3,992 Bar passers take oath as new lawyers

THE adventure of a lifetime for 3,992 young men and women ultimately came to an end as they took their oath as the country’s newest lawyers in ceremonies held Tuesday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City under the auspices of the Supreme Court (SC).

The SC administered the oath to the first batch of passers of the 2022 Bar examinations who recited their solemn pledge under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).

For its part, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) exhorted its new members to uphold the integrity and the ethics of the legal profession.

The High Tribunal held a special en banc session for the ceremony while family members and guests of the inductees viewed the proceedings via live stream at the Reception Hall, as well as in Fora 1, 2, and 3. The signing of the Roll of Attorneys was held at the Reception Hall in the afternoon.

A total of 3,992 out of the 9,183 who completed all the tests during the four days of the exams passed the 2022 Bar Examinations, constituting a passing rate of 43.47 percent.

SC Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, chairman of the 2022 Bar exams, underscored the importance of being “critical thinkers, as well as articulate advocates” to the newly minted lawyers.

Caguioa added that “their courage must be so fueled by love – of country, of the law, of others – that their resolve to fight on becomes unshakeable, with their conviction running deep, but their love and compassion running deeper still.”

“Good lawyers must know that there truly are heavenly proportions to the toil that we do on this side of life, and in so knowing are moved to submit to Him every outcome, even as we must presently apply ourselves to approximating, albeit faintly, what peace and justice on the other side of eternity can look like in the here and now,” he said.