The Supreme Court of the Philippines has released the Bar coverage for 2019.

This year’s takers will still

have to study for the 8 fundamental subjects of the Law with some special topics and practical exercises.

READ: #BAR2019 Bulletin No. 1 – Two Examiner Policy;

Bulletin No. 2 – Date & Venue;
Bulletin No. 3 – Bar Coverage and Communications:https://t.co/4dk0vTkN8F
— Supreme Court PIO (@SCPh_PIO) March 27, 2019

The Bar 2019 will cover the Data Privacy Act and Public International Law. The Criminal Law syllabus also
includes special laws such as Anti-Hazing law, Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, and the
Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The practical exercises include drafting of demand and authorization letters, simple contracts, and judicial
affidavits. This year’s Bar is also reformed as it will have 2 examiners per law subject and the honoraria of
examiners are hiked up to 400 pesos for each candidate.

Venue and itinerary

In recent years, the examinations were held during the four Sundays of September of every
year at the campus of De La Salle University-Manila along Taft Avenue, Manila. Starting
2011, the exams will be moved to November, and will be held at the University of Santo
Tomas‘ campus along España Boulevard, in Sampaloc, Manila.

On February 8, 2011, the Supreme Court resolved to approve changes to the Rules of
Court, thereby altering the schedule for the examinations. The schedule is now as follows:

 First Sunday:

o Political and International Law, Labor and Social Legislation (morning session)

o Taxation (afternoon session)

 Second Sunday:

o Civil Law (morning session)

o Mercantile Law (afternoon session)

 Third Sunday:

o Remedial Law, Legal Ethics (morning session)

o Criminal Law (afternoon session)

 Fourth Sunday:

o Trial Memorandum (morning session)

o Legal Opinion with one legal form (afternoon session)

Coverage

The examination covers the following topics, popularly known as the bar subjects:
 Political and Public International Law

o Constitutional Law

o Political Law

o Administrative Law (only the basic doctrines, excluding implementing rules and
regulations of government agencies)

o Law on Public Officers

o Public Corporations

o Suffrage

o Public International Law

 Labor and Social Legislation

o Labor Law (Labor Code of the Philippines, excluding the implementing rules and
regulations)

o Social Legislation

 Social Security Law

 Revised Government Service Insurance Act of 1977 (including Employees

Compensation Act of 1977)

 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law

 Civil Law
o Civil Code of the Philippines (excluding the Code of Muslim Personal Laws, Water
Code, Rental Law, Law on Sale of Subdivision of Lots and Condominiums)

o Family Code of the Philippines (including the Child and Youth Welfare Code)

o Property Registration Decree (excluding the Public Land Law)

o Conflict of Laws (Private International Law)

 Taxation

o General principles of Taxation

o Republic Act No. 1125, creating the Court of Tax Appeals

o National Internal Revenue Code (including the Expanded Value Added Tax or EVAT)

o Tariff and Customs Code (excluding Arrastre and Classification of Commodities)

 Mercantile Law

o Negotiable Instruments Law and Other Allied Laws

 Negotiable Instruments Law (with the Uniform Currency Act)

 Merchants and Commercial Transactions (including Articles 1 to 63 of the Code of

Commerce, Retail Trade Law, Bulk Sales Law)

 Letters of Credit under the Code of Commerce

o Insurance Code

o Transportation Laws

 Common Carriers (Articles 1732 to 1766 of the New Civil Code)

 Commercial Contracts for Transportation Over Land (Articles 349 to 379 of the
Code of Commerce)

 Maritime Commerce

 Public Service Act

o Corporation Law

 Corporation Code

 Securities Act

 Banking Laws

 Laws on Secrecy of Bank Deposits

 Deposit Insurance Corporation

 Trust Receipts Law (excluding the General Banking Act)

 Other Special Laws

  Chattel Mortgage Law

 Warehouse Receipts Law

 Laws on Intellectual Creations

 Copyright Law

 Patent Law

 Trademark Law

 Insolvency Law

 Truth in Lending Act

 Criminal Law
o Revised Penal Code (Books I & II excluding penalties for specific felonies)

o Indeterminate Sentence Law

o Probation Law

o Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

o Anti-Fencing Law

o Bouncing Checks Law

o Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972

o Heinous Crimes Law (excluding penalties)

 Remedial Law

o Revised Rules of Court

o 1991 Revised Rule on Summary Procedure

o Local Government Code on Conciliation Procedures (Chapter VII)

o Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (excluding purely administrative provisions,

Military Justice Law, Judiciary Act of 1948, and the Law Reorganizing the Court of
Agrarian Relations)

 Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises

o Legal Ethics
 o Judicial Ethics

o Code of Professional Responsibility

o Grievance Procedures (Rules 139-B, Revised Rules of Court)

o Forms

Grading system
The eight bar subjects are separately graded. Each subject contributes to the general
average in the following proportion:

Subject Weight’
Civil Law 15%
Labor Law and Social Legislation 10%
Mercantile Law 15%
Criminal Law 10%
Political and International Law 15%
Taxation 10%
Remedial Law 20%
Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises 5%

The passing average fixed by law is 75%, with no grade falling below 50% in any bar
subject.