MANILA – A total of 10,483 examinees participated in the first day of the 2024 Bar Examinations, marking an increase from the 10,400 candidates who took the first day of the 2023 Bar, according to Supreme Court data. The exams, a critical qualification for aspiring Philippine lawyers, were administered in multiple testing centers nationwide.

According to Philippines News Agency, Associate Justice Mario Lopez, chairperson of the 2024 Bar Examinations Committee, revealed that of the original 12,246 applicants, 5,234 were first-time applicants, while 4,060 were repeat takers, and 1,189 were refresher examinees. Of the total candidates, females outnumbered males, with 6,108 female participants compared to 4,375 males. The group also included 155 senior citizens and 313 examinees with special needs.

Examinees took their tests across 13 testing centers nationwide, including the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City, San Beda University in Manila, and Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City. Road closures and liquor bans were implemented in areas surrounding the testing sites, and 2,316 personnel were deployed to ensure smooth operations.

Lopez, during a traditional breakfast with law school deans, shared that the examination questions for the first day, which covered Political Law, Public International Law, Commercial Law, and Taxation, were balanced and manageable. The next scheduled examination dates are September 11 and 15, covering Civil Law, Labor Law, Criminal Law, and other legal topics.