MANILA – The Supreme Court's pilot mock bar examinations proceeded smoothly over the weekend, the high court said on Monday.
In a statement, the high court said the tribunal successfully conducted the exercise, which is part of the process of transitioning into fully digital and localized bar examinations.
The activity, which was participated by 80 students, was conducted in cooperation with the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS), Saint Louis University Law School, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and the UP College of law.
Local governments of Makati City, Quezon City, Cebu, and Davao as well as the Philippine National Police supported the activity.
The examinations were a small-scale simulation of the actual bar examinations using computer software, proctored both physically and virtually, with the goal of fine-tuning procedures and technical specifications for the localized bar examinations.
Selected examinees' grades for the mock bar exams will not be part of the actual bar examinations and no merit /demerit shall be received by students who participate should they later take the actual bar examinations.
In September last year, the high court announced that the next Bar examinations for aspiring lawyers will be held in November this year.
Last April, the SC decided to postpone the 2020 Bar examinations in view of the increasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country, the social and economic disruption caused by the pandemic, and the movement restrictions due to community quarantine protocols.
The exams are usually conducted in Manila on all Sundays of November every year.
A total of 2,103 examinees or 27.36 percent of the 7,685 takers passed the 2019 Bar examinations. (PNA)
