Not only possession but continued possession

This requirement aims to maintain and uphold the

high moral standard and the dignity of the legal
profession.

WANT OF moral character is a ground for refusal to
admit an applicant to the bar just as the LOSS
thereof is a ground for cancellation of the license
to practice.
Case: In the Matter of the Disqualification of Bar
Examinee Harron S. Meling in the 2002 Bar
Examniations.

Application form of 2002 Bar Examinations
requires the applicant that applicant to aver that he
or she has not been charged with any act or omission
punishable by law, rule or regulation before a fiscal,
judge, officer or administrative body, or indicted for,
or accused or convicted by any court or tribunal of,
any offense or crime involving moral turpitude; nor is
there any pending case or charge against him/her.
Meling did not reveal that he has three pending
criminal cases. His deliberate silence constitutes
concealment, done under oath at that.

1. a four- year high school course
2. A course of study prescribed for a bachelors
degree in arts or sciences
3. A four-year bachelors degree in law with
completed courses in civil law, commercial law,
remedial law, criminal law, public and private
international law, political law, labor and social
legislation, medical jurisprudence, taxation and
legal ethics.

Applicant is subjected to written examinations in in
civil law, commercial law, remedial law, criminal
law, public and private international law, political
law, labor and social legislation, medical
jurisprudence, taxation and legal ethics.

A general average of 75% in all subjects is the
passing grade.
COMPOSITION:
1. A member of the court who acts as a chairman
2. Eight members of the bar who serve as
examiners in the eight subjects with one subject
assigned to each member.
3. Bar confidant who is at the same time a deputy
clerk of court. He acts as a liaison officer
between the court and the chairman, on the one
hand, and the individual members of the
committee , on the other hand.
An applicant must file with the clerk of court of
court of the Supreme Court at least fifteen (15)
days before the beginning of the bar examination
a duly accomplished application form.

Affidavit of the applicant, accompanied by a
certificate from the university or school of law
concerned , is filed as evidence of his having
complied with the all the educational
requirements.

An applicant assumes the burden of proof to establish
all the needed qualifications to the satisfaction of the
court.
However, in the absence of preponderant evidence
that the applicant did not in fact possess the necessary
qualifications, the burden of proof in that case shifts
to the complainant.