes in an interview.

The High Court has prohibited “cheerers and supporters” of examinees from staying inside the UST campus as this would help avoid trouble erupting, said Earl Bonachita, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter.

He advised examinees to observe proper decorum during the Bar Exams.

“It (2010 blast) was a lesson learned,” Bonachita said.

“They should not bring any explosives or bladed weapons to avoid what happened last year,” Bonchita said, “nor should they join in any agitation that will result to any untoward incident,” he said.

What makes the law profession attractive?

“It’s the glamour,” said Bonachita. But contrary to claims that lawyers simply make a lot of money, Bonachita said the practice of law “is a calling.”

“I’m convinced that I want to help. Every year, the number of lawyers has increased. (However), the profession will have enough clients to serve,” Bonachita said.

Last year, a total of 982 out of 4,847 passed the Bar Exams.

University of San Carlos law graduate Glenn Carampatana placed 10th.

This year, 6,210 law graduates filed their petitions to take the 2011 Bar Exams.  But five petitions were denied while five others were withdrawn.

This year’s Bar Examinations was moved from the traditional month of September to November to give time for law professors and students to adjust to changes in the exams.

The schedule and topics: Nov. 6 for Political and International Law, and Labor and Social Legislation and Taxation; Nov. 13 for  Civil Law and Mercantile Law ; Nov. 13 for  Remedial Law, Legal Ethics and Forms, and Criminal Law; and Nov. 27 for  Trial Memorandum and Legal Opinion.