Bar exam protests delay law discussion

A DRAFT LAW proposing the creation of a bar exam to practice law that led to widespread street protests by university students will not be discussed in the current legislative period.

National Assembly President Rubén De León made the announcement Thursday, October 8  during a meeting with law students and faculty from the University of Panama.

The prime concern expressed by students and faculty  is not about the exam itself, but who sets and administers it, withwidespread oposition to it being administered by the National Bar Association wgich has some, 3000, members, about 10% of the legal community in Panama.

He said that a commission led by the school will prepare a document that meets the conditions to raise academic standards in the legal profession.

He said that this document should be ready in four months, so the discussion would be in the second legislative period that starts Jan. 2, 2016. The commission will also include deputies Luis Barría, Gabriel Soto and Pedro Miguel González.

The law was presented to the Assembly by the judges of the Supreme Court.

It sought to establish an examination as one of the requirements that a person must meet to practice law. The proposal was endorsed by the National Bar Association.