3,942 New Lawyers Take Their Oath, Sign Roll of Attorneys
January 25, 2025
Successful 2024 Bar examinees recite the Lawyer’s Oath before the Supreme Court (SC) En Banc during the Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies for the 2024 Bar Examinations at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. Administering the oath is SC Clerk of Court En Banc Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
A total of 3,942 out of the 3,962 applicants who passed the 2024 Bar Examinations became the newest members of the Philippine Bar during the Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies for the Successful 2024 Bar Candidates, a Special En Banc Session of the Supreme Court (SC) on January 24, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
SC Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, Chairperson of the 2024 Bar Examinations, congratulated the new lawyers and reminded them of the Exam’s goal to produce capable and fundamentally ready lawyers. “Today, you are required to make a solemn pledge that you will become morally competent lawyers,” he said.
He added that the oath taken by lawyers should not be seen as merely symbolic and ceremonial. “A lawyer’s oath intersects with core legal ethics questions; thus, what is included in the oath and the CPRA [Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability] deserve our attention.”
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, Chairperson of the 2024 Bar Examinations, addresses the newest members of the Philippine Bar during the Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies for the Successful 2024 Bar Candidates at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Justice Lopez acknowledged and thanked the examiners for the six Bar subjects: (Political and Public International Law) Dean Hilario Justino F. Morales, Atty. Adonis Gabriel, Sandigabayan (SBN) Associate Justice Gener M. Gito, and Atty. Bong Lopez; (Commercial and Taxation Laws) Atty. Solomon M. Hermosura, Atty. Zarah R. Villanueva-Castro, Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Marian Ivy F. Reyes-Fajardo, and Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice John Z. Lee; (Civil Law) Atty. Crisostomo A. Uribe, SBN Associate Justice Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega, Atty. Elmer Rabuya, and CA Associate Justice Geraldine C. Fiel-Macaraig; (Labor Law and Social Legislation) Usec. Filemon Ray Javier, Atty. Raul Paras, Atty. Imelda Abadilla-Brown, and CA Associate Justice Florencio M. Mamauag, Jr.; (Criminal Law) Atty. Marie Melanie B. Trinidad, SBN Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez, Atty. Dan P. Calica, and Atty. Dean Ace A. Pamaran; and (Remedial Law and Legal Ethics) Dean Maria Concepcion Noche, CA Justice Zenaida T. Galapate-Laguilles, SBN Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, and CA Associate Justice Edgardo A. Camello (ret.).
3,942 successful 2024 Bar examinees recite the Lawyer’s Oath during the Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies for the Successful 2024 Bar Candidates at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. All Bar passers are required to take their oath and sign the Roll of Attorneys prior to becoming full-fledged members of the Philippine Bar. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Justice Lopez also gave recognition to the 13 schools which served as national headquarters and local testing centers: (National Capital Region) University of the Philippines in Quezon City; University of Santo Tomas and San Beda University in Manila; Manila Adventist College in Pasay City; University of the Philippines – Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City; and San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City; (Luzon) Saint Louis University in Baguio City and University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City; (Visayas) University of San Jose – Recoletos in Cebu City; Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, and the Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation in Tacloban City; (Mindanao) Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City and Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City.
SC Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, reminded the new lawyers to be humane practitioners. “[B]eing a lawyer is not all about the title. Being called an ‘attorney’ should not be all that ever defines you as a person. It should not be the title that defines the person but the person who must define the title. More than being called ‘attorney,’ the essence of being a lawyer is being a good person. That is why, pay special attention to the kind of person you are to all the persons around you.”
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, speaks to the newest members of the Philippine Bar at the Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies for the Successful 2024 Bar Candidates at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
SC Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda led the invocation, where he expressed gratitude for the wisdom, strength, and perseverance bestowed on the 3,962 Bar passers. He also prayed for those who were not able to join the roster of new lawyers despite their hard work and dedication. “Give them the strength to see this moment not as a defeat, but as an opportunity to grow, learn, and rise again with renewed determination.” He also asked for constant guidance for the continuous improvement of the legal and Bar admission process.
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda leads the invocation during the Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies for the Successful 2024 Bar Candidates at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. Justice Zalameda prayed that the newly minted lawyers will uphold the ideals of justice, integrity, and fairness in their practice. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
SC Clerk of Court En Banc Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas administered the oath to the new lawyers, who also signed their Oath Forms and the Roll of Attorneys.
The 2024 Bar Examinations, held on September 8, 11, and 15, 2024, was the fourth series of digitalized and regionalized Bar examinations administered by the SC as part of its efforts towards digital transformation in Bar reforms under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027. (Courtesy of the SC Office of the Spokesperson)
The Members of the Supreme Court (SC) En Banc take part in the Special En Banc Session for the Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies for the Successful 2024 Bar Candidates at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Successful 2024 Bar examinees share a light moment during their Oath-Taking and Roll-Signing Ceremonies at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen (left, partly hidden), and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa at the Oath–Taking and Roll–Signing Ceremonies for the Successful 2024 Bar Candidates at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on January 24, 2025. Senior Associate Justice Leonen was the Chairperson of the 2020/2021 Bar Examinations, while Justice Caguioa was the Chairperson of the 2022 Bar Examinations. (Courtesy of the SC Communications Office)