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.

a four- year high school courseA course of study prescribed for a bachelors degree in arts or sciences 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: A member of the court who acts as a chairmanEight members of the bar who serve as examiners in the eight subjects with one subject assigned to each member. 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.