2026 Bar Examinations
Notes from the speech of J. Gaerlan, Feb. 3, 2026, Seda Vertis North
- [ ] 2026 Bar is accessible, simple but substantive, adaptive, meaningful (ASAM)
- [ ] Accessible- Fair inclusive non discriminatory
(1/3)
Lawyers cannot be expected to know everything about the law. In my 14 years in the profession, I have never met a lawyer who knows it all. I admire many colleagues who are excellent in their chosen fields and who bring honor to the legal profession—and they are many.
There are legal issues that are genuinely debatable, where an exchange of positions is both healthy and necessary. But there are also matters involving facts and legal rules that must be stated with complete accuracy. It is not enough to say that we merely “understood it differently.”
As professionals, we owe something to the legal profession, to our colleagues, and to the public: when we agree to a live or public interview and expect legal questions, we must prepare beforehand. And when confronted with a question where we are uncertain of the correctness of our answer, there is nothing wrong with politely declining to answer immediately or promising to verify and get back later.
What we say publicly carries weight. For a careless or vulnerable member of the audience, our statements may become the basis of decisions or actions that could affect not only themselves but also the people around them. We owe the public diligence, caution, and accuracy in what we say.
There is no shame in admitting the limits of our knowledge of the law. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to become better lawyers—so we may better serve our clients, uphold the profession, and speak more responsibly in public the next time.
MAHALAGANG PAGLILINAW: Hindi maaaring tumanggap ang isang abogado ng warrant of arrest para siya na lamang ang mag-serve sa kanyang kliyente. Walang ganun. Wala sa batas o rules yun.
Okay? Okay.
For this year's Bar Examination, Bar Bulletin No. 1, s. 2026, expressly states that the bar questions shall integrate contemporary issues and technology-related legal matters.
In this lecture, I've covered these concepts. YT link-
https://t.co/Y6Cs21scwz
#2026BarExam
“Your timeline is not a failure, it's just different, you just have to keep showing up even when it hurts.” -Dr. Parchaso PLE topnotcher. It was a 10-year journey for him & the 3rd attempt to take the board exams but his score was so high, they cannot believe it. Very inspiring.
The 2024 DOJ-NPS Rules (DC 15) changed the Preliminary Investigation game:
❌ Old: Probable Cause (Well-founded belief)
✅ New: Prima Facie Evidence + Reasonable Certainty of Conviction
The goal? Stop filing "half-baked" cases and decongest the courts. 🛑