The Supreme Court (SC) has announced that the 2026 Bar Examinations will be held on September 6, 9, and 13, 2026, under a localized and fully digitalized format, according to Bar Bulletin No. 1, Series of 2025 released on October 16.
Chaired by Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, the exams will cover six core subjects over three testing days, with morning sessions from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and afternoon sessions from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The subjects and their weights are:
- Day 1 (Sept. 6): Political and Public International Law (15%), Commercial and Taxation Laws (20%)
- Day 2 (Sept. 9): Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds (20%), Labor Law and Social Legislation (10%)
- Day 3 (Sept. 13): Criminal Law (10%), Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises (25%)
Based on the bulletin, only laws, rules, issuances, and jurisprudence in force as of June 30, 2025, are covered, while repealed or superseded laws are excluded.
The Court advised examinees to rely solely on official channels, including the 2026 Bar microsite (https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/bar-2026/) and verified Supreme Court social media pages, for updates.
In his message, Justice Gaerlan reminded aspirants that “success in the Bar Examinations is not handed out. It is forged… earned through hard work, dedication, and unshakeable integrity.”
“I offer you a process that honors your efforts and a level playing field where only your competence and character will determine the outcome,” he said.
Further details on application procedures, testing venues, and technical guidelines will be released in succeeding bar bulletins, and inquiries may be directed to the Office of the Bar Confidant Help Desk at (02) 8552-9690.
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