3,962 pass 2024 Bar Exams
Metro Manila, Philippines – The country will soon have nearly 4,000 new lawyers after the Supreme Court announced the results of the 2024 Bar exams on Friday, Dec. 13.
The passing rate was 37.84%, higher than last year’s 36.77%.
Over 10,400 took the test in September, including the 3,962 who passed. The passers will take their oath next month.
Kyle Christian Tutor from the University of the Philippines was the topnotcher with a score of 85.77%
Maria Christina Aniceto from Ateneo de Manila University was in second place, while Gerald Roxas from Angeles University Foundation Law School was third.
Those among the Top 20 came from the following law schools:
+ University of Mindanao
+ Western Mindanao State University
+ San Beda University
+ University of Santo Tomas
+ University of San Carlos
+ Jose Rizal Memorial State University
+ University of St. La Salle
The top-performing law schools with more than 100 first-time candidates were:
+ Ateneo de Manila University
+ University of the Philippines
+ San Beda University
+ University of Santo Tomas-Manila
+ University of San Carlos
The high court approved to lower the passing grade from 75 to 74, Bar exam chairperson and Associate Justice Mario Lopez said.
“The justices would like to have more lawyers, ayaw nila na 3,000 lang ang magiging [they don’t want to only have 3,000] new lawyers,” Lopez told reporters.
He said that the exam “is not a perfect gauge of knowledgeability and skill of a lawyer to be,” adding that those who scored 74 are “not less superior.”
Check out the full list here.
Aspirations
Charmaine Arce Gabelo was a seafarer for 12 years. But she decided to enroll in law school and passed the bar in one take.
“Nong nag-stay ako dito after magbarko kasi, may tokhangan, may distribution na hindi mabigyan ng mahihirap talaga… Baka makatulong din ako sana kaya sinubukan ko lang po,” Gabelo said.
[Translation: When I stayed in the country after a stint at sea, there was still tokhang (drug war crackdown), and the poor could not receive help from the government. I tried law school to help.]
Gabelo said her son will also study law, inspired by her journey.
“Access to justice especially for the marginalized and underrepresented is low as well,” UP product Jet Ryan Nicolas, who was Top 5, told NewsWatch Plus.
“I feel like if I can do something about increasing access to lawyers in the justice system, I will do my part in that advocacy,” he said.
Lopez, meanwhile, urged new lawyers to “decongest” the capital region and serve in the rural areas.
“After all, lawyering is servicing the public,” the associate justice said.
