THE SUPREME Court on Tuesday reduced the coverage and shortened the duration of the 2020-2021 Bar Examinations over concerns on the Omicron variant of Covid19 and the effects of Typhoon Odette.

The Bar exam will no longer be held on January 16, 23, 30, and February 6. The court said that it will be held for two days —January 23 and 25, with examinees taking four sets of examinations.

“The Court noted that the Bar examinees for this coming Bar have reviewed for longer than all the other batches taking the Bar exams under very difficult conditions,” the SC said.

Examinees will take four sets of examinations — the Law Pertaining to the State and Its Relationship With Its Citizens; Criminal Law; The Law Pertaining To Private Personal and Commercial Relations; and Procedure and Professional Ethics.

Bar chairperson Associate Justice Marvic Leonen advised examinees to focus on the basics of the topics.

“The Philippines has produced no new lawyers since the pandemic. But while the Bar Examinations may no longer be postponed, it can be held in a way that is more humane. With these changes, the Court Strikes that balance,” Leonen said.

All examinees were encouraged to undergo self-quarantine starting January 9, 2022.