Canon II Section 24-44

SECTION 24.
Encroaching or interfering in another lawyer’s engagement;
A lawyer shall not, directly or indirectly, encroach upon or interfere in the professional engagement of
another lawyer.
This includes a lawyer’s attempt to communicate, negotiate or deal with the person represented by
another lawyer on any matter, whether pending or not in any court, tribunal, body, or agency, unless
when initiated by the client or with the knowledge of the original lawyer.
A lawyer, however, may give proper advice and assistance to anyone seeking relief against perceived
unfaithful or neglectful counsel based on the Code.
SECTION 25. Responsibility of a solo practitioner.
A lawyer in solo practice shall ensure that all matters requiring his or her professional skill and judgment
are promptly and competently addressed.
SECTION 26. Definition of a law firm; choice of firm name.
A law firm is any private office, partnership, or association, exclusively comprised of a lawyer or lawyers
engaged to practice law, and who hold themselves out as such to the public.
In the choice of a firm name, no false, misleading or assumed name shall be used. The continued use of
the name of a deceased, incapacitated, or retired partner is permissible provided that the firm indicates
in all its communications that said partner is deceased, incapacitated, or retired.
SECTION 27. Partner who assumes public office.
When a partner assumes public office, such partner shall withdraw from the firm and such partner's
name shall be removed from the firm name, unless allowed by law to practice law concurrently
SECTION 28. Dignified government service.
- Lawyers in government service shall observe:

1. the standard of conduct under the CPRA;
2. the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; and
3. other related laws and issuances in the performance of their duties.
- Any violation of the CPRA by lawyers in government service shall be subject to disciplinary
action, separate and distinct from liability under pertinent laws or rules.
SECTION 29. Lawyers formerly in government service.
A lawyer who has left government service shall not engage in private practice pertaining to any matter
before the office where he or she used to be connected within a period of one (1) year from his or her
separation from such office. Justices, judges, clerks of court, city, provincial, and regional prosecutors
shall not appear before any court within the territorial jurisdiction where they previously served within
the same period.
After leaving government service, a lawyer shall not accept an engagement which could improperly
influence the outcome of the proceedings which the lawyer handled or intervened in, or over which the
lawyer previously exercised authority, while in said service.
SECTION 30. No financial interest in transactions; no gifts.
A lawyer in government shall not, directly or indirectly, promote or advance his or her private or
financial interest or that of another, in any transaction requiring the approval of his or her office.
Neither shall such lawyer solicit gifts or receive anything of value in relation to such interest.
Such lawyer in government shall not give anything of value to, or otherwise unduly favor, any person
transacting with his or her office, with the expectation of any benefit in return.
SECTION 31. Prosecution of criminal cases.
- The primary duty of a public prosecutor is not to convict but to see that justice is done.
- Causes for disciplinary action:
1. Suppressing facts;
2. concealing of, or tampering with or destroying evidence;
3. coaching a witness; or
4. offering false testimony
- These obligations shall also be imposed upon lawyers in private practice who are authorized to
prosecute under the direct supervision and control of the public prosecutor.
SECTION 32. Lawyers in the academe.
A lawyer serving as a dean, administrative officer, or faculty member of an educational institution shall
at all times adhere to the standards of behavior required of members of the legal profession under the
CPRA, observing propriety, respectability, and decorum inside and outside the classroom, and in all
media.
SECTION 33. Conflict of interest for lawyers in the academe.
A lawyer serving as a dean, administrative officer, or faculty member of an educational institution shall
disclose to the institution any adverse interest of a client.
Upon discovery of any adverse interest of the lawyer’s client which directly affects any student who is
under his or her direct supervision and guidance, the lawyer shall likewise disclose to the same to the
institution.
SECTION 34. Paralegal services; lawyer’s responsibility.
A paralegal is one who performs tasks that require familiarity with legal concepts, employed or retained
by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity for non-diagnostic and non-
advisory work in relation to legal matters delegated by such lawyer, law office, corporation,
governmental agency or other entity.
A lawyer must direct or supervise a paralegal in the performance of the latter’s delegated duties.
The lawyer’s duty of confidentiality shall also extend to the services rendered by the paralegal, who is
equally bound to keep the privilege.
SECTION 35. Non-delegable legal tasks.
A lawyer shall not delegate to or permit a non-lawyer, including a paralegal, to:

(a) accept cases on behalf of the lawyer;
(b) give legal advice or opinion;
(c) act independently without the lawyer’s supervision or direction;
(d) to hold himself or herself out as a lawyer, or be named in association with a lawyer in any
pleading or submission to any court, tribunal, or other government agency;
(e) appear in any court, tribunal, or other government agency, or actively participate in formal
legal proceedings on behalf of a client, without a lawyer’s supervision or direction;
(f) conduct negotiations with third parties unless allowed in administrative agencies, without a
lawyer’s supervision or direction;
(g) sign correspondence containing a legal opinion;
(h) perform any of the duties that only lawyers may undertake.
These provisions shall not apply to law student practitioners under Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court.
RESPONSIBLE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
SECTION 36. Responsible use.
- A lawyer shall have the duty to understand the benefits, risks and ethical implications associated
with the use of social media.
SECTION 37. Online posts.
- A lawyer shall ensure that his or her online posts, whether made in a public or restricted privacy
setting that still holds an audience, uphold the dignity of the legal profession and shield it from
disrepute, as well as maintain respect for the law.
SECTION 38. Non-posting of false or unverified statements, disinformation.
- A lawyer shall not knowingly or maliciously post, share, upload or otherwise disseminate false or
unverified statements, claims, or commit any other act of disinformation.
SECTION 39. Prohibition against fraudulent accounts.
- A lawyer shall not create, maintain or operate accounts in social media to hide his or her identity
for the purpose of circumventing the law or the provisions of the CPRA.
SECTION 40. Non-disclosure of privileged information through online posts.
- A lawyer shall not reveal, directly or indirectly, in his or her online posts confidential information
obtained from a client or in the course of, or emanating from, the representation, except when
allowed by law or the CPRA.
SECTION 41. Duty to safeguard client confidences in social media.
- A lawyer, who uses a social media account to communicate with any other person in relation to
client confidences and information, shall exert efforts to prevent the inadvertent or
unauthorized disclosure or use of, or unauthorized access to, such an account.
SECTION 42. Prohibition against influence through social media.

- A lawyer shall not communicate, whether directly or indirectly, with an officer of any court,
tribunal, or other government agency through social media to influence the latter’s performance
of official duties.
SECTION 43. Legal information; legal advice.
- Pursuant to a lawyer’s duty to society and the legal profession, a lawyer may provide general
legal information, including the answer to questions asked, at any fora, through traditional or
electronic means, in all forms or types of mass or social media.
- A lawyer who gives legal advice on a specific set of facts as disclosed by any person in such fora
or media dispenses Limited Legal Service and shall be bound by all the duties in the CPRA, in
relation to such Limited Legal Service.
SECTION 44. Online posts that could violate conflict of interest.
- A lawyer shall exercise prudence in making posts or comments in social media that could violate
the provisions on conflict of interest under the CPRA.
2, 3,4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36-44

Canon II Section 24-44

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Canon II Section 24-44

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SECTION 24.

Encroaching or interfering in another lawyer’s engagement;

SECTION 25. Responsibility of a solo practitioner.

SECTION 26. Definition of a law firm; choice of firm name.

SECTION 27. Partner who assumes public office.

SECTION 28. Dignified government service.

- Lawyers in government service shall observe:

SECTION 29. Lawyers formerly in government service.

SECTION 31. Prosecution of criminal cases.

SECTION 32. Lawyers in the academe.

SECTION 33. Conflict of interest for lawyers in the academe.

SECTION 34. Paralegal services; lawyer’s responsibility.

SECTION 35. Non-delegable legal tasks.

A lawyer shall not delegate to or permit a non-lawyer, including a paralegal, to:

RESPONSIBLE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

SECTION 36. Responsible use.

SECTION 37. Online posts.

SECTION 38. Non-posting of false or unverified statements, disinformation.

SECTION 39. Prohibition against fraudulent accounts.

SECTION 40. Non-disclosure of privileged information through online posts.

SECTION 41. Duty to safeguard client confidences in social media.

SECTION 42. Prohibition against influence through social media.

SECTION 43. Legal information; legal advice.

SECTION 44. Online posts that could violate conflict of interest.

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