BCM holds inaugural Bar Exam in Maldives

The Bar Council of the Maldives (BCM) on Saturday held the inaugural Bar Exam in Maldives.

With 176 examinees, the examination was administered in two locations – Male’ City and Addu City.

According to the statement released by BCM, the examinations were held successfully, with a 98.3 turnout for both morning and afternoon sessions.

It also noted that the exams will be held once annually, and will set the minimum benchmark for admission to practice in Maldives. It quizzes examinees on Tort Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional and Administrative Law, Contract Law and Practice, Land and Practice, and Maldivian Legal System.

The Maldives’ inaugural Bar Exam was held today, with a 176 candidates.

Our heartfelt gratitude to our development partners @USAIDMaldives, @ABARuleofLaw, @jtnnbm, @humadha & Kaplan for their unwavering support in reaching this watershed moment in Maldivian legal history. pic.twitter.com/prmy8B0JUA

— Bar Council of the Maldives (@MvBarCouncil) November 19, 2022

“The syllabus for the BE2022 was developed by the Bar Exam Committee of Experts, and the dual-language exam, conducted in both Dhivehi and English, consisted of a total of 120 multiple choice questions,” read the statement.

Those who took sat the exam had to pay a fee of MVR 6,500. However, initially, this amount was set at 10,000, which received much criticism and concern.

In addition to this, due to concerns raised regarding the expenses that needed to be undertaken in order to travel to Male’ to sit the exam, the BCM’s Executive Committee has now decided that it will be held countrywide.

Hence, there will an option to select the preferred location in the registration form.

Under the Legal Profession Act 2019, in order to become a licenced practising lawyer, a licencing training programme must be completed in addition to a pass from the Bar Exam.