While there will be no work in all courts nationwide on Friday with the declaration of July 31 as a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), the Supreme Court (SC) said the signing of the Roll of Attorneys by new lawyers who passed the 2019 bar examinations will proceed as scheduled.
SC Spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka said: “… despite the declared holiday tomorrow, the signing of the Roll of Attorneys for new lawyers will proceed tomorrow, July 31, until August 3.”
Hosaka said that of the 2,103 new lawyers, 1,725 of them have so far signed the Roll of Attorneys. The signing is the final step for a bar passer to be a full-fledged lawyer.
The signing of the Roll of Attorneys is being done at the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) at the SC’s offices on Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila.
Last week, however, the SC allowed alternative signing procedures for those who experience difficulty due to travel restrictions in going to Manila.
A notice sent by Bar Confidant Rosita M. Requillas Nacional stated:
“The affected bar passers shall pay the bar admission and certification fees amounting to P3,800 via postal money order, accomplish an affidavit which includes an undertaking to physically sign the Roll of Attorneys and register their biometric information at the OBC… on or before Dec. 31, 2020, with its annexes, and have it notarized, and send it via postal or courier service on or before Aug. 7, 2020 to the OBC.
“Within 10 working days from receipt of the complete documentary requirements and full payment, the OBC shall send the Certificate of Membership to the Philippine Bar, bar rating, and official receipt to the bar passer’s email address. The bar passer shall be deemed to have been admitted to the practice of flaw on the date indicated on the aforesaid certificate.
“… failure of the affected bar passers to comply with the aforesaid undertaking within the prescribed period shall result in, among others, the immediate imposition of the appropriate administrative sanctions affecting one’s good standing as a member of the Philippine Bar.”
The OBC’s email address is listed as [email protected].