2024 Bar Examinations

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As of January 15, 2024

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) shall be a comprehensive information package

for all questions regarding the 2024 Bar Examinations. Please read and study the FAQs
in its entirety before calling and/or sending queries to the Office of the Bar Confidant
(OBC) Helpdesk. Please carefully monitor this file and regularly check back for monthly
updates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Requirements for the 2024 Bar Examinations

1. Application Form
2. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-issued Birth Certificate
3. PSA-issued Marriage Contract
4. Government/Law School-issued Identification Document (ID)
5. Unretouched Photo
6. Testimonial of Good Moral Character (TGMC)
7. Pre-Law and Law Transcript of Records (TOR)
8. Certificate of Enrollment (For Graduating New Applicants)
9. Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) Certifications
10. Certificate of No Derogatory Record (CNDR)
11. Notarized Certificate of Completion of Refresher Course
12. Certificate of Enrollment (For Refresher Who Are Expected To
Complete Their Refresher Course in the Academic Year 2023-2024)
13. Notarized Certificate of Completion of Pre-Bar Review Course
14. Certificate of Enrollment (For Refresher Who Are Expected To
Complete Their Pre-Bar Review Course in the Academic Year 2023-
2024)
15. Case Details
II. Deferred Requirements
III. General Queries
IV. Bar Applicant Registration System and Tech Assistance (BARISTA)
V. Refund Procedure
VI. Other Matters
VII. Affidavit of Undertaking (template)

1
 Application Requirements for the 2024 Bar Examinations
Application Requirements for the 2024 Bar Examinations

What are the requirements to take the 2024 Bar Examinations?

The general requirements are contained in Bar Bulletin No. 2, Series of 2024 (B.B.
No. 2-2024), which you may access here.1

For the documentary requirements which must be submitted during the

application period and after the examinations, please refer to the checklist 2 of
mandatory and deferred documentary requirements for each type of applicant.

Application Form
Application Form

Where can I download the Application Form?

All applicants are required to provide all the necessary information in BARISTA.
Once your application has been approved (Step 5), a generated .PDF file of the
Application Form with your given information will be available for download via
BARISTA. After downloading, please print your Application Form on separate
sheets (not back-to-back) of folio paper (8.5” x 13”). Affix your wet signature on
the designated spaces on each page of the Application Form. The dates on Pages
1 and 2 thereof both refer to the date when you affixed your wet signature.

PSA-issued Birth Certificate

PSA-issued Birth Certificate

Can I submit an original or certified true copy of my Birth Certificate issued by the
National Statistics Office (NSO)?

No. A Birth Certificate issued by the NSO will NOT be accepted.

1 See Bar Bulletin No. 2, January 11, 2024 Bar-Bulletin-No-2-S-2024.pdf (judiciary.gov.ph).

2 Id.
2
 What if there are erroneous entries in my Birth Certificate?

If your birth certificate does not accurately reflect your complete name, sex, date of
birth, and parent’s complete name, and you intend to file a petition for change of
entry in your birth certificate, you must indicate the name you are currently using,
and submit, in the meantime, the uncorrected birth certificate with an Affidavit of
Undertaking stating your intention to have it corrected.

For reference, a template of the Affidavit of Undertaking may be accessed here.

You will be conditionally admitted until you have submitted the corrected copy of
your Birth Certificate (PSA-issued Birth Certificate with annotation).

PSA-issued Marriage
PSA-issued MarriageContract
Contract

I am a female applicant who contracted marriage for more than six (6) months from the
filing of the application but the PSA-issued Marriage Contract is not yet available. What
can I submit?

You are required to submit an original or Certified True Copy (CTC) of the
Marriage Contract issued by the LCR and an Affidavit of Undertaking stating
your intention to submit the PSA-issued Marriage Contract once it becomes
available.

For reference, a template of the Affidavit of Undertaking may be accessed here.

You will be conditionally admitted until you have submitted the PSA-issued copy
of your Marriage Contract.

Government/Law School-issued
Government/Law School -issued ID
ID

Do I need to submit the physical ID to the OBC?

No. A digital or scanned copy of the valid government or latest law school-issued
ID must be uploaded on BARISTA. Thereafter, a photocopied or scanned copy of
the same ID, along with the other documents, must be submitted to the OBC.

3
 Please make sure that the photocopy and digital copy of your ID shows your photo
and signature.

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

No. The signature you will use in your Application Form must be consistent with
the signature reflected on your ID.

How should I upload my Government ID?

You must separately upload both the front and back parts of your Government
ID. However, if you are using either the GSIS, SSS, or UMID ID, you may redact
the sensitive information (e.g., account number, CVV, CVC) included therein
before uploading in BARISTA and submitting the photocopy to the OBC.

If I intend to use my Passport as my government-issued ID, how should I upload this in

BARISTA?

The front part of the Passport is the photo page containing the passport-holder’s
details (e.g., Passport number, date of issuance, date of expiry, etc.). The back
part of the Passport is the page containing the holder’s signature. The front and
back parts of the ID must be separately scanned in JPEG format and also
separately attached to their corresponding upload tabs in BARISTA.

My ID does not indicate the date of validity and/or place of its issuance. How should I
proceed with my application?

Your ID’s date of validity and place of issuance are optional fields, so you are not
required to fill them out. But please ensure that your photo and signature are
visible in both the scanned copy to be uploaded in BARISTA and the photocopy
to be physically submitted to the OBC.

Unretouched
Unretouched Photo
Photo

What are the requirements for the photo to be uploaded to BARISTA and submitted to
the OBC?

4
 The applicant must wear decent attire with a collared top, which must be visible
in the photo.

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

The photo to be uploaded in BARISTA must be in .JPEG format with a file size of
250 KB or less.

Can I wear my reading glasses for my unretouched photo?

No. Eyeglasses or any other accessories that would hamper Court personnel from
readily identifying the applicant should NOT be worn in the unretouched photo
to be submitted.

However, to clarify, simple jewelry (such as earrings) may be worn for the
unretouched photo.

What qualifies as an “unretouched” photo?

To qualify as an unretouched photo, the photo to be submitted must NOT have

undergone any editing or enhancement, in whatever form or extent. Retouching
may include, but is not limited to, blemish removal, skin-smoothening, teeth-
brightening, color-correction, as well as other artificial digital adjustments in
background, lighting or exposure, etc. made through photo-editing or similar
software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop).

What should the photo to be uploaded to BARISTA and submitted to the OBC look like?

Below are examples of acceptable photos:

5
Testimonial of Good
Testimonial of GoodMoral
Moral Character
Character

How should the TGMC be accomplished?

The TGMC must be accomplished by a member of the Philippine Bar. He/she

should check the appropriate box under Item #4 of the TGMC template.

The applicant must disclose ALL his/her pending and/or decided cases (including
cases that have been long decided) to the signatory.

Pre-Law and Law TOR

Pre-Law and Law TOR

I graduated within the first semester of AY 2023–2024 but my Law TOR is not yet
available during the application period. What can I submit in lieu of the Law TOR?

You are required to submit a Certification issued by the Dean or his/her

authorized representative stating that you have successfully completed the Law
Degree and an Affidavit of Undertaking stating your intention to submit the Law
TOR once it becomes available.

For reference, a template of the Affidavit of Undertaking may be accessed here.

You will be conditionally admitted until you have submitted the Law TOR.

How should I submit my Pre-Law and Law TOR ?

The Pre-Law and Law TORs are distinct and separate requirements. However,
they may either be:

(i) issued and obtained separately with a documentary stamp for

each document, and subsequently submitted separately in
BARISTA; or

(ii) incorporated into a single document upon issuance by the

School Registrar, with one documentary stamp attached for

6
 both. In this case, the applicant need not separately request for
another TOR from where he or she obtained the pre-law degree.
However, the incorporated document must be attached twice, in
both the “Pre-Law TOR” and “Law TOR” upload facilities of
BARISTA.

Should the TOR be recently issued? Are there any special remarks that should be
indicated in the TOR?

The TOR need NOT be of recent issuance.

In a similar manner, the TOR need NOT specifically indicate that it is “For 2024
Bar Purposes.” The TOR may be submitted without such, or with any other
remarks.

How can I comply with the documentary stamp tax (DST) requirement for the TOR?

Applicants must affix on their TOR a documentary stamp amounting to Php

30.00. An electronic DST will be accepted.

If your law school released your TOR without an attached/printed DST, or

released such document but with an incorrect amount, you can personally affix the
DST for purposes of complying with the requirement.

How do I upload my Law TOR if I transferred law schools?

Please submit the TORs from your previous law school/s and your current law
school, i.e., the law school you transferred to. The completion of the required law
school subjects and your corresponding grades therein must be legible. Combine
the TORs into a single PDF file and attach them to the “Law TOR” upload tab in
BARISTA.

I am a transferee from more than two law schools. I have already secured my latest TOR
from the law school where I graduated from. However, am I still required to secure and
submit the TORs from my previous law schools?

If your latest Law TOR already reflects the required subjects and grades from
your previous law schools, then there is no need to secure and submit the Law
TORs from your previous schools. This is also due to the noted practice of law
schools of requiring transferees to submit their previous TORs as a condition for
their transfer.

7
 However, if your latest Law TOR does NOT reflect all the required subjects
which you have already completed and your grades therein, then you must also
submit your previous TORs, together with your latest Law TOR.

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

No. In Pimentel v. Legal Education Board,3 the Supreme Court has deemed it
sufficient to require bar applicants to submit their TOR, instead of the additional
LEB Certification.

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

No. In Pimentel v. Legal Education Board,4 the Supreme Court declared this
requirement as ultra vires for suppressing the academic autonomy of law schools to
choose its students.

How should I declare my status if I graduated with two or more Pre-Law degrees?

You must declare the most recent degree you successfully obtained as your Pre-
Law course.

I am a graduate of a foreign law school. What law school should I declare?

After ticking the Yes radio button for Graduates of Foreign Law Schools, you
must indicate (1) your Year of Graduation therein, (2) the name of your
Degree/Title/Course, without abbreviations, and (3) the name of the foreign law
school or university from where you graduated.

Thereafter, you are also required to declare (4) the status of completion (i.e.,
whether currently taking or have already completed) and (5) the law school or
university in the Philippines from where you are taking or have taken the fourth-
year Juris Doctor subjects required under Bar Matter No. 1153.5

3 G.R. Nos. 230642 and 242954, and A.M. No. 20-03-04-SC, November 9, 2021.
4 Id.
5 Bar Matter No. 1153, Re: Letter of Atty. Estelito P. Mendoza, Proposing Reforms in the Bar Examinations Through
Amendments to Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, March 9, 2010.
8
 I am a graduate of a foreign law school. How do I upload my additional documentary
requirements (i.e., transcript of records from foreign law school, accreditation/recognition
of my foreign law school by the proper authority, and certificate of completion of fourth
year subjects in a law school in the Philippines, etc.)?

Applicants must combine all the documents required under Bar Matter No. 1153
into a single .PDF file and attach them to the Law TOR upload tab.

Certificate
Certificate of No
of No Derogatory Record
Derogatory Record

Should the CNDR be recently issued? Are there any special remarks that should be
indicated in the CNDR?

The CNDR need NOT be of recent issuance. The CNDR may be submitted
without indicating that such is “For 2024 Bar Purposes” or with any other
remarks.

If the CNDR in your possession: (a) is an original copy; (b) complies with the
required contents; and (c) was issued by the law school where you graduated and
signed by the law school Dean or his/her authorized representative, then the
same will be accepted by the OBC.

Refresher
Refresher Course
Course

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 will apply for the 2024 Bar
Examinations after three (3) or more unsuccessful attempts.

For how long is my refresher course valid?

A refresher course must have been completed within a maximum of two (2) years
from initial enrollment in the subject. Those who have completed the fourth-year
refresher courses shall be given a maximum of three (3) Bar years (and not
calendar years) within which to take the Bar Examinations.6

6 Bar Matter No. 3454, Re: Letter of Dean Emerson B. Aquende, Chairperson of the Legal Education Board Relative
to the Rule on Refresher Course, September 11, 2018.
9
 However, the certification attesting to the completion of the refresher course
subjects may only be used for one (1) Bar examination.

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 LEB Memorandum Order No. 21, Series of 2019?

You are required to secure a certification issued by the law school Dean or
his/her authorized representative 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.

This certification may be included in the Notarized Certificate of Completion of

Refresher Course7 or in a separate certification.

Can I still submit the Refresher Certificates 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,
provided the refresher courses are still valid or within the three (3) Bar years from
the time of their completion.

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
BARISTA?

Applicants must likewise combine the Notarized Certifications issued by the

professors and upload them into a single .PDF file in the allotted tab.

Pre-Bar
Pre-Bar Review
Review Course
Course

I am a Refresher. Do I need to enroll and regularly attend a pre-bar review course?

7 See Annex C of Bar Bulletin No. 2, January 11, 2024 Bar-Bulletin-No-2-S-2024.pdf (judiciary.gov.ph).
10
 Yes. You also need to submit a Notarized Certification issued by the School
Registrar and signed by the law school Dean or his/her authorized representative
that you have completed the pre-bar review course.

If you are still taking refresher subjects at the time of application, you must
submit a notarized affidavit undertaking to subsequently enroll in a pre-bar
review course, during the application period.

Can I use my Certificate of Completion of the Pre-Bar Review Course even if I completed
the same before the application period of the 2024 Bar Examinations?

No. The Certificate of Completion of the Pre-Bar Review Course to be submitted

by the applicant must have been issued for the purpose of taking the 2024 Bar
Examinations. The certificate shall state that the applicant has completed the
2024 Pre-Bar Review Course.

I took my Pre-Bar Review Course in 2023 and did not pass the 2023 Bar Examinations.
Can I use it for the 2024 Bar Examinations?

No. The Notarized Certification that you have completed the 2023 Pre-Bar
Review Course can no longer be used when applying for the 2024 Bar
Examinations.

Case Case Details

Details

What type of cases do I need to declare?

ALL pending and decided cases (including cases that have been long decided) of
whatever nature filed against you, including counter-claims, cross-claims, appeals,
etc., before any jurisdiction MUST be declared.

If you are the complainant, plaintiff, or petitioner, there is NO need to declare the
cases 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.

My case has been archived or provisionally-dismissed. How will I declare it?

11
 Cases that have been archived or provisionally-dismissed are still considered
PENDING. The applicant may additionally indicate their status as archived or
provisionally-dismissed.

Should the applicant wish to declare the cases as DECIDED, a Judgment,

Decision, Order, or Resolution (whichever is applicable) of permanent dismissal
must be submitted.

My case was decided based on a compromise agreement or a decision was rendered

requiring me to pay a fine, perform an act, serve suspension, etc. Is there another
document that needs to be attached to the Judgment or Decision or Order or Resolution?

The original or CTC of the Judgment or Decision or Order or Resolution must

include a certification stating that the judgment has been fully satisfied.

If a certification cannot be obtained, the applicant must submit a proof of

satisfaction of judgment.

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

No. For applicants with pending and/or decided cases, please upload one file per
case.

You must consolidate all documents related to the same case and upload them
as a single .PDF file. If a document (e.g., complaint/decision) is voluminous and
exceeds the allowable file size, you may upload only the first five (5) pages and the
last five (5) pages of the relevant document instead of its entirety.

Those with multiple cases filed against them, must upload the required
documents of each case separately in each of the additional upload tabs provided
based on the information previously provided in the Disclosure of Cases portion of
BARISTA.

My spouse and I are in the middle of nullity/annulment of marriage proceedings. Am I

required to declare this fact as a pending case?

Yes. If the applicant is the respondent, the nullity/annulment proceeding

qualifies as a pending case, the fact of which must be disclosed in BARISTA and
substantiated with supporting documents.

Is a Clearance of No Pending Case still required even if a complaint against me was

12
decided and settled at the barangay level?

Yes. A Clearance or Certificate of No Pending Case is still required for cases

decided at the barangay level. The applicant must likewise attach the original or
CTC of the Decision, Arbitration Award, or Amicable Settlement, signed by the
parties and attested by the Barangay Captain or Chairman of the Pangkat ng
Tagapagkasundo.

13
 DeferredApplication
Deferred Application Requirements
Requirements

When can I submit my deferred documents?

The deferred documents, as stated in the checklist 8, must be submitted to the

OBC on or before October 15, 2024.

These deferred documents must be submitted through both of the following

modes and within the prescribed deadlines:

1. Uploading of scanned/digital copies via BARISTA; and

2. Physical submission of hard copies to the OBC.

There is no need to wait for an email notification from the OBC regarding the
processing of your scanned/digital documents before proceeding with the
submission of their hard copies.

I accidentally submitted the physical copies of both my mandatory and deferred

documents. Do I pick up my deferred documents from the OBC and resubmit them within
the period of submission?

No. In view of administrative and financial costs, examinees who have already
submitted the physical copies of both their mandatory and deferred documents
need not reclaim the latter from the OBC only to resubmit them at a later time.

Please note, however, that these physically submitted copies must correspond
with the digital copies uploaded in BARISTA and will still be subject to further
processing by the OBC during the period of deferred submission, as stated above.

Moreover, examinees who have already submitted hard copies of their deferred
documents with the OBC are required to attach a signed cover letter among the
deferred documents to be uploaded in BARISTA. Said letter must indicate: (1) the
date when they submitted the physical copies of their deferred documents, (2)
their request that such documents be deemed part of their official submission
and be included in their personal file, and (3) their understanding that such
documents will still be subject to processing by the OBC.

Meanwhile, examinees who inadvertently included their deferred documents in

their initial submission BUT have failed to keep digital/scanned copies of the
same for their uploading in BARISTA must submit instead a signed
manifestation in the upload tab corresponding to each of the missing deferred
documents.

Said letter must indicate: (1) their admission of failing to keep a digital copy of

8 See Bar Bulletin No. 2, January 11, 2024 Bar-Bulletin-No-2-S-2024.pdf (judiciary.gov.ph).

14
the deferred document before physically submitting the same, (2) their request
that the OBC peruse instead the physical copy of the document during its
processing, and (3) their understanding that should the OBC deem the physical
document as incorrect or deficient, then (a) the examinee shall reupload via
BARISTA the corrected document; and (b) physically submit anew such corrected
document to the OBC, at the examinee’s cost.

15
General Queries GENERAL QUERIES

I applied and was admitted as a candidate for previous Bar examinations but have not
taken any of the examinations. What is my applicant type?

You are still considered as a New Applicant.

You are deemed a New Applicant if you have applied for previous Bar
Examinations but have:
1. Formally withdrawn through a letter sent to the OBC;
2. Failed to appear for whatever reason during the first subject of the
examinations; or
3. Suffered from COVID-19 and was not able to take any exam subject of the
previous Bar examinations at all.

I am a Previous Taker 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; or
● Lack of other documentary requirements.

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

If you did not receive any email notification from the OBC as to why your
application was deemed conditionally admitted, please indicate “Lack of other
documentary requirements” as your reason.

Kindly indicate the status of compliance following this format:

Reason; Status of Compliance

For example:
Pending correction of birth certificate; Complied.

I have received the notification that my BARISTA-generated Application Form is

16
 already available for download. When should the submission of my Application Form
and mandatory documentary requirements be filed with the OBC?

The physical copies of the Application Form and the mandatory documentary
requirements must be filed9 with the OBC within ten (10) calendar days counted
from the receipt date of the email notification from BARISTA. Nonetheless,
applicants are urged to submit their documents with prompt dispatch.

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

Applicants are mandated to submit only one set of all of the required documents,
which must be securely placed in a long brown envelope. The envelope must be
sealed with masking tape and labeled according to the details below:

Subject: Bar Application Documents [Mandatory or Deferred]

Bar Examinee Number: 2024-XXXXX
Applicant’s Surname and Initials: [e.g. Dela Cruz, J.A.]

and submitted personally or via private courier service, addressed to:

CHIEF OF OFFICE
Office of the Bar Confidant
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Padre Faura St., Ermita, Barangay 669,
1000 Manila, Philippines
(02) 8552 9690 | 0908 850 7682

The labels on the long brown envelope may either be typed or handwritten and
placed anywhere thereon, as long as these are clearly visible.

9 2019 RULES OF COURT, Sec. 3.

Manner of filing. — The filing of pleadings and other court submissions shall be made by:
(a) Submitting personally the original thereof, plainly indicated as such, to the court;
(b) Sending them by registered mail;
(c) Sending them by accredited courier; or
(d) x x x x
In the first case, the clerk of court shall endorse on the pleading the date and hour of filing. In the second
and third cases, the date of the mailing of motions, pleadings, and other court submissions,
and payments or deposits, as shown by the post office stamp on the envelope or the registry
receipt, shall be considered as the date of their filing, payment, or deposit in court. The
envelope shall be attached to the record of the case. In the fourth case, x x x.
17
 How do I confirm that the OBC has indeed received the physical copies of the application
documents I submitted?

The OBC will NOT be issuing any acknowledgment message to confirm its
receipt of the physical copies of your application documents. Applicants are
discouraged from sending requests of this nature through the 2024 Helpdesk
Form10 or in any other form or manner. Applicants are urged to monitor and rely
on their courier’s tracking receipts or to otherwise keep their own proof of
personal physical submission.

I already submitted the physical copies of my documents to the OBC but, for whatever
reason, I will not be able to take the 2024 Bar Examinations. Can I request for the return
of my documents?

No. The physical copies of your application documents will NOT be returned and
are deemed forfeited to the OBC, should you discontinue or withdraw your
application for any reason, including failure to graduate or other personal
reasons.

I made a mistake in one of the physical documents submitted to the OBC. Do I need to
resubmit the entire set to correct this?

No. The entire set of documents need NOT be resubmitted.

1. Applicants whose physical set of mandatory documents are missing a

document or who have in good faith, mistakenly included a wrong
document, MUST submit the missing or corrected document to the
OBC along with a signed cover letter indicating (a) the details of his or
her initial submission; and (b) a request that the new document be
included as part of his or her official submission.

Please note that the foregoing is allowed if the mistake or error is only as
to physical submission, such that the document to be included still
corresponds with the information originally provided in BARISTA.

2. Applicants who inadvertently realized their own errors in the

information supplied in BARISTA as generated in their Application
Form and all other substantial mistakes in the Application Form itself
(i.e., its required contents), MUST resubmit their corrected Application
Form along with a signed cover letter requesting that such form be
deemed as his or her official submission.

10 For ease of reference, the full site address of the 2024 Helpdesk Form is https://bit.ly/2024BarExamsHelpdesk.
18
The physical copies of my documentary requirements were issued in A4-size (or letter-
size) paper. Are these acceptable?

Yes. Only the generated Application Form should be printed on separate sheets
(not back-to-back) of folio size paper (8.5” x 13”).

Will electronically-signed documents be accepted?

No. Except for the PSA-issued Birth Certificate and PSA-issued Marriage
Contract, where e-signatures are allowed, the signatures used in ALL the other
documents must be in 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.

This requirement only applies to applicants whose law school or university is

already closed but 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.

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

Yes. You may use your current residence as your present address. Once you pass
the Bar Examinations and become a full-fledged lawyer, your permanent address
will be indicated in your membership.

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; or

19
 2. The applicant did not submit all the required documents (mandatory and
deferred).

BARISTA
Bar Application Registration Information System and Tech Assistance (BARISTA)

Where can I access BARISTA to submit my application to take the 2024 Bar
Examinations?

BARISTA may be accessed here.11

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

BARISTA is best accessed on a desktop or laptop using any internet browser.

How do I use BARISTA?

You may refer to the User Guide available here.12 Kindly read the User Guide in
its entirety to avoid any issues.

How do I know if I have an existing BARISTA account?

Applicants for the 2023 Bar Examinations who have completed the application
procedure are the only ones with an existing BARISTA account. The mandatory
requirements of these applicants are already pre-uploaded in the Document
Upload Tab in BARISTA. Applicants may change or update their pre-uploaded
documents and submit the same to the OBC.

If an applicant tried to register, input his/her information, and upload documents

BUT failed to successfully pay the bar fees for the 2023 Bar Examinations, his/her
account has been removed from the system and is not considered to have an
existing account.

What will happen to my account if I fail to complete the application procedure of the
2024 Bar Examinations?

11 For ease of reference, the full site address of BARISTA is http://barista.judiciary.gov.ph/.

12 For ease of reference, the full site address of the BARISTA User Guide is https://bit.ly/2024-BARISTA-UserGuide.
20
 Accounts of applicants who failed to complete the application procedure will
have their account removed from the system. In case they intend to apply for the
subsequent bar examination, they will be required to register again in BARISTA.

How do I register in BARISTA?

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 the same will be used to contact you, in case of issues or concerns
regarding your application.

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

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

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Applicants who have not received any email notification from BARISTA within
seventy-two (72) hours from registration may submit their concerns through the
Helpdesk Form accessible here.13

Applicants may no longer change the email address provided in the Registration
Page. Should it be necessary to do so, a request must be filed through the
Helpdesk Form above. In accomplishing the Helpdesk Form, please use your
BARISTA-registered email account.

How should I fill out my name in BARISTA?

You are required to use the name appearing on your Birth Certificate or
Marriage Contract, whichever is applicable. Special characters (e.g., Ñ, Ặ, Ộ, Ề)
must be properly displayed.

For married female applicants

Married female applicants may use their 1) maiden surname, 2) husband’s

surname as it appears on their Marriage Contract, or 3) hyphenated

13 For ease of reference, the full site address of the Helpdesk is https://bit.ly/2024BarExamsHelpdesk.
21
 surname. Your registered name in BARISTA will be the name appearing in
the Supreme Court’s records, issuances, and communications.

In this regard, the female applicant’s Government-issued ID and other

documents need not reflect any change of name due to said marriage. The
Marriage Contract will suffice for purposes of enabling the OBC to
reconcile any discrepancies in the applicant’s identity.

I have already submitted the physical copies of some of the required documents for the
2024 Bar Examinations to the OBC. Do I have to submit them again?

If an applicant has an existing BARISTA account, he/she will only need to

submit his/her:
1. Accomplished BARISTA-generated Application Form
2. Marriage Contract (for female applicant with change of marital status)
3. Government-issued ID
4. Unretouched Photo
5. TGMC
6. Pending and Decided Case Documents (if applicable)
7. Notarized Certificate of Completion of Refresher Courses (for Refresher
only)
8. Notarized Certificate of Completion of the Pre-Bar Review Course (for
Refresher only)

If an applicant has no BARISTA account, he/she is required to submit all

documents stated in the checklist14 depending on his/her application type.

What are the steps in the BARISTA application process?

Step 0 BARISTA Registration, Log-In and Landing Page - applicant to login

in and select the Bar he/she is intending to apply for.

Step 1 Bar Applicant Profile – applicant’s personal information, educational

background, and contact information.

Step 2 Application Details and Venue Preference Selection – applicant type

(i.e., whether New Applicant, Previous Taker, or Refresher) and other
information; selection of venue preference.

Step 3 Document Upload (Mandatory) - Uploading of the required

documents for submission, in digital/scanned copies.

Step 4 Payment of the Bar Application Fee

14 See Bar Bulletin No. 2, January 11, 2024 Bar-Bulletin-No-2-S-2024.pdf (judiciary.gov.ph).

22
 Step 5 Application Processing (Mandatory Documents)
● Generation of the downloadable Application Form

Step 6 Court Action (Mandatory Documents) – Approval or disapproval of

applications.

Step 7 Venue Assignment

● Generation of the downloadable Notice of Admission (NOA)
reflecting the examinee's information and assigned LTC.15

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
BARISTA if I have more than one (1) relative?

Tick the Yes radio button, then enumerate your relatives in the textbox that
appears with the following format:

1. Surname, Given Name, Middle Initial. – Relationship

2. Surname, Given Name, Middle Initial. – Relationship

For example:

1. De la Cruz, Juan, M. – Brother

2. De la Cruz. Maria, B. – Grandmother

Is there a prescribed format for the file name of the documents to be uploaded?

None. You may label your documents however you prefer as long as they are
identifiable. However, please do not use your special characters (examples: ñ, ö,
æ) in the filenames.

How can applicants with special needs submit their requests?

Applicants who have special needs (i.e., pregnant, senior citizens, persons with
disabilities (PWD)) should have declared their status as such in the Bar
Applicant Profile Page.

They must then upload a letter within the allotted tab in the Documents Upload
Page, specifically stating their circumstances and the assistance needed during
the Bar Examinations. To expedite the processing of such requests, documents

15 Availability of the NOA will be announced through a Bar Bulletin.

23
 proving the applicant’s special needs (e.g., PWD card, medical certificate, etc.)
should likewise be attached to the letter and uploaded as a single .PDF file.

How do I pay the Bar Application Fee?

After uploading the required documents and clicking Proceed to Payment in

BARISTA, you will be directed to the Payment page, where you can pay online
through any of the channels available within LANDBANK Link.BizPortal.

How much should I pay for the Bar Application Fee?

The Bar Application Fee is PhP12,800.00, for all types of applicants.

However, this amount does not include any convenience fee which may be
additionally charged by your chosen payment channel/facility. Please note that
the different payment channels/facilities are subject to varying amounts of
convenience fees.

Please also be reminded that the total amount to be paid shall be the amount
reflected in the confirmation page. Payment of any other amount will be
considered either underpayment or overpayment, and in either case would be
incorrect.

The application will only be processed by the OBC after the Bar Application Fee
has been fully paid.

If the status indicated in your BARISTA account is “Partially Paid”, please expect
an email from the Court for additional instructions on how to complete your
payment.

Can I pay the Bar Application Fee over-the-counter?

No. There is no offline payment or over-the-counter payment for the 2024 Bar
Examinations. Pay ONLY through the online facilities available in BARISTA.

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

Your payment may not reflect immediately in your BARISTA account.

Confirmation of payment will be made within five (5) working days. If your

24
 payment is still not reflected after such time, please request assistance by filling
up the Helpdesk Form.16

What should I do if I encounter an error while paying online and the amount is already
deducted from my bank account but the payment is still not reflected in BARISTA?

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.

Can I pay the Bar Application Fee for more than one applicant?

No. All payments shall be tendered individually. Payments for more than one (1)
applicant/ batch processing will NOT be accepted.

Is the Bar Application Fee refundable?

The 2024 Bar Application Fee is non-refundable.

However, requests for refund will be entertained for New Applicants who were
subsequently unsuccessful in completing their law degree and Refreshers who
failed to complete their refresher course and/or take their pre-bar review course.

In addition, payments made in excess of the prescribed fee or erroneous/double

payments may likewise be refunded to the applicant.

The refund for the 2024 Bar Application Fees may be processed by filing the
appropriate request through the Helpdesk Form.17 The request for refund will be
processed AFTER the September 2024 Bar Examinations.

There is a conflict between what is stated in BARISTA and the issuances in the Supreme
Court microsite for the 2024 Bar Examinations and the FAQs. What is controlling?

In case of conflict between what is stated in BARISTA 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.

This notwithstanding, applicants are reminded to thoroughly read and carefully

understand all Supreme Court issuances in their entirety (i.e., including
footnotes).

16 For ease of reference, the full site address of the 2024 Helpdesk Form is https://bit.ly/2024BarExamsHelpdesk.
17 Id.
25
Refund Procedure Refund Procedure

You may file a request under the “Payment-Refund Request” section of the Helpdesk
Form.18 Please compile the following supporting documents in one PDF file and upload
them along with your request on or before September 6, 2024:

Due to Failure to Complete the Law Degree

1. Notarized Affidavit of withdrawal of Bar application and request for

refund of the 2024 Bar Application Fee, addressed to the Bar Chair’s
Office, and indicating the following:
a. Registered name in BARISTA;
b. Bar Examinee Number;
c. Details of the PERSONAL bank account where the amount to be
refunded will be deposited:
i. Bank name [preferably Landbank19]
ii. Branch address;
iii. Account name; and
iv. Account number;
2. Electronic Official Receipt (E-OR) generated from BARISTA; and
3. Certification issued by the law school Dean or his/her authorized
representative stating that the applicant has failed to complete their law
degree.

Due to erroneous/double payment

1. Signed Letter-Request for refund of the 2024 Bar Application Fee,

indicating the following:
a. Registered name in BARISTA;
b. Bar Examinee Number;
c. Details of the PERSONAL bank account where the amount to be
refunded will be deposited:
i. Bank name [preferably Landbank20]
ii. Branch address;
iii. Account name; and
iv. Account number;
d. Six-digit InstaPay or BancNet reference number, if paid through
other banks;
2. Proof of Erroneous/first payment (i.e., confirmation email from the bank);
3. Proof of Successful/second payment (i.e., confirmation email from the bank);
and
4. E-OR generated in BARISTA.

18 For ease of reference, the full site address of the 2024 Helpdesk Form is https://bit.ly/2024BarExamsHelpdesk.
19 Please note that Landbank account holders will receive the amount to be refunded through direct deposit to
their provided accounts. Non-Landbank account holders will be issued checks, which they may pickup from the
OBC, subject to further arrangements.
20 Id.
26
How to download and/or print the E-OR:

a. Go to your BARISTA Dashboard and click “Step 4 – Payment;”

b. On the Payment Details Page, click the OR number link (e.g.,
BAR2024000001) found on the table under the column “OR#” to view your
E-OR;
c. Download and/or print your E-OR.

27
 Other Matters
Other Matters

You may raise any Bar examinations-related concern not addressed in the FAQs via the
2024 Bar Examinations Helpdesk Form.21 Please expect a response within a maximum
period of five (5) working days before sending follow-up requests.

You may also call the OBC at (02) 8552 9690 or (02) 8552 9642, from Monday to Friday,
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, except on holidays.

To receive updates relating to BARISTA, you may also join the Viber Channel at 2024
Bar Examinations (Official).22

21 For ease of reference, the full site address of the 2024 Helpdesk Form is https://bit.ly/2024BarExamsHelpdesk.
22 For ease of reference, the full site address of the Viber channel is https://bit.ly/2024BarViberChannel.

28
 AFFIDAVIT OF UNDERTAKING

To the Office of the Bar Confidant of the Supreme Court of the Philippines:

I,____________________________________________ [Surname, Given Name, Middle Name, Suffix], a

__________________________________ [New Applicant/Previous Taker/Refresher] for the 2024 Bar
Examinations, with Bar Examinee Number ___________________________, hereby ATTEST that:

1) There is a deficiency(ies) and/or discrepancy(ies) in the mandatory documents I uploaded in

BARISTA, namely:

1. [Type of Document - e.g., PSA [Description of Error - e.g., wrong document, not an
Birth Certificate] original/certified true copy, not readable, incomplete pages, etc. ]

2.

2) Despite diligent efforts, I have endeavored to comply with the application requirements stated in
Bar Bulletin No. 2, Series of 2024 by obtaining the corrected document(s). However, for reasons
not attributable to me as further explained below, I will be unable to submit the above required
documents within the application period.

[Brief Explanation of circumstances/reasons for failure to promptly resubmit the above mandatory
document/s]

3) I UNDERTAKE to submit the above mentioned document(s) within the period for submission for
deferred documentary requirements or until October 15, 2024 or thirty (30) calendar days
from the last exam day of the 2024 Bar Examinations; and

4) I ACCEPT that failure on my part to comply with the above undertaking shall be a ground for the
disqualification of my application or the withholding of my admission to the Bar, notwithstanding
my passing of the 2024 Bar Examinations.

_______________________________
[Signature Over Printed Name, Date]

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this __________ day of ___________________ 20___, in the
City of ______________________________, Philippines, affiant exhibiting his/her [competent proof of
identity].

NOTARY PUBLIC

Doc. No.
Book No.
Page No.
Series of 20__

29