2018 Bar Statistics and Trends

Passing Rate

The Philippines welcomed 1,800 new lawyers today. With 8,155 taking the examination this year, this yields a passing rate of 22.07%.

The passing rate is the lowest since the 2014 Bar, when only 18.82% of the examinees passed. Moreover, this is the fourth lowest passing rate this decade.

2018 – 22.07%

2010 – 20.26%

2014 – 18.82%

2012 – 17.76%

The passing rate is lower than the three-year average of 35.56%, and the decade-average of 27.10%.

Topnotchers

This is the year for Ateneo de Manila University and University of San Carlos.

Sean Borja of the Ateneo de Manila University led the new batch of lawyers. This marks ADMU’s return to the Top 10 list after two years of missing it. The return of ADMU was made grandly, with three candidates entering the Top 10.

ADMU likewise returns to the top spot of the Bar Exainations after six years. The last time ADMU led the Bar was in 2012, when Atty. Ignatius Michael Ingles topped the Bar.

University of San Carlos sends four candidates in the Top 10, the most of any law school this year. This is led by Marcley Natu-El who clinched the second place. In fact, USC and ADMU occupy all the first five places in the 2018 Bar.

For the past three years, USC has sent 11 candidates to the Top 10, the most of any law school. Second to USC are ADMU, University of Santo Tomas, and Silliman University, with 3 in the Top 10 for the past 3 years.

Moreover, among all law schools nationwide, University of San Carlos has the distinction to be the only law school which has sent candidates to the Top 10 consistently for the past four years: 2 in 2015, 4 in 2016, 3 in 2017, and 4 this year. This is an impressive streak. In addition, for the past three Bar Exams, USC has also consistently placed its candidates in the Top 3.

For the past eight exams, ADMU and University of the Philippines lead law schools with the most number of candidates in the Top 10, with 19 each. USC is third with 14 candidates as of 2018. San Beda University is fourth, and UST and Silliman University are tied at fifth. ADMU likewise has three Top 1 placers in the last eight Bar Exams.

Tally of Top 10 placers: