The Philippine Bar Examination Admission Requirements

The Supreme Court (SC) has listed out all the requirements for all aspiring lawyers to file an application for admission in taking the Philippine Bar Exams.

According to the Supreme Court, all aspiring candidates for the Philippine Bar Exams should file a verified form of the Petition as prescribed by the exclusive administrator of the licensure exam. The SC warns that any revision, alteration, or deletion in any parts of the provisions is strictly prohibited. Thus, may be grounds for automatic disqualifications in taking the Philippine Bar Exams.

You can download the petition right here.

To know the other documentary requirements needed to take the Philippine Bar Exams, continue reading below.

Admission requirements for taking the Bar Exam Philippines

Listed below are the requirements for bar exam in the Philippines to help you prepare for the examination.

For applicants without a case/s

1. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) issued Birth Certificate

In cases in which PSA copy is illegible, the claimant must append a legible Birth Certificate issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) in addition to the illegible PSA copy.

In the meantime, if the claimant does not have a record of birth with the PSA, he or she must submit a Birth Certificate released by the LCR. The claimant will have until January 31st of the next year to request the PSA copy of his/her Birth Certificate.

In the meantime, if the claimant does not have a certificate of birth for the PSA or the LCR, he or she must submit:

a. PSA issues Negative Results Certification (NCR).; and

b. Affidavit for Delayed Registration signed by the applicant’s parent, mother, or guardian, stating the reason(s) for the delay.

The claimant will have until January 31st of the next year to request the PSA copy of his/her Birth Certificate.

In situations where the Birth Certificate contains incorrect information, the claimant shall request a corrected Birth Certificate issued by the PSA.

For applicants born outside of the country, he or she must attach his or her:

a. Foreign Birth Certificate

If the foreign birth certificate is not written in English, the applicant must have an official English translation that has been notarized and validated in the country of birth; and

b. PSA issued Report of Birth

Applicants who obtained Philippine citizenship by naturalization or other means shall request original copies of the following documents:

a. PSA Birth Certificate or Foreign Birth Certificate, whichever is applicable; and

b. Such papers pertaining to his/her acquisition of Philippine citizenship.

2. Marriage Contracts provided by the PSA or LCR (only for female married applicants).

3. Statement of Good Moral Character provided by two separate members of the Philippine Bar who are not connected to the applicant by affinity or consanguinity in the fourth civil degree.

4. Official Pre-Law Degree Transcript of Records (TOR) [Original or Certified True Copy by the Law School/University from which the Applicant Graduated]

  • If the Rizal course is combined with another topic or subject, the applicant must apply for a credential from his or her school/university to that effect.
  • In cases where the TOR is not written in English, the individual must request an official English translation by the granting school/university in addition to the TOR.

6. Official Law Degree Transcript of Records (TOR) with Graduation Date

7. Notarized Certification by the school registrar and accordingly noted by the Law Dean attesting to the four-year law degree of the applicant and the LEB [resolution no. 2012-06 of the Legal Education Board (LEB)] that an applicant is a person who has been certified by LEB.

8. Certificate of No Derogatory Record (CNDR) duly signed by the Law Dean

9. In a white backdrop (1 1/2 x 1 1/2) with the name written on it (shape: Surname, Given Name, Medium Initial), a picture was taken within 6 months of submission (to be attached in the Petition)

For applicants with a case/s

In addition to the requirements listed above, the applicant must also submit:

1. Pending Case/s

If the claimant has a case/s of some kind pending before any authority against him/her, he/she must submit:

a. Complaint/Information [Original or certified true copy of the court, prosecutor’s office, or agency concerned]; and

b. Certification of the case’s standing and pendency.

2. Decided Case/s

If the applicant has a case/s of some kind decided before any jurisdiction filed against him/her, he/she must submit:

a. Judgment/Decision/Order/Resolution, whichever is applicable [Original or certified true copy of the court, prosecutor’s office or agency concerned];

b. Entry of Judgment/Certificate of Finality, as appropriate;

c. Clearance from the relevant court, prosecutor’s office, or agency.

If you want to read more on what will be covered during the Bar Exam, here is the full guide to get you started.

To know the latest news for this year’s Philippines Bar Exams, read the full updates laid out for all examinees. For any concerns regarding the exam, you can visit the Supreme Court’s official website for more information.