IN PHOTOS: New lawyers take oath of ‘courage and integrity’

Rappler.com

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IN PHOTOS: New lawyers take oath of ‘courage and integrity’

Rappler.com

Almost 4,000 new lawyers told to 'arm yourselves well with idealism tempered by wisdom; passion strengthened by persistence; knowledge of the law honed by dedicated hard work'

MANILA, Philippines – New lawyers took their oath before the Supreme Court (SC) magistrates, who were sitting in a special en banc session on Monday, May 22, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

In a speech, SC Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno told new lawyers to “arm yourselves well with idealism tempered by wisdom; passion strengthened by persistence; knowledge of the law honed by dedicated hard work. You are the lifeblood of the legal profession. Continue to revitalize the field.”

Sereno added: “To push forward with all courage and integrity as you take your place among your colleagues in our collective task to uphold, preserve, and defend the rule of law; hold this foremost in your mind: the law exists to achieve justice for all, not merely a privileged few, and when you choose where to serve, remember where the need is most urgent; remember your roots. Choose to serve where the need is greatest.” 

SPECIAL EN BANC SESSION. Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (7th from left) leads the oathtaking of the new lawyers.

A total of 3,747 out of 6,344 examinees passed the exams, with Karen Mae Calam of the University of San Carlos in Cebu topping it with a grade of 89.05%.

The 2016 bar exams registered a passing rate of 59.06%, said to be the highest in at least 30 years.

Here are some of the highlights of the oathtaking:

CUSTOMARY SELFIES. Bar passers take their own photos while they wait for the oath taking program to start.

HISTORICAL. 2016 examinees produced the biggest batch of passers since the Bar examinations began in 1901.

TOPNOTCHER. Karen Mae Calam await the start of their oath taking ceremony.

Read the full text of Chief Justice Sereno’s speech: “Great lawyers form under most terrible conditions.” – Ben Nabong/Rappler.com

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