Tolentino bats for online Bar examinations amid pandemic

Amid uncertain times due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino is pushing for the conduct of the Bar Examination via online for the safety of the examinees.

Tolentino made his proposal to Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta during the hearing on the judiciary's 2021 budget.

The senator, who is also a lawyer, said online Bar examinations are being considered in various places in the United States, such as Michigan, District of Columbia, Louisiana and New York.

The Chief Magistrate said the High Court is also looking into the possibility of implementing an online Bar examination for next scheduled test on November 2021, which will be held simultaneously in Manila and two other sites in Visayas and Mindanao.

"Next year probably, not this year, wala na this year," Peralta told Tolentino.

Currently, Peralta said the judiciary allows fourth year law students to appear in Court with the assistance of a supervising lawyer, but insisted that one has to pass the Bar exam before becoming a full-fledged lawyer.