A total of 1,451 out of 5,903 law graduates passed the 2009 bar examinations, the 2009 Bar Examinations Committee announced Friday.

The number of bar passers, who came from 108 law schools across the country, represented 24.58 percent of the total examinees.

This is higher than the previous year’s 20.58 percent passing rate.

But 2009 bar exams’ passing grade was lowered to 71 percent from 75 percent in 2008, said Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura, chairman of the 2009 Bar Examinations Committee.

Grade in Taxation was also lowered from 49 percent to 45 percent, Nachura said.