Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Legal Ethics Bar Reviewer
Legal Ethics Bar Reviewer
A. LEGAL ETHICS
1.
Qualifications
Appearance of Non-Lawyers
GR: No. Only those who are licensed to practice law can
appear and handle cases in court.
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XPN:
a.
b.
c.
2.
3.
where
lawyers
prohibited
from
Allowed to practice
but
subject
to
restrictions
Approval
department
required
of
head
8.
1.
2.
Mayors
Senators
members of the House
of Representatives,
3. Vice-Governors
4. Vice Mayors
5. members
of
the
Sanggunians
Civil Service employees (Catu v.
Rellosa, AC 5738, Feb. 9, 2008
[punong barangay]; Abella v.
Cruzaba, AC 5088, June 3, 2009
[Register of Deeds employee])
Lawyers
without
authority
this
constitutes
malpractice
and
violation
of
the
lawyers oath, for
which he may be
suspended
or
disbarred
5.
Prohibited
practicing
from
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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President
Department
secretaries
judges and justices
prosecutors
Solicitor General and
members of the OSG
members
of
Constitutional
Commissions
Governors
A. Lawyers
authorized
government:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
to
represent
the
B. Lawyers Oath:
I, ______ do solemnly swear that: I will maintain
allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines; will support
the Constitution and obey the laws as well as the legal order
of duly constituted authorities therein; I will do no
falsehood nor consent to the doing of the same in court;
I will not wittingly or willingly promote or sue any
groundless, false or unlawful suit, not give aid nor consent
to the same; I will delay no man for money or malice, and
will conduct myself as a lawyer according to the best of my
knowledge and discretion, with all good fidelity as well to
the courts as to my clients; and I impose upon myself this
voluntary obligation, without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion,
SO HELP ME GOD.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LAWYER
First and Most Important Duty of a Lawyer:
Duty to the court. The lawyer is an officer of the
court who sets the judicial machinery with the main mission
of assisting the court in the administration of justice. His
public duties take precedence over his private duties.
Q: True or False, the duty of a lawyer to his client is more
paramount that his duty to the Court.
A: False, a lawyers paramount duty is to the Court. This is
because he is an officer of the court. (2009 Bar Question)
1. Duties to Society
1. Uphold the Constitution, Obey the laws of the
land, and Promote respect for the law and legal
processes (Canon 1, CPR. (Canon
a. Not engage in unlawful, dishonest,
immoral and deceitful conduct. Rule
1.01)
a. Not counsel or abet activities aimed at
defiance of the law and lessening
confidence in the legal system, (Rule
1.02)
b. Not encourage any suit or proceeding
or delay and any mans cause. (Rule
1.03)
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c.
6.
3.
4.
Misstatements of fact
Suggestions that the ingenuity or prior record of a
lawyer rather than the justice of the claim are the
principal factors likely to determine the result
Inclusion of information irrelevant on selecting a
lawyer
Representations concerning the quality of service,
which cannot be measured or verified.
2.
3.
4.
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1.
Canon 8
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Canon 13
Q: On a Saturday, Atty. Paterno filed a petition for Writ of
Amparo with the CA. Impelled by the urgency of the
issuance of the writ, Atty. Paterno persuaded his friend,
CA Justice Johnny Dela Cruz, to issue the Writ of Amparo
and the notice of hearing without the signature of the two
other Justices members of the CA division. Are Atty.
Paterno and Justice Dela Cruz guilty of unethical conduct?
Explain.
A: Yes. Atty. Paterno violated Canon 13 of the CPR which
provides that a lawyer shall rely on the merits of his cause
and refrain from any impropriety which tends to influence
or gives the appearance of influencing the court. Atty.
Paterno has relied on his friendship with the Justice to
obtain a Writ of Amparo without a hearing. He thus makes
it appear that he can influence the court. Justice Dela Cruz
violated sec. 3, canon 4 of the Code of Judicial Conduct for
the Philippine Judiciary, which provides that judges shall,
in their personal relations with individual members of the
legal profession who practice regularly in their courts, avoid
situations which might reasonable give rise to the suspicion
or appearance of favoritism or partiality. (2009 Bar
Question)
Q: Rico, an amiable, sociable lawyer, owns a share in
Marina Golf Club, easily one of the more posh golf courses.
He relishes hosting parties for government officials and
members of the bench. One day, he had a chance meeting
with a judge in the Intramuros golf course. The two readily
got along well and had since been regularly playing golf
together at the Marina Golf Club. If Atty. Rico does not
discuss cases with members of the bench during parties
and golf games, is he violating the Code of Professional
Responsibility? Explain. How about the members of the
bench who grace the parties of Rico, are they violating the
Code of Judicial Conduct? Explain.
A: Yes. A lawyer shall not extend extraordinary attention or
hospitality to, nor seek opportunity for cultivating
familiarity with judges. Moreover, he should refrain from
any impropriety which gives the appearance of influencing
the court. In regularly playing golf with the judges, Atty.
Rico will certainly raise the suspicion that they discuss cases
during the game, although they actually do not. However, if
Rico is known to be a non-practicing lawyer, there is not
much of an ethical problem.
Members of the bench who grace the parties of
Atty. Rico will be guilty of violating Canon 4 of the New Code
of Judicial Conduct which provides that judges shall, in their
personal relations with individual members of the legal
profession who practice regularly in their court, avoid
situations which might reasonably give rise to the suspicion
of or appearance of partiality. It has been held that if a
judge is seen eating or drinking in public places with a
lawyer who has a case pending in his sala, public suspicion
may be aroused, thus tending to erode the trust of litigants
in the impartiality of the judge. (2010 Bar Question)
Q: Members of the faculty of the UP College of Law
published a statement on the allegations of plagiarism and
misrepresentation relative to the Courts decision
in Vinuya v. Executive Secretary. The authors directly
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Duty to Clients
Counsel de Oficio
1.
2.
Gravity of offense
Difficulty of questions that may arise; and
Experience and ability of appointee
1.
to decline employment.
XPN:
1.
2.
3.
Privileged Communication
A privileged communication is one that refers to
information transmitted by voluntary act of disclosure
between attorney and client in confidence and by means
which, so far as the client is aware discloses the information
to no third person other than one reasonably necessary for
the transmission of the information or the accomplishment
of the purpose for which it was given.
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c.
Attorneys Fees
Attorneys Liens
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C.
Sui Generis
Does not prescribe
Deceit;
Malpractice;
Grossly immoral conduct
Conviction of a crime involving moral
turpitude;
e. Violation of oath of office;
f. Willful disobedience of any lawful order of a
superior court
g. Corrupt or willful appearance as an attorney
for a party to a case without authority to do
so. (Sec. 27, Rule 138, RRC)
h. Non-payment of IBP membership dues
(Santos, Jr. v. Atty. Llas, Adm. Case No. 4749,
January 20, 2000)
HOWEVER, The statutory enumeration is not to be taken as
a limitation on the general power of SC to suspend or disbar
a lawyer. (In Re: Puno, A.C. No. 389, Feb. 28, 1967) HENCE,
the grounds enumerated are NOT exclusive.
Proceedings in Disbarment:
(1) initiated by the Supreme court motu propio or
by the IBP, or upon verified complaint by any
person filed with the Supreme Court or an IBP
Chapter
(2) if complaint prima facie meritorious, referred
to the IBP, or the Solicitor General, any officer
of the Court or a judge of a lower court
(3) IBP Board of Governors assigns complaint to
Commission on Bar Discipline (CBD).
(4) CBD will assign complaint to a Commissioner or
group Commissioners.
(5) If
complaint
found
meritorious,
Commissioner(s) will require respondent to file
an answer.
(6) Commissioner will conduct hearing in which
respondent is accorded due process.
(7) After hearing, Commissioner(s) will submit
Report and Recommendation to IBP Board of
Governors.
(8) Board of Governors will render decision, either
exonerating the respondent and dismissing the
case, or imposing a sanction less than
suspension, or recommending suspension or
disbarment to the Supreme Court.
Exoneration may be appealed by the
complainant to the Supreme Court. Sanction of
less than suspension or disbarment may be
appealed by the respondent to the Supreme
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4.
5.
Q: Is the defense of Atty. R in a disbarment complaint for
immorality filed by his paramour P that P is in pari delicto
material or a ground for exoneration? Explain.
A: The defense of in pari delicto is immaterial in an
administrative case which is sui generis. The administrative
case is about the lawyers conduct, not the womans. (2010
Bar Question)
Affidavit of Desistance: Effects
Q: Arabella filed a complaint for disbarment against her
estranged husband Atty. P on the ground of immorality
and use of illegal drugs. After Arabella presented evidence
and rested her case before the Investigating
Commissioner of the IBP Committee on Bar Discipline, she
filed an Affidavit of Desistance and motion to dismiss the
complaint, she and her husband having reconciled for the
sake of their children. You are the Investigating
Commissioner of the IBP. Bearing in mind that the family
is a social institution which the State is duty-bound to
preserve, what will be your action on Arabellas motion to
dismiss the complaint?
A: I would still deny the motion to dismiss. The general rule
is that no investigation shall be interrupted or terminated
by reason of desistance, settlement, compromise,
restitution, withdrawal of charges or failure of complainant
to prosecute the same unless the SC motu proprio or upon
recommendation of the IBP Board determines that there is
no compelling reason to continue with the proceedings. An
affidavit of desistance will have no effect on it, being a sui
generis proceeding. (2010 Bar Question)
D. READMISSION TO THE BAR
Reinstatement and its Requirements
Reinstatement is the restoration in disbarment proceedings
a disbarred lawyer the privilege to practice law. The
applicant must, satisfy the Court that he is a person of good
moral character a fit and proper person to practice law.
Suspension
1.
2.
3.
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6.
Lifting of Suspension
The lifting of a lawyers suspension is not automatic
upon the end of the period stated in the Courts decision,
and an order from the Court lifting the suspension at the
end of the period is necessary in order to enable [him] to
resume the practice of his profession. (J.K. Mercado and
Sons Agricultural Enterprises, Inc. et al. v. Atty. de Vera, et
al. and Atty. de Vera v. Atty. Encanto, et al.)
Disbarment
Lawyers who have been disbarred: The Supreme Court may
reinstate a disbarred lawyer upon proof that he has
regained his good moral character and can again be
entrusted with the privileges of a lawyer.
Consequences of Noncompliance
B.
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Exemptions:
1. President and Vice-President, Secretaries
and Undersecretaries of Executive
Departments
2. Senators and Members of the House of
Representatives
3. Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court, incumbent and retired
members of the judiciary, incumbent
members of the Judicial and Bar Council,
incumbent court lawyers covered by the
Philippine Judicial Academy
4. Chief State Counsel, Chief State
Prosecutor, and Assistant Secretaries of
the Department of Justice
5. Solicitor General and Assistant Solicitor
General
6. Government Corporate Counsel, Deputy
an Assistant Government Corporate
Counsel
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Qualifications:
1. Citizen of the Philippines
2. Over 21 years of age
3. Resident of the Philippines for at least 1 year
4. Maintains a regular place of work In the city or
province where the commission is to be issued,
5. Member of the Philippine bar in good standing
6. Has not been convicted in the first instance of
a crime involving moral turpitude.
Term of office: two (2) years, commencing from the first
day of January of the year in which the commission was
issued.
Powers :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Acknowledgments
Oaths and affirmations
Jurats
Signature witnessing
Copy certifications
Any other act authorized by the Rules
Witnessing signing by thumbmark
Signing on behalf of disabled person.
Limitations:
1. A notary shall not perform a notarial act if the
person involved as signatory of the
instrument:
(a) is not in the notarys presence personally
at the time of notarization, (Heirs of
Villanueva v. Beradio, AC 6270, Jasn 23,
2007)
(b) is not personally known to the notary or
identified through competent document
of identity. (Gonzales v. Padiernos, AC
6713, Dec. 8, 2008)
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2.
2.
3.
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2.
Sanctions:
1. The Executive Judge shall cause the
prosecution of any person who:
i. knowingly acts or impersonates
a notary public;
ii. knowingly obtains, conceals,
defaces, or destroys the seal,
notarial register, or official
records of a notary public, and
iii. knowingly solicits, coerces, or in
any way influences a notary
public to commit official
misconduct.
The Executive Judge concerned shall submit semestral
reports to the Supreme Court on discipline and prosecution
of notaries public.
b.
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conduct
Propriety essential to all activities of a judge. (Canon 4)
o
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Treason
Bribery
Other High Crimes
Graft and Corruption
Betrayal of Public Trust (Sec. 2 Art. XI, 1987
Constitution)
Procedure:
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
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The Supreme Court in one case said that the FCDA cannot
be used as a haven for the corrupt and the criminals. To
interpret it in the manner that the Chief Justice would want
is to say that the law could be used as a haven to hide
proceeds of criminal acts. (Senator Judge Drilon)
Ethical Lessons from Former Chief Justice Coronas
Impeachment:
1.
2.
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a.
b.
Serious
Less serious
Light
1.
2.
3.
3.
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3.
4.
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General Docket
2.
3.
Execution Book
Duty of stenographer:
It shall be the duty of the stenographer to deliver
to the clerk of court, immediately at the close of such
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