For the first time in history, the Bar Examinations will be taken digitally in several local sites across the country, departing from tradition that it is held in a university in Manila, the Supreme Court confirmed on Monday, February 15.

In a Bar Bulletin dated Sunday, February 14, but released on Monday, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen – the Bar chairman – said the en banc has approved the modality of the 2020 examinations, which is that it will be “digitalized, localized and proctored.”

As with tradition, the Bar will be taken on the 4 Sundays of November, which are November 7, 14, 21 and 28.

The local testing sites have not been finalized yet, as law schools and other sites still have to apply and be evaluated. Application of testing sites can be sent until April.

Examinees will take the test on their own laptops, which they shall bring, following requirements from the Supreme Court, among which is having minimum of 4 gigabytes (GB) of available space. The Supreme Court will be using its own software for the test.

“While the modality has been digitalized, the Bar Examinations shall not be taken remotely. Examinees will still walk into testing rooms and will be proctored while taking the exams. Surveillance cameras will also be installed in all testing rooms,” said the bulletin.

Examinees can choose the testing center closest to them. Law graduates will be able to apply to take the Bar through an online application system.

“Applicants need not go to Manila and visit the Office of the Bar Confidant, except when required to clarify the authenticity of the documents submitted. The Office of the Bar Confidant shall do this at a minimum, to reduce all applicants’ expenses,” said the bulletin.

For coronavirus protocols, the Supreme Court said it will “explore arrangements for a predominantly saliva RT-PCR testing modality in each of the testing sites.”

All protocols will be followed such as testing, physical distancing and other hygienic rules. 

Although Leonen, the former dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, has taken to calling this Bar the #BestBarEver, it has also come to be known as the #BiggestBarEver since there are two batches taking the tests this year, after the exams were canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus lockdown.

– Rappler.com