Passers of the 2020-2021 online bar examinations who took their oaths as new lawyers last May 2 started to flock to the Supreme Court (SC) in Manila on Thursday, May 5, to sign the Roll of Attorneys, the last step to accomplish so they could practice their profession in the country.
The signing of the Roll of Attorneys, the official list of persons authorized to practice law in the country, is the last step to become a full-fledged lawyer. The first three steps are finishing a law degree, passing the bar, and taking the lawyer’s oath.
Based on a notice posted by the SC’s Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC), the dates and places of the signing are:
National Capital Region and Luzon -- May 4 to 24, 2022 and June 6 to 17, 2022; 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; SC on Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila.
Visayas -- May 30, 2022 to June 3, 2022; 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Social Hall, 2nd Floor, IBP Building, East Side, Capitol Compound, Escario Street, Cebu City, Cebu.
Mindanao -- May 26 to 28, 2022; 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Conference Room, West Wing, Hall of Justice, Masterson Avenue corner PN Roa Street, Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City (near SM Uptown).
The OBC said that “only those who were given clearance and attended the oath-taking ceremony shall be allowed to sign the Roll of Attorneys.”
It said that those who will sign the Roll “are allowed to have a maximum of two guests who are required to wear formal attire and face mask inside the venue, and those who opt to wear their national costumes will be permitted.”
It also said: “They are encouraged to bring their vaccination card or vaccination certificate and pens. In case rapid antigen testing is required at the venue upon entry, the successful Bar examinees and their guests must submit to their rapid antigen testing and pay the necessary fees with the Supreme Court cashier or its representative. The rapid antigen testing will start at 6 a.m.”
The new lawyers “are required to bring two valid identification cards, printed copy of the clearance e-mail sent by the OBC with a stamp as proof that the successful Bar examinees attended the oath-taking ceremony, and a digital copy of the photograph showing one’s attendance, if possible.”
The new lawyers have to pay P3,750 for the Bar admission fee; P100, Bar certification fee; and P350, lawyer’ ID fee. The fee for rapid test is P550 per person.
All lawyers are mandated to be members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the official association of lawyers in the country. The OBC said that “payment of IBP dues in the amount of ₱ 2,200 may be given to the IBP staff who will be present during the roll signing.”
The OBC, through Assistant Bar Confidant Amor P. Entila, said that “queries concerning the roll signing should be addressed to the OBC Helpdesk at [email protected] or call (02) 85529690.”