2022 BAR EXAMINATIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (as of June 12, 2022)

I. Application Requirements for the 2022 Bar Examinations

What are the requirements to take the 2022 Bar Examinations?

The requirements are contained in Bar Bulletin No. 3, s. of 2022, which you can
access at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/files/BAR-2022/Bar-Bulletin-3.pdf.

My graduation date is after the deadline of applications for the 2022 Bar
Examinations. Can I apply to take the 2022 Bar Examinations, and then, submit
the documents at a later date?

If your graduation date falls on a date after July 15, 2022 (the deadline of
application), you can still apply to take the 2022 Bar Examinations.

During the application period, the applicants need only to submit a Certificate of
Completion of all the requirements of the law degree. As stated in Bar Bulletin
No. 3, s. of 2022, the Law School Transcript of Records (TOR) will only be
submitted by the applicants before taking the Lawyer's Oath, should they pass
the Bar Examinations.

Further, the applicant, who has no derogatory record in your law school or
university, shall also submit a Certificate of No Derogatory Record (CNDR),
which is issued by the law dean.

Hence, submission of these two documents (i.e., Certificate of Completion and

CNDR) at a later time is not permitted. They should be submitted when the
applicant applies to take the Bar Examinations.

What are the required contents of the Certificate of Completion of all the
requirements of the law degree?

The Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law degree should
indicate that the applicant is a candidate for graduation for Academic Year 2021-
2022.

If the applicant has already graduated, the Certificate of Completion of all the
requirements of the law degree should indicate the fact that the applicant
graduated from the four-year law course and include the specific date of
graduation.

Who should sign the Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law
degree?

The Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law degree shall be
duly signed by the School Registrar and duly noted by the Law Dean.

My Law Dean is not available to duly note the Certificate of Completion of all the
requirements of the law degree. May our Associate Dean duly note this
Certificate?

Yes. The Associate Dean of the law school or university may duly note the
Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law degree.

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Do I have to submit a Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law
degree if my Law Degree TOR is already available?

Regardless of whether the applicant’s Law Degree TOR is already available, you
must still submit a Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law
degree.

The official Law Degree TOR may be submitted after passing the Bar
Examination but prior to taking the Lawyer’s Oath.

Is the Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law degree required
to be notarized?

No. The Certificate of Completion of all the requirements of the law degree need
not be notarized.

What are the requirements for the photo to be uploaded on Bar PLUS and
submitted to the OBC?

The applicant must wear decent attire with collar.

The photo must be un-retouched (1 1/2 x 1 1/2), with white background, taken
not more than six (6) months prior to the submission of the Application Form, with
the handwritten name and signature of the applicant appearing at the bottom of
the photo.

The name must follow this format: Surname, Given Name, Middle Initial, Suffix.

The application will NOT be processed if:

1. The photo does not resemble the applicant.
2. The background is not plain white.
3. The photo contains shadows.
4. The applicant’s ears are covered in the photo (as much as possible, both
ears of the applicant should be visible).
The photo to be uploaded on Bar PLUS must be in .JPEG format with a file size
of 250 KB or less.

Below are examples of acceptable photos:

I have already submitted the physical copies of some of the required documents
during my last application, do I have to submit them again?

Yes. All applicants, whether new, repeaters, or refreshers must submit ALL the
required documents that are specified in Bar Bulletin No. 3. Bar PLUS has been

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 reset after the last Bar Examinations, and all the data obtained during the last
Bar Examinations have been automatically deleted.

Can I submit a certified true copy of my Birth Certificate issued by the Local Civil
Registrar (LCR) instead of the original?

Yes, a certified true copy of your Birth Certificate issued by the LCR is allowed.
The LCR must be the one to certify the same as a true copy.

Will electronically-signed documents be accepted?

No. Except for the PSA Birth Certificate, where e-signature is allowed, the
signatures used in ALL the other documents must be wet signatures.

My Law School or University is already closed. How do I submit the required

documents from my Law School or University?

Submit a notarized affidavit stating that you have previously submitted the
required documents, such as the Law School TOR and CNDR, and that the Law
School or University is already closed. Upload the notarized affidavit on the
upload facilities of the corresponding required documents.

This only applies to applicants whose Law School or University is already closed
and who have previously submitted their Law School TOR and CNDR to the
OBC.

Is marking of the required documents necessary?

No, the required documents to be filed need not be marked as annexes.

May I submit a Certificate of Foundling in lieu of a birth certificate?

Yes. A Certificate of Foundling is acceptable because it has the same legal effect
as a Certificate of Live Birth.1 The applicant must upload his or her Certificate of
Foundling in the upload facility for PSA Birth Certificate in Bar PLUS.

As a married female applicant, is a certified true copy of the marriage certificate

allowed?

Yes, a certified true copy of the Marriage Certificate issued by the LCR is
allowed. The LCR must be the one to certify the same as a true copy.

Do I still have to submit my Legal Education Board (LEB) Certificate?

No, there is no need to submit a Certification from the LEB consistent with the
Court’s recent ruling in the case of Pimentel v. LEB.2

Do I still need to obtain at least eighteen (18) units in English, six (6) units in
Mathematics, and eighteen (18) units of Social Science subjects as stated in
Section 16, of LEBMO No. 1-2011 (Board Prerequisites for Admission to the Ll.B
or J.D. Program)?

No. The requirement is not found under Section 6, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court
consistent with the Court's recent ruling in the case of Pimentel v. LEB.

1
Section 10, Republic Act No. 11767, July 26, 2021.
2
G.R. Nos. 230642 and 242954, and A.M. No. 20-03-04-SC (November 12, 2021).

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Where can I request my CNDR?

You may request your CNDR from the law school or university where you
graduated.

For foreign graduates, they may request their CNDR from the Philippine law
school or university where they took their fourth year subjects.

The CNDR must be signed by the Law Dean.

Is the CNDR required to be notarized?

No. The CNDR need not be notarized.

My Law Dean is not available to sign the following documents: (a) CNDR; and/or
(b) Notarized Certification issued by the University or Law School that the
applicant passed the refresher course subjects. May our Associate Dean sign any
of these documents?

Yes. The Associate Dean of the law school or university may sign the above-
mentioned documents.

What type of cases do I need to declare?

ALL pending and decided case(s) of whatever nature filed against you before any
jurisdiction must be declared.

If you are the complainant, plaintiff, or petitioner, there is no need to declare the
case(s) you filed against another party. But if the case has been appealed or a
counter-claim has been filed, where the applicant then becomes the respondent,
defendant, or accused, the case must be declared.

What is the format for the Lists of Pending Case(s) and Decided Case(s)?

The lists of pending case(s) and decided case(s) must follow this format: Case
Number, Title, Nature of the Case, Status (whether pending or decided), Charge
and/or Penalty.

For instance:
Crim Case No. ____, People v. _____, Criminal Case, Pending before the
Regional Trial Court of _____, Branch __, Homicide

My case has been archived or provisionally dismissed, how will I declare it?

Cases that have been archived or provisionally dismissed are still considered as
PENDING. The applicant may indicate its status as archived or provisionally
dismissed.

Can I still submit the Refresher Certificates that were previously issued to me by
my individual professors, given that I have not taken any Bar Examinations since
their issuance?

Yes, you can still submit the certificates issued by each of your professors and
combine them into a single PDF file for uploading in Bar PLUS, provided the

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 refresher course is still valid or within the three (3) bar years from the time of
completion of the fourth-year refresher course.

Who should sign the Notarized Certification issued by the University or Law
School that the applicant passed the refresher course subjects?

The Notarized Certification issued by the Law School or University that the
applicant passed the refresher course subjects, with the applicant’s
corresponding grades indicated therein, shall be duly signed by the Law Dean.

Do I need to submit the original copy of my identification document (ID)?

No. A scanned/digital copy of the valid government or latest law school-issued ID

must be uploaded on Bar PLUS. Thereafter, a photocopied or scanned copy of
the same ID, along with the other documents, must be submitted to the OBC.

Below is a list of acceptable government-issued IDs:

● Social Security System (SSS) / Government Service Insurance System

(GSIS) e-card / Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Card
● Land Transportation Office (LTO) Driver’s License
● Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) ID
● Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Voter's ID
● Philippine National Police (PNP) ID
● Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ID
● Bureau of Fire Protection ID
● Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons
(NCWDP)
● Senior Citizen ID
● Philippine Postal ID (issued November 2016 onwards)
● Passport
● Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification
● National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
● Police Clearance

My ID reflects my old signature. Can I use this ID for my application?

No, the signature you will use in your Application Form and the photo must be
consistent with the signature reflected in your ID.

What should I do if my Law School or University has adopted the Optional Fourth
Year Curricular Subject Offerings in the Basic Law Course, for instance, Remedial
Law Review and Civil Law Review per LEBMO No. 21, Series of 2019?

You are required to secure a certification issued by the Law Dean stating that
Remedial Law Review is equivalent to Remedial Law Review I and II and Civil
Law Review is equivalent to Civil Law Review I and II.

I am a refresher. Do I need to enroll and regularly attend a Pre-Bar Review

Course?

Yes. You also need to submit a Notarized Certification issued by the School
Registrar that you have completed the Pre-Bar Review Course.

I took my Pre-Bar Review Course in 2021 but did not take the 2020/21 Bar
Examinations. Can I use it for the 2022 Bar Examinations?

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 Yes. For the 2022 Bar Examinations, you may use the Notarized Certification
that you have completed the 2021 Pre-Bar Review Course, as long as you were
unable to take the 2020/21 Bar Examinations.

What are the documentary requirements for applicants born abroad?

Applicants born abroad are required to submit their PSA-issued report of birth
and their foreign birth certificate.

If the foreign birth certificate is not written in English, you must submit an English-
translated copy of the foreign birth certificate, duly notarized and authenticated in
the country of birth.

I was born abroad and my foreign birth certificate is not written in English. May
the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos for Arab Countries translate my
foreign birth certificate?

Yes. If the foreign birth certificate is not written in English, the applicants must
submit an official English translation duly notarized and authenticated in the
country of birth or translated by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos for
Arab Countries.

II. Bar Personal Login Unified System (Bar PLUS)

Where can I access the Bar PLUS to submit my application to take the 2022 Bar
Examinations?

Bar PLUS may be accessed through this link: https://lis.judiciary.gov.ph/scp

What platform and web browser do I have to use to avoid compatibility issues?

Bar PLUS is best viewed on a desktop platform. It is compatible with Mozilla

Firefox 80+, Google Chrome 87+, Microsoft Edge 87+, or any higher version.

What are the steps in the Bar PLUS application process?

1. Registration of Bar PLUS account

2. Filling out of application type (i.e., whether a new applicant, a repeater, or a
refresher), personal information, educational attainment, and contact
information
3. Uploading of the required documents (scanned/digital copies)
4. Payment of bar application fee
5. Verification and processing of applications
6. Approval or disapproval of applications
7. Venue selection
8. Issuance of the Notice of Admission and Undertaking

STEP 1: REGISTRATION

What processes are involved in Step 1?

1. Go to the link indicated above for account registration.

2. Click the REGISTER button.

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 3. Enter the required information and make sure that all information entered is true
and correct. Please note that the following details can no longer be changed or
edited once the information is submitted: (i) sex assigned at birth, (ii) chosen
preferred gender pronoun/s, and (iii) email address.
4. Click the REGISTER button.
5. Check your email account for the verification link (inbox, spam, and junk folders).

How do I register in Bar PLUS?

You must use a PERSONAL and ACTIVE email address. Do not use school-
issued or company-issued email addresses because confidential and personal
information will be sent to your registered email address and will be used to
contact you in case there will be issues or concerns regarding your application.

Register only one (1) account in Bar PLUS. You will receive a verification email
to activate your account after you have successfully registered in Bar PLUS.

Kindly whitelist or add the following email addresses to your approved senders
list, in order to prevent emails from being delivered to your spam or junk folder:

noreply.barexams.sc@judiciary.gov.ph
bar2022helpdesk@judiciary.gov.ph

Applicants who have not received any email notification from Bar PLUS within
seventy-two (72) hours from registration may submit their concerns by filling out
the Helpdesk Form (https://bit.ly/2022BarExamHelpDesk).

Please use the same email address that you used to register your Bar PLUS
account.

I already have a Bar PLUS account. Do I need to register again?

Yes, ALL applicants for the 2022 Bar Examinations, including repeaters and
refreshers, are required to register in Bar PLUS. They must provide their
personal data in Bar PLUS and upload the necessary documents for the purpose
of taking the 2022 Bar Examinations.

When can I register in Bar PLUS and when will it end?

Registration in Bar PLUS starts on June 13, 2022 and will end on July 15, 2022.
Prospective examinees who fail to register in Bar PLUS by July 15, 2022 will not
be able to take the 2022 Bar Examinations.

How should I fill out my name in Bar PLUS?

You are required to use the name appearing on your birth certificate. Special
characters (e.g. Ñ, Ặ, Ộ, Ề) in the names must be properly displayed.

If your birth certificate does not accurately reflect your name and you intend to
file a petition for change of entry in your birth certificate, you must still indicate
the name appearing on your birth certificate and upload the uncorrected
document in the meantime.

● For married female applicants

Married female applicants may use their maiden surname, the husband’s
surname as it appears on their marriage certificate, or their hyphenated

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 surname. Your registered name in Bar PLUS will be the name appearing
in our records, issuances, and communications.

STEP 2: APPLICATION

What processes are involved in Step 2?

1. Log in to your account.

o Enter your registered email address and password. You may tick
“Remember me” for ease of future login.
o Click “I’m not a robot” and enter the captcha code appearing on the login
page
o Click the Login button.
2. On your dashboard, click Pending Application to input your details.
3. The applicant must fill out their application type, personal information,
educational attainment, and contact information.
4. Click NEXT to proceed to the next tab. Click the refresh button if you are having
trouble accessing the site or filling out the required fields.
5. Read the instructions on how to upload the documentary requirements.

HOW TO FILL OUT APPLICATION TYPE

What is my Application Type?

New Applicants are those who will take the Bar Examinations for the first time.

Repeaters are those who will take the Bar Examinations for the second or third
time.

Refreshers are those who will take the Bar Examinations for the fourth time or
more. They are required to take a Refresher course and Pre-Bar Review Course
before they can be allowed to take the exam.

I applied for previous Bar Examinations but have not taken any of the
examinations. What is my application type?

You are still considered a NEW APPLICANT.

What would be my applicant type if I applied for the 2020/21 Bar Examinations but
was not able to take it?

You will have the same application type (New Applicant, Repeater, or Refresher)
as declared on your 2020/21 Bar application.

If you are a Refresher, the refresher course must be valid for you to be able to
take the 2022 Bar Examinations.

You must also indicate the reason why you were not able to take the said
examinations.

It has been years since I last took the Bar Examinations. Do I have to take a
refresher course?

It depends on the number of times you have taken the examinations. You are
only required to take a refresher course if you apply again for the Bar
Examinations after three (3) or more unsuccessful attempts.

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For how long is my refresher course valid?

Those who have completed the fourth-year refresher course shall be given a
maximum of three (3) years within which to take the Bar Examinations. 3 One
completion of Refresher Course is valid for three (3) Bar years and not three (3)
calendar years.4 However, you can only use it for one (1) Bar Examinations.

I am a Refresher who did not pass the 2020/21 Bar Examinations. Can I still use
my refresher course to take the 2022 Bar Examinations?

No, because the refresher course was already used for the 2020/21 Bar
Examinations. You are required to take another refresher course to be eligible to
take another Bar Examination.

I am a repeater or a refresher who was conditionally admitted to take the last Bar
Examinations. What reason/s should I state for my conditional admission?

Please input whichever applies to you:

● Pending correction of birth certificate
● Pending case
● Lack of certificate of completion of pre-bar review course
● Lack of other documentary requirements

If the reason for your conditional admission is not listed above, please specify.

Kindly indicate the status of compliance following this format: ”Reason; status of
compliance”

For example:
Pending correction of birth certificate; complied.

What is the purpose of the Survey for the Exam Venue?

You are required to choose two (2) preferred cities where you would like to take
the 2022 Bar Examinations.

This is for survey purposes only and will not bind the applicant during the venue
selection procedure.

HOW TO FILL OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION

What should be indicated if an applicant acquired his or her citizenship through

naturalization?

Applicants who acquired their citizenship through naturalization are required to

indicate how they acquired said citizenship (i.e., administrative naturalization
pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 9139, judicial naturalization pursuant to
Commonwealth Act (CA) No. 473, as amended, or legislative naturalization).

I am related by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth (4th) civil degree to an

incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court, and/or officials or personnel of the
Office of the Bar Chairperson, or the Office of the Bar Confidant. How should I
declare them in Bar PLUS if I have more than one (1) relative?
3
B.M. 3454 dated 11 September 2018.
4
B.M. 3490 dated 27 July 2021, Annex A.

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 Separate the names of each relative with a semicolon. The format should be as
follows:

Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Suffix; Last Name, Given Name, Middle
Name, Suffix

Indicate the relationship by respectively following the same order of the names of
each relative, likewise separating the information with a semicolon:

Sister; Husband

I am encountering an error in uploading my photo in Bar PLUS. How should I

proceed?

Please log-out of your Bar PLUS account and log-in again before uploading your
photo.

HOW TO FILL OUT EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

I am a foreign law graduate, what law school should I declare?

Foreign law school graduates must declare their foreign law school under the
Name of Law School/University. They are also required to declare the Philippine
Law School/University where they took their fourth year Bachelor of Laws or Juris
Doctor subjects in Bar PLUS.

What if my Pre-law School is not on the drop-down list?

If your Pre-law school is not on the drop-down list, kindly select “OTHERS” and
specify.

What if my Degree/Title/Course and Major are not on the drop-down list?

If your Degree/Title/Course and Major are not on the drop-down list, kindly select
“OTHERS” and specify.

What if my Law School or University Campus is not on the drop-down list?

If your Law School or University Campus is not on the drop-down list, kindly
select the main campus.

HOW TO FILL OUT CONTACT INFORMATION

Can I use someone else's mobile number or landline number?

No, DO NOT use someone else's mobile number or landline number because
we will refer to the contact numbers provided in your Bar PLUS account should
we need to reach you anytime for any concern.

What if I changed my mobile number or landline number after registration?

You must inform the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) of your present mobile number
or landline number through the 2022 Bar Examinations Helpdesk Form
(https://bit.ly/2022BarExamHelpDesk).

I am currently renting a place. Can I use it as my present address?

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 Yes, you may use your current residence as your present address. Once you
pass the Bar Examinations and sign the Roll of Attorneys, your permanent
address will be indicated in your membership.

Does my present address affect my venue selection?

Generally no, your present address will not affect your venue selection since the
latter will be solely based on your choice. However, in case you were not able to
select a venue within the deadline, you may be assigned to a venue closest to
your present address, depending on slot availability

The deadline and mechanics for the venue selection procedure will be
announced at a later date.

STEP 3: UPLOADING OF THE DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

What processes are involved in Step 3?

1. Read the Instructions for Uploading the Documentary Requirements in Bar PLUS
and prepare the scanned/digital copies of your documents in the prescribed
format and size as indicated below. To upload a file, click the button which
corresponds to the document you want to upload. Make sure that all of the
necessary files have been uploaded.
2. Click the SAVE button to save your uploads.
3. You will receive an email with your Applicant Reference Number (ARN).
4. Clicking the NEXT button will display all of your inputted information. Make sure
that all information are true and correct.
o If you want to make changes to your information, click the CANCEL
button. Again, please note that the sex assigned at birth, chosen preferred
gender pronoun/s, and email address entered in the REGISTRATION
page cannot be changed or edited once the Bar PLUS account is
registered.
o To edit any information, click the Return to Application Information
button found at the bottom left of the page.
5. Click the PROCEED button to proceed to the payment page. At this point,
Application on your dashboard will turn green.

What is the prescribed format for the documents I will upload?

The uploaded documents must be in a folio size paper (8.5” x 13”). Each of the
uploaded documents must be readable, scanned with at least 300 DPI resolution
and saved in PDF format. The scanned documents must approximate the
dimensions of the physical documents and must be in the same color as the
original paper document. The maximum file size per PDF is 10 MB.

The submission of files that are found to be technologically malicious may

disqualify the applicant involved and result in disciplinary and criminal sanctions.
Technologically malicious files are those that are deliberately corrupted, or those
that contain viruses or malware intentionally harmful to the recipient.

My file has multiple pages. Can I upload them separately?

No, if your file has multiple pages, you must scan and combine them into a
single PDF file. Do not upload all the pages in a single document, placed side by
side.

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I have multiple cases filed against me. Can I upload them all together?

No, you have to upload them separately, especially if the case numbers differ.

If the complaint is voluminous, you may scan only the first five (5) pages and the
last five (5) pages.

How should I upload the lists of pending case(s) and decided case(s) in Bar
PLUS?

The list of pending case(s) must be uploaded in the facility for Complaint /
Information in Bar PLUS. The list of pending case(s) in the format prescribed
above should appear in the first page of the Complaint / Information if there is
only one (1) case, or in the first page of the first Complaint / Information if there
are multiple cases. The succeeding page(s) should then contain the Complaint /
Information.

On the other hand, the list of decided case(s) must be uploaded in the facility for
Judgment/Decision/Order/Resolution, whichever is applicable, in Bar PLUS. The
list of decided case(s) in the format prescribed above should appear in the first
page of the Judgment/Decision/Order/Resolution if there is only one (1) case, or
in the first page of the first Judgment/Decision/Order/Resolution if there are
multiple cases. The succeeding page(s) should be the
Judgment/Decision/Order/Resolution, whichever is applicable.

I am a refresher, and I have Notarized Certifications issued by the individual

professors of each of the refresher course subjects, with my corresponding
grades indicated therein. How do I upload these Notarized Certifications issued
by the individual professors in Bar PLUS?

Applicants must combine the Notarized Certifications issued by the professors

into a single PDF file and upload it to Bar PLUS.

How can applicants with special needs submit their requests?

Applicants who are pregnant, senior citizens, or have special needs/requests

may upload a letter on the uploading of documents tab, specifically stating
their circumstances and the assistance needed during the Bar Examinations.

I am presently enrolled in and regularly attending the Pre-Bar Review Course in a

Law School, University, or Review Center, what will I upload in Bar PLUS?

If the Notarized Certification on Completion of Pre-Bar Review Course is still not

available at the time of filing of your online application, you must upload a
Notarized Certification issued by the School Registrar of the Law School or
University stating that you are currently enrolled in and regularly attending the
Pre-Bar Review Course.

If the Pre-Bar Review Course is offered by a Review Center, the certification

must be issued by the School Registrar or the authorized representative, where
the Review Center is affiliated.

STEP 4: PAYMENT OF THE BAR APPLICATION FEE

What processes are involved in Step 4?

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 1. Choose your preferred online payment facility.
2. Keep the copy of your payment confirmation.
3. Once your payment has been confirmed, you will receive an email with your Bar
Examinee (BE) number and an electronic official receipt. The Payment icon on
your dashboard will turn green once your payment has been posted.

How will I know if my application was successful?

The application shall be deemed filed and completed upon payment of the bar
application fee. Applicants will receive an email notification confirming their
payment.

How do I pay the bar application fee?

After uploading the required documents, you will be directed to the payment
page, where you can pay online through the following facilities:

1. LandBank of the Philippines

2. Judiciary e-Payment Solution

The instructions for online payment are available here:

https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/files/BAR-2022/Payment%20Instructions%20Notice
%20v2.pdf.

Can I pay the bar application fee over the counter?

No, there is no offline payment for the 2022 Bar Examinations.

After paying online, why is my payment still not posted?

Please allow two (2) to three (3) banking days for the posting of your payment. If
your payment is still not posted within the given timeframe, contact the helpdesk
for assistance (https://bit.ly/2022BarExamHelpDesk).

What should I do if I encounter an error while paying online and the amount is
already deducted from my account but the payment is still pending in Bar PLUS?

Keep calm. If the amount has already been deducted from your account, please
DO NOT attempt to pay again. Contact the helpdesk to confirm your payment
(https://bit.ly/2022BarExamHelpDesk).

While there are several online payment options through which you can pay your
bar application fee, not all payment options may be available every time.

Is the bar application fee refundable?

The bar application fee is non-refundable. Only payments made in excess of
₱10,000.00 or erroneous payments may be refunded to the applicant.

Can I pay the Bar application fee for more than one applicant?

No. All payments shall be made individually. Payments for more than one (1)
applicant will not be accepted.

STEP 5: VERIFICATION AND PROCESSING BY THE OBC

What processes are involved in Step 5?

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 1. Check your email or monitor your Bar PLUS dashboard for updates on your
application. You will be notified if your application requires any changes.
2. Once you receive an email that your application has been processed, the
Application Processing on your dashboard will turn green.

What happens next after the submission of my application via Bar PLUS and
successful payment?

All submitted applications shall be verified and processed for approval or denial.

You may check the status of your application on the Bar PLUS Applicant
Dashboard. Any notifications or concerns with your application shall be sent to
your Bar PLUS registered email address.

What are the grounds for the denial of my Bar application?

The Bar application will not be accepted if:

1. The applicant is not qualified to take the Bar Examinations;

2. The application is filed beyond the deadline set by the Court; and
3. The applicant did not submit all the required documents or pay the bar
application fee.

STEP 6: APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS

What processes are involved in Step 6?

1. Once your application has been approved or denied, you will receive an email
containing a Partial List of Approved or Denied Candidates. Court Action on
your dashboard will turn green.
2. Make sure that the Venue Selection Module appears on your dashboard (right
side, above the News and Announcements).
3. Submit the printed Application Form with your wet signature and the physical
copies of your uploaded documents within ten (10) working days from the
approval of your online application.

How will I know if my application has been approved or denied?

Check your email or monitor your Bar PLUS dashboard to see if your application
has been approved or denied.

The OBC will release a Partial List of Approved Candidates who are
unconditionally or conditionally admitted by the Supreme Court En Banc to take
the 2022 Bar Examinations. The OBC will also release a Partial List of Denied
Candidates for those whose applications were denied.

Where can I download the Application Form?

All applicants are required to provide all the necessary information in Bar PLUS.
Once your application has been approved, a generated PDF file of the
Application Form with your given information will be available for download via
Bar PLUS. After downloading, please print your Application Form on separate
sheets of 8.5” x 13” folio (not back-to-back). Affix your wet signature on the
designated spaces on each page of the Application Form. Please also indicate
the date that you signed the Application Form.

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When can I submit the printed Application Form and the physical copies of the
documents?

Except for the TGMC and the Law Degree TOR, the printed and signed
Application Form, and the physical copies of the documentary requirements must
be submitted to the OBC not later than ten (10) working days upon the
approval of the online application.

When can I submit the physical copies of the Notarized Certification on

Completion of Pre-Bar Review Course and the Notarized Certification issued by
the School Registrar that I am currently enrolled in and regularly attending the
Pre-Bar Review Course?

If the Notarized Certification on Completion of Pre-Bar Review Course is already

available by the time of filing your online application, it should be uploaded to Bar
PLUS. Its physical copy should be submitted to the OBC not later than ten (10)
working days after the approval of the online application, together with the
other documentary requirements.

If the Notarized Certification on Completion of Pre-Bar Review Course is not yet

available by the time of filing your online application and a Notarized Certification
issued by the School Registrar that you are currently enrolled in and is regularly
attending the Pre-Bar review Course is uploaded to Bar PLUS instead, the
physical copy of the Notarized Certification on Completion of Pre-Bar Review
Course should be submitted to the OBC on or before December 31, 2022. On
the other hand, the physical copy of the Notarized Certification issued by the
School Registrar that you are currently enrolled in and regularly attending the
Pre-Bar Review Course should be submitted to the OBC no later than ten (10)
working days after the approval of the online application, together with the
other documentary requirements.

How do I submit the physical copies of the Application Form and the
documentary requirements to the OBC?

The documents shall be securely placed in a long brown envelope, sealed with
masking tape, and labelled according to the details below:

Subject: Bar Application Documents

Bar Examinee Number: 2022-XXXXX
Applicant’s Last Name and Initials: [e.g. Dela Cruz, J.A.]

and submitted via any courier service addressed to:

CHIEF OF OFFICE
Office of the Bar Confidant
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Padre Faura St., Ermita
1000 Manila, Philippines
(02) 8525 7929 | 0917 813 8543

We discourage sending the documents via registered mail as this takes much
longer to arrive at the OBC.

STEP 7: VENUE SELECTION

What processes are involved in Step 7?

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 1. Select your preferred venue. Please be reminded that you only have fifteen
(15) minutes to complete the selection process.

● Details and further information about the venue selection process will be
announced at a later date.
2. After selecting and successfully submitting your preferred venue, you will receive
an email confirming the local testing center you have selected.

STEP 8: NOTICE OF ADMISSION AND UNDERTAKING

What processes are involved in Step 8?

1. You will receive an email containing your Notice of Admission (NoA) and
Undertaking.
2. You may also download the Notice of Admission and Undertaking from your Bar
PLUS account.

Should I reprint the NoA and Undertaking every exam day?

No, the NoA and Undertaking need to be printed only once.

The NoA shall be submitted to the Head Proctor (HP) on each examination day.
After each examination and before leaving the room, the examinee should ask
for his or her NoA from the HP, who shall accomplish the certification found at
the back of the NoA as proof of the examinees’ completion of the examination.
However, on day four of the examination, i.e., after the Remedial Law II (with
basic tax remedies) and Legal Ethics examination, the examinees’ NoA shall be
retained by the HP for submission to the Office of the Bar Confidant.

On the other hand, the Undertaking shall be submitted to the HP on the first day
of the examinations only.

There is a conflict between what is stated in Bar PLUS and the issuances in the
Supreme Court microsite for the 2022 Bar Examinations and the FAQs. What is
controlling?

In case of conflict between what is stated in Bar PLUS and the issuances in the
Supreme Court microsite for the Bar Examinations and the FAQs, the issuances
in the Supreme Court microsite and the FAQs shall be controlling. In case of
doubt, applicants shall refer to the issuances in the Supreme Court microsite for
the 2022 Bar Examinations and the answers to these FAQs.

AFTER PASSING THE 2022 BAR EXAMINATIONS

Do I need to affix a PhP 30.00 documentary stamp tax to my Law School TOR?

Yes, a PHP 30.00 documentary stamp tax is required on the original or certified
true copy of the Law School TOR.

What are the requirements for the Testimonial of Good Moral Character (TGMC)?

The TGMC Form must be signed by a lawyer who has been admitted to the
Philippine Bar for at least three (3) years prior to signing the TGMC and must
personally know the applicant for at least a year.

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 Lawyers related to the applicant by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth (4th)
civil degree cannot sign the TGMC.

We will announce the availability of the TGMC Form at a later date.

OTHER MATTERS:

You may raise any bar examinations-related concerns to the 2022 Bar
Examinations Helpdesk Form at https://bit.ly/2022BarExamHelpDesk.

You may also call the OBC at (02) 8552 9690 or (02) 8552 9642 during office
hours.

To receive updates relating to Bar Plus, You may also join the Viber Channel at
https://invite.viber.com/?
g2=AQATH4LWClq6z083p3JnMsB9GgNC5UUSMY6JasHzu707FhSRIKr6qrd4M
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