January (14, (2016 (What (Is (Legal (Ethics? (: (CJ SRC)

Within!thirty!(30)!days!from!the!termination!of!the!investigation,!the!investigating!Justice!or!Judge!shall!submit!to!the!
Supreme!Court!a!report!containing!findings!of!fact!and!recommendation.!
!
(Section!6)H!Action!
The!Court!shall!take!such!action!on!the!report!as!the!facts!and!the!law!may!warrant.!
!
January(14,(2016(
!
What(is(Legal(Ethics?(
• Branch!of!moral!science!which!treats!of!the!duties!which!an!attorney!owes!to!the!court,!to!his!client,!to!his!
colleagues!in!the!profession!and!to!the!public!as!embodied!in!the!constitution,!rules!of!court,!code!of!professional!
responsibility,!canons!of!professional!ethics,!moral!law!and!special!laws!
• first!part!of!definition!talks!about!4Hfold!duty!of!an!attorney!
• last!part!of!definition!talks!about!the!sources!of!legal!ethics:!
1. Code!of!Professional!Responsibility:!usual!source!
2. Constitution! [CJ SRC]
3. Rules!of!Court!
4. Special!Laws!
5. Jurisprudence!
!
!
Duties(of(an(attorney,((those(which(he/she(owes(to(the:(
1. public!
2. court! [BP CC]
3. bar!
4. client!
!
Section(20.((Rule(138(ROC.(Duties(of(attorneys.(
(
1. To!maintain!allegiance!to!the!Republic!of!the!Philippines!and!to!support!the!Constitution!and!obey!the!laws!of!the!
Philippines.!
!
2. To!observe!and!maintain!the!respect!due!to!the!courts!of!justice!and!judicial!officers;!
!
3. To!counsel!or!maintain!such!actions!or!proceedings!only!as!appear!to!him!to!be!just,!and!such!defenses!only!as!he!
believes!to!be!honestly!debatable!under!the!law.!
!
4. To!employ,!for!the!purpose!of!maintaining!the!causes!confided!to!him,!such!means!only!as!are!consistent!with!
truth!and!honor,!and!never!seek!to!mislead!the!judge!or!any!judicial!officer!by!an!artifice!or!false!statement!of!fact!
or!law;!
!
5. To!maintain!inviolate!the!confidence,!and!at!every!peril!to!himself,!to!preserve!the!secrets!of!his!client,!and!to!
accept!no!compensation!in!connection!with!his!client's!business!except!from!him!or!with!his!knowledge!and!
approval;!
!
6. To!abstain!from!all!offensive!personality!and!to!advance!no!fact!prejudicial!to!the!honor!or!reputation!of!a!party!or!
witness,!unless!required!by!the!justice!of!the!cause!with!which!he!is!charged;!
!
7. Not!to!encourage!either!the!commencement!or!the!continuance!of!an!action!or!proceeding,!or!delay!any!man's!
cause,!from!any!corrupt!motive!or!interest;!
!
8. Never!to!reject,!for!any!consideration!personal!to!himself,!the!cause!of!the!defenseless!or!oppressed;!
!
9. In!the!defense!of!a!person!accused!of!crime,!by!all!fair!and!honorable!means,!regardless!of!his!personal!opinion!as!
to!the!guilt!of!the!accused,!to!present!every!defense!that!the!law!permits,!to!the!end!that!no!person!may!be!
deprived!of!life!or!liberty,!but!by!due!process!of!law.!
!
Privileges(of(Attorney((
• first!grade!civil!service!eligibility!for!any!position!in!the!classified!service!in!the!government!the!duties!of!which!
require!knowledge!of!law!
• second!grade!civil!service!eligibility!for!any!other!government!position!which!does!not!prescribe!proficient!in!law!
qualification.!
!
Importance(of(legal(ethics(
• The!highest!moral!and!ethical!standards!should!be!maintained!so!that!the!people!will!continue!to!repose!their!
trust!in!lawyers!and!in!the!role!they!play!in!the!administration!of!justice.!Consequently!the!continued!existence!of!
the!legal!profession!is!ensured.!
• If!lawyers!are!bound!by!a!set!of!rules,!the!primary!purpose!of!which!is!to!ensure!that!lawyers!are!trustworthy!
people,!then!society!will!maintain!its!trust!and!confidence!in!the!justice!system!and!the!legal!profession.!
• If!the!public!will!not!trust!lawyers!anymore,!then!the!legal!profession!will!die!a!natural!death.!Nobody!will!go!to!
lawyers!anymore!and!perhaps!will!just!take!the!law!into!their!own!hands.!
!
Can(legal(ethics(make(you(rich?(What(is(the(danger(if(the(lawyer(forgets(the(rules(of(legal(ethics?(
• A!lawyer!may!get!rich!but!he!may!get!disbarred.!Observance!of!the!rules!of!legal!ethics!is!essential!for!selfH
preservation!and!preservation!of!one’s!career.!It!is!not!as!if!that!legal!ethics!will!make!you!poor,!far!from!that,!
many!lawyers!reach!the!pinnacle!of!success!even!while!completely!observant!of!legal!ethics.!
!
The(legal(profession(is(not(a(money(making(trade.(
Primary(characteristics(which(distinguish(the(legal(profession(from(a(business:(
1. duty!of!public!service,!of!which!emolument!is!a!byHproduct!
• this!tells!us!that!the!primary!purpose!of!the!legal!profession!is!the!duty!of!public!service!and!emolument!is!
merely!a!byHproduct!
• example:!A!business!without!profit!after!10!!or!20!years!is!considered!a!failure!because!it!makes!no!
money.!However,!a!lawyer!who!is!not!very!rich!but!is!one!of!the!most!respected!is!not!considered!a!
failure.!It!is!not!the!emolument!that!defines!a!lawyers,!rather!it!is!the!quality!of!his!work.!
2. lawyer!is!an!officer!of!the!court!
3. fiduciary!relation!to!client!
• fiduciary:!based!on!trust!and!confidence!
• fiduciary!relationship!not!always!present!in!business.!
! example:!Even!if!one!does!not!trust!the!airline,!he!has!no!choice!but!to!ride!it.!But!if!a!client!
hires!a!lawyer,!then!it!means!the!client!trusts!the!lawyer.!
4. candor,!fairness!to!colleagues!in!the!bar!
• courtesy!towards!fellow!lawyers!in!observed!in!the!legal!profession!
! example:!it!is!unethical!for!lawyers!to!steal!the!clients!of!other!lawyers!
• in!business,!the!aim!is!to!monopolize!the!market,!to!get!all!the!clients!in!order!to!maximize!profits.!!
!
!
Can(corporations(practice(law?(
• No.!Practice!of!law!is!reserved!only!to!natural!persons!who!are!lawyers!such!as!solo!practitioners!or!in!partnership!
with!other!lawyers.!
• Corporation!law:!corporation!is!an!entity!which!is!distinct!and!separate!from!its!individual!stockholders!
• If!corporations!are!allowed!to!practice!law,!it!could!become!an!avenue!for!unscrupulous!lawyers!to!evade!liability!
by!hiding!behind!the!veil!of!corporate!fiction.!This!is!totally!inconsistent!with!the!principle!that!the!legal!profession!
demands!personal!responsibility!and!accountability!from!the!lawyer.!
• Besides,!the!corporation!did!not!go!to!law!school!or!take!the!bar.!The!nature!of!the!legal!profession!is!such!that!it!
can!only!be!exercised!in!the!flesh!and!blood!of!a!real!natural!person.!!
• Law!firms!are!allowed.!A!law!partnership!does!not!qualify!as!a!partnership!under!the!contemplation!of!the!civil!
code.!It!is!called!partnership!in!the!loose!sense.!
• A!partnership!in!the!practice!of!law!is!a!mere!relationship!or!association!for!such!particular!purpose.!It!is!not!a!legal!
entity,!it!is!not!a!partnership!formed!for!the!purpose!of!carrying!on!a!trade!or!business!or!of!holding!property.!It!is!
an!association!or!relationship!for!the!purpose!of!practicing!law.!
!
!
Tan(vs(del(Rosario(
• A!professional!law!partnership!even!if!registered!with!the!SEC!is!not!even!a!taxpayer.!And!any!lawyer!practicing!law!
under!a!law!partnership!is!considered!a!solo!practitioner!who!is!the!taxpayer!and!not!the!law!partnership.!
• The!law,!in!fact,!prohibits!a!business!or!commercial!partnership!or!juridical!entity!to!engage!in!the!practice!of!law,!
the!reason!being!that!a!commercial!partnership!or!juridical!entity,!by!the!very!nature!of!the!practice!of!law,!cannot!
possess!nor!comply!with!the!qualifications!and!requirements!of!a!lawyer.!
!
Sec.(1,(rule(138,(ROC(
Who(may(practice(law?(
Any!person!(natural!person)!heretofore!duly!admitted!as!a!member!of!the!bar,!or!hereafter!admitted!as!such!in!accordance!
with!the!provisions!of!this!rule,!and!who!is!in!good!and!regular!standing,!is!entitled!to!practice!law.!
!
Sources(of(legal(ethics(
I.(Constitution(as(a(source(of(legal(ethics(
Sec.!5[5],!art.!VIII,!1987!constitution!
The!SC!shall!promulgate!rules!concerning:!!
1. the!protection!and!enforcement!of!constitutional!rights,!
2. pleading,!practice,!and!procedure!in!all!courts,!!
3. the!admission!to!the!practice!of!law,!!
• If!the!SC!can!admit!a!person!to!the!practice!of!law,!it!can!also!disbar!the!person.!Aside!from!
promulgating!Rules!of!Court!pertaining!to!the!admission!to!the!bar,!the!SC!also!has!rules!regarding!
discipline!and!disbarment!of!lawyers.!!
4. the!Integrated!Bar!
• The!SC,!under!the!ROC,!mandates!the!integration!of!the!Bar!!
5. legal!assistance!to!the!underprivileged.!!
!
Can(these(persons(practice(law(concurrent(with(their(public(posts?(
!1.! President,!viceHpresident,members!of!the!cabinet,!and!their!deputies!or!assistants!
• No.!The!Constitution!provides!that!the!pres,!VP,!members!of!the!cabinet,!and!their!deputies!and!
assistants,!shall!not,!during!their!tenure,!practice!any!other!profession.!
!2.! Senators,!members!of!house!of!representatives!
• Yes!but!with!restrictions!on!personal!appearaance.!
• Sec.!14,!art.!VI,!1987!constitution!
o No!Senator!or!Member!of!the!House!of!Representatives!may!personally!appear!as!counsel!
before:!!
1. any!court!of!justice!
2. Electoral!Tribunals!
3. quasiHjudicial!and!other!administrative!bodies.!
!3.! Members!of!constitutional!commission!
• No.!Prohibited!by!the!Constitution.!
!4.! Ombudsman!and!deputies!
• No.!Prohibited!by!the!Constitution.!
!5.! Judges!and!justices!
• No.!
!6.! Retired!judges!and!justices!
• Yes!but!with!restrictions!found!on!legislation.!
!7.! Governors,!city!mayors,!and!municipal!mayors.!
• No!as!found!in!the!Local!Government!Code!
!8.! Baranggay!Captains!and!Sanggunian!Members!
• Yes!because!not!included!in!the!enumeration!of!officials!prohibited!from!practicing!law.!
!
!
! Numbers!1!to!4!above!are!examples!of!the!Constitution!being!a!source!of!legal!ethics.!
! Numbers!5!to!8!above!are!examples!of!Legislation!being!a!source!of!legal!ethics.!
!
Puyat(vs.(De(guzman,(Jr.((113(scra(31)(
A!member!of!congress!cannot!indirectly!fail!to!follow!the!constitutional!prohibition!of!not!appearing!personally!as!counsel!
before!the!SEC!by!buying!a!no.!of!share!in!the!corporation!after!his!appearance!as!counsel!therein!was!contested.!
!
II.(Rules(of(court(as(a(source(of(legal(ethics(
Sec.!7,!rule!85!
When!the!executors!or!administrator!is!an!attorney,!he!shall!not!charge!against!the!estate!any!professional!fees!for!legal!
services!rendered!by!him.!
Reason:!to!avoid!temptation!on!the!part!of!the!executor/administrator.!As!executor/administrator,!the!lawyer!makes!major!
decisions! like! who! to! hire! as! lawyer! and! how! much! to! pay! the! lawyer.! This! prohibition! disallows! the! lawyerH
administrator/executor!from!hiring!himself!and!paying!himself!an!exorbitant!amount!of!attorney’s!fees.!
!
Sec.!24[B],!rule!13!
!An!attorney!cannot,!without!the!consent!of!his!client,!be!examined!as!to!any!communication!made!by!the!client!to!him,!or!
his!advice!given!thereon!in!the!course!of,!or!with!a!view!to,!professional!employment.!
!
Rule!138!–!Attorneys!and!Admission!to!the!Bar!
Rule!138HA!–!Law!Student!Practice!Rule!
Rule!139HA!H!!Integrated!Bar!of!the!Philippines!
Rule!138HB!–!Grievance!Procedure!Against!Lawyers!
!
!
!
III.(Legislation(as(a(source(of(legal(ethics(
Art.!1491[5],!Civil!Code!
The! following! persons! cannot! acquire! by! purchase,! even! at! a! public! or! judicial! auction,! either! in! person! or! through! the!
mediation! of! another:! [5]Justices,! judges,! prosecuting! attorneys,! clerks! of! superior! and! inferior! courts,! and! other! officers!
and! employees! connected! with! the! administration! of! justice,! the! property! and! rights! in! litigation! or! levied! upon! an!
execution! before! the! court! within! whose! jurisdiction! or! territory! they! exercise! their! respective! functions;! this! prohibition!
includes!the!act!of!acquiring!by!assignment!and!shall(apply(to(lawyers,(with(respect(to(the(property(and(rights(which(may(
be(the(object(of(any(litigation(in(which(they(may(take(part(by(virtue(of(their(profession.(!
!
Arts.!203,!222,!Labor!Code!
• Attorney's!fees!should!not!exceed!10%!of!the!amount!of!wages!recovered!
Art.!209,!RPC!
• Betrayal!of!Trust!by!an!Attorney!(review!the!elements)!
• Aside!from!criminal!liability,!the!lawyer!can!also!be!administratively!and!civilly!liable!
!
!
Section!90,!Title!III,!BOOK!1,!RA!7160!LGC!
Practice! of! Profession.! H! (a)! All! governors,! city! and! municipal! mayors! are! prohibited! from! practicing! their! profession! or!
engaging!in!any!occupation!other!than!the!exercise!of!their!functions!as!local!chief!executives.!
• if!the!governor!is!also!a!movie!star,!can!he!make!a!movie!while!in!office?!
o He!cannot.!But!some!get!away!with!it!because!nobody!complained.!!
• Baranggay!members!are!not!mentioned!so!not!restricted!
!
Public!officials!with!restrictions!in!the!practice!of!Law!
• No!Senator!or!Member!of!the!House!of!Representatives!may!personally!appear!as!counsel!before!any!court!of!
justice!or!before!the!Electoral!Tribunals,!or!quasiHjudicial!and!other!administrative!bodies.!!
!
Sec.!90,!RA!7160!!
That!sanggunian!members!who!are!also!members!of!the!Bar!shall!not:!
1. Appear!as!counsel!before!any!court!in!any!civil!case!wherein!a!local!government!unit!or!any!
office,!agency,!or!instrumentality!of!the!government!is!the!adverse!party;!
2. Appear!as!counsel!in!any!criminal!case!wherein!an!officer!or!employee!of!the!national!or!local!
government!is!accused!of!an!offense!committed!in!relation!to!his!office.!
3. Collect!any!fee!for!their!appearance!in!administrative!proceedings!involving!the!local!government!
unit!of!which!he!is!an!official;!and!
4. Use!property!and!personnel!of!the!government!except!when!the!sanggunian!member!concerned!
is!defending!the!interest!of!the!government.!
!
!
Retired!Judges!and!Justices!
RA!910:!
• no!retiring!Justice!during!the!time!that!he!is!receiving!said!pension!shall!appear!as!counsel!before!any!court!in!any!
civil!case!wherein!the!Government!or!any!subdivision!or!instrumentality!thereof!is!the!adverse!party,!or!in!any!
criminal!case!wherein!and!officer!or!employee!of!the!Government!is!accused!of!an!offense!committed!in!relation!
to!his!office,!or!collect!any!fee!for!his!appearance!in!any!administrative!proceedings!to!maintain!an!interest!
adverse!to!the!Government,!insular,!provincial!or!municipal,!or!to!any!of!its!legally!constituted!officers!
• restrictions!are!similar!to!the!first!two!restrictions!for!sangguniang!members!
!
Can!a!civil!service!employee!engage!in!the!private!practice!of!law?!
• A!civil!service!officer!or!employee!whose!duty!or!responsibility!does!not!require!his!entire!time!to!be!at!the!
disposal!of!the!government!may!not!engage!in!private!practice!of!law!without!the!written!permit!from!the!head!of!
the!department!concerned.!However,!government!officials!who!by!express!mandate!of!the!law!are!prohibited!
from!practicing!law!may!not,!even!with!the!consent!of!the!department!head,!engage!in!the!practice!of!law.!If!so!
authorized!by!the!department!head,!he!may,!in!an!isolated!case,!act!as!counsel!for!a!relative!or!close!family!friend.!
A!government!official!forbidden!to!practice!law!may!be!held!criminally!liable!for!doing!so.!An!officer!or!employee!
of!the!civil!service!who,!as!a!lawyer,!engages!in!the!private!practice!of!law!without!a!written!permit!from!the!
department!head!concerned!may!be!held!administratively!liable!therefor.!!
• So!if!his!duty!does!not!require!him!to!devote!his!entire!time!to!the!government,!then!he!can!practice!law!with!the!
condition!that!he!should!get!a!written!permit!from!the!head!of!the!department!concerned.!
• However,!if!a!government!official!is!expressly!prohibited!from!practicing!law,!no!amount!of!consent!or!authority!
from!a!department!head!can!allow!him!to!practice!law.!
• A!baranggay!captain!is!allowed!to!practice!law!but!he!must!get!consent!from!the!department!head!(DILG!head)!
!
!
Other(sources(of(legal(ethics(
• Code!of!Professional!Responsibility!
• Canons!of!professional!Ethics!
• Court!decisions,!treatises,!and!other!sources!
!
!
Are(ethics(and(morality(the(same?(
• It!is!ideal!that!they!are!the!same!but!they!are!not!necessarily!the!same.(
(
Relation!of!ethics!and!morality!
• Morals!define!personal!character,!while!ethics!stresses!a!social!system!in!which!those!morals!are!applied.!In!other!
words,!ethics!point!to!standards!or!codes!of!behavior!expected!by!the!group!to!which!the!individual!belongs.!
• example:!a!criminal!defense!lawyer!
o though!the!lawyer’s!personal!moral!code!likely!finds!murder!immoral!and!reprehensible,!ethics!demand!
that!the!accused!client!be!defended!as!vigorously!as!possible!even!when!the!lawyer!knows!the!party!is!
guilty!and!that!a!free!defendant!will!potentially!lead!to!more!crime.!Legal!ethics!must!override!personal!
morals!for!the!greater!good!of!upholding!a!justice!system!in!which!the!accused!is!given!a!fair!trial!and!the!
prosecution!must!prove!guilt!beyond!a!reasonable!doubt.!
!
!
Why!should!ethics!override!the!personal!moral!code!of!a!lawyer?!
• If!you!do!not!follow!the!rules!of!ethics,!you!may!be!vulnerable!to!administrative!penalties.!
!
Why!not!base!it!on!morality?!
• because!the!personal!moral!code!differs!from!one!person!to!the!next.!What!is!moral!for!me!may!not!be!moral!for!
you!and!vice!versa.!To!make!ethics!dependent!on!the!personal!moral!codes!of!a!lawyer!would!create!dangerous!
consequences!because!lawyers!could!just!claim!that!it!is!ethical!because!their!conscience!was!not!bothered!by!it.!!
• There!must!be!a!standard!set!of!ethical!rules!which!lawyers!must!follow!regardless!of!their!individual!moral!codes.!
!
!
!
!
Corollary(Principles:(
• Not!everything!legal!is!moral.!
• Not!everything!legal!is!ethical.!
o example:!lawyers!prohibition!against!acquiring!properties!in!litigation!
" if!acquired!while!case!is!pending,!the!contract!is!void.!!But!if!acquired!after!litigation,!the!act!is!
legal!but!it!is!not!necessarily!ethical!if!it!can!be!shown!that!the!lawyer!still!has!moral!ascendancy!
over!the!litigant!and!took!advantage!of!his!client!in!the!acquisition!of!the!property.!
!
Power(to(admit(to(the(Bar(
• vested!in!the!SC!
• the!authority!of!the!SC!over!the!legal!profession!is!a!constituent!element!of!its!judicial!power.!Accordingly,!any!
legislative!or!executive!judgment!substituting!that!of!the!SC!in!matters!concerning!the!admission!to!the!practice!of!
law,!____,!suspension,!disbarment,!or!reinstatement!of!an!attorney!infringes!upon!!
• Can!the!Congress!admit!to!the!Bar?!
o Bar!Flunkers!Act:!Congress!passed!a!law!reducing!the!passing!percentage.!Law!was!struck!down!as!
unconstitutional!being!an!encroachment!into!the!exclusive!prerogative!of!the!SC!to!admit!to!the!bar.!
!
Legislative(power(to(repeal,(alter(or(supplement(
1935!and!1973!constitution:!The!SC!shall!have!the!power!to!“promulgate!rules!concerning......!the!admission!to!the!practice!
of! law,! and! the! integration! of! the! Bar,! which! however! may! be! repealed,! altered! or! supplemented! by! the! Batasang!
Pambansa.!
!
1987!constitution:!deleted!the!power!of!the!legislature!to!repeal,!alter!or!supplement!SC!the!rules.!
!
Is(Congress(prohibited(from(enacting(laws(that(affect(the(legal(profession?(
• No.!The!power!of!Congress!to!legislate!is!plenary.!The!only!exception!are!those!prohibited!by!the!Constitution.!
• example:!!
o Congress!can!pass!a!law!limiting!the!collection!of!legal!fees!in!labor!cases!
o Congress!can!pass!a!law!to!criminalize!a!person!who!masquerades!as!a!lawyer!
• the!prohibition!is!against!passing!laws!that!encroach!on!the!exclusive!power!of!the!SC!to!admit!to!the!bar,!
integration!of!the!bar.!
!
Basic(requirement(for(admission(Sec.(2,(rule(138,(rules(of(court):(
1. citizen!of!the!Philippines,!!
o dual!citizen?!Yes,!can!be!admitted!to!the!Bar.!
2. at!least!twentyHone!years!of!age,!!
o Why!21!and!not!merely!18!(age!of!majority)?:!!
1. By!reason!of!impossibility!because!one!!still!has!to!take!up!undergraduate!and!law!degree.!
2. The!practice!of!law!requires!a!certain!level!of!maturity.!The!SC!said!that!it!is!reasonable!to!
assume!that!21!years!old!is!mature!enough!to!practice!law.!
3. good!moral!character,!!
4. resident!of!the!Philippines;!
o should!be!accessible!to!the!SC!
5. must!produce!before!the!Supreme!Court!satisfactory!evidence!of!good!moral!character,!and!that!no!charges!
against!him,!involving!moral!turpitude,!have!been!filed!or!are!pending!in!any!court!in!the!Philippines.!
o The!admission!to!the!practice!of!law!is!a!judicial!proceeding!and!it!starts!the!moment!you!submit!your!
petition!to!take!the!bar.!
o Petition!should!allege!all!basic!requirements!for!admission.!Like!any!other!judicial!proceeding,!mere!
allegation!without!proof!will!not!be!believed!by!the!SC.!
• age!and!citizenship:!proven!by!birth!certificate!
• residence:!proven!by!baranggay!certification!
• good!moral!character:!proven!by!certification!executed!by!members!of!the!bar!in!good!standing!
who!know!you!and!know!you!to!be!a!person!of!good!moral!character;!at!least!3!testimonials!are!
required!
• no!charges!involving!moral!turpidude:!police!clearance,!NBI!clearance!
(
(
January(21,(2016(
Moral(Turpitude(
Hoffends!the!generally!accepted!code!of!mankind;!an!act!of!baseness,!vileness!or!depravity!in!the!private!and!social!duties!
which!a!man!owes!to!his!fellowmen!and!society!in!general;!immoral!law!in!itself,!regardless!of!the!fact!if!it!is!punishable!by!
law!or!not;!the!act!itself!is!inherently!immoral!regardless!the!prohibition!by!law.!
Examples:!robbery,!adultery,!bribery,!forgery,!libel!
!
Moreno(vs.(Araneta((
Facts:!
The!lawyer!issued!a!bouncing!check.!!Administrative!charge!was!filed!against!the!lawyer.!While!the!case!was!pending,!BP!22!
was!passed.!
!
Is!there!a!criminal!offense?6No,!because!criminal!laws!have!prospective!effect!and!by!the!time!the!check!was!issued!it!was!
not!yet!a!criminal!act.!
!
Ruling:!
The act of a person in issuing a check knowing at the time of the issuance that he or she does not have sufficient
funds in, or credit with, the drawee bank for the payment of the check in full upon its presentment, is also a
manifestation of moral turpitude!!
!
Can!the!SC!do!this?!Yes!because!moral!turpitude!is!considered!immoral!whether!punishable!by!law!or!not.!Therefore,!it!does!
not!preclude!the!SC!from!saying!that!the!issuance!of!the!rubber!checks!involves!moral!turpitude.!
!
(
Warranties(of(the(SC(in(Admitting(a(Person(to(the(Practice(of(Law:(
1.) Person!so!admitted!has!necessary!learning!and!proficiency!!
“necessary!learning!and!proficiency”6!refers!to!entry!level!skills!of!the!lawyer!
2.) He!is!of!good!moral!character!
!
!
In(Re(Petition(to(Resume(Practice(of(Law(of(Benjamin(Dacanay(
BM(No.(1678,(December(17,(2007(
!
Facts:!
Dacanay!is!a!Filipino!lawyer.!He!migrated!to!Canada!to!seek!medical!attention.!To!be!able!to!fully!avail!of!medical!benefits!in!
Canada,!he!had!to!become!a!Canadian!citizen!.Upon!return!to!the!Philippines,!he!wants!to!resume!his!practice!of!law.!He!
reacquired!Filipino!citizenship!under!RA!9255!and!before!the!Philippine!embassy!in!Canada!he!took!his!oath!of!allegiance!to!
the!Philippines.!!
!
What!should!he!do!to!resume!practice!of!law!in!the!Philippines?!
!
Ruling:!
Under! RA! 9255,! if! a! person! intends! to! practice! the! legal! profession! in! the! Philippines! and! he! reacquires! his! Filipino!
citizenship! pursuant! to! its! provisions! “he! shall! apply! with! the! proper! authority! for! a! license! or! permit! to! engage! in! such!
practice.”! Stated! otherwise,! before! a! lawyer! who! reacquires! Filipino! citizenship! pursuant! to! RA! 9255! can! resume! his! low!
practice,!he!must!first!secure!from!this!Court!the!authority!to!do!so,!conditioned!on:!
a.) The!updating!and!payment!in!full!of!the!annual!IBP!membership!dues!in!the!IBP!
b.) The!payment!of!professional!tax;!
c.) The!completion!of!at!least!36!credit!hours!of!MCLE;!this!is!specially!significant!to!refresh!the!applicant/petitioner’s!
knowledge!of!Philippine!laws!and!update!him!of!!legal!developments!and!
d.) The!retaking!of!the!lawyer’s!oath!which!will!not!only!remind!him!of!his!duties!and!responsibilities!as!a!lawyer!and!
as!an!officer!of!the!Court,!!but!also!renew!his!pledge!to!maintain!allegiance!to!the!Constitution!of!the!Philippines.!
!
!
Modern(Concept(of(Practice(of(Law(
Cayetano!vs.!Monsod,!201!SCRA!210!(1991)!
! Practice! of! Law! means! any! activity,! in! or! out! of! court,! which! requires! the! application! of! law,! legal! procedure,!
knowledge,!training!and!experience.!To!engage!in!the!practice!of!law!is!to!perform!those!acts!which!are!characteristics!of!
the!profession.!Generally,!to!practice!is!to!give!notice!or!render!any!kind!of!service,!which!device!or!service!required!the!use!
in! any! degree! of! legal! knowledge! or! skill! not! limited! to! appearing! in! court,! or! advising! and! assisting! in! the! conduct! of!
litigation,! but! embraces! the! preparation! of! pleadings! and! other! papers! incident! to! actions! and! special! proceedings,!
conveyancing,!the!preparation!of!legal!instruments!of!all!kinds,!and!the!giving!of!legal!advice!to!clients.!
!
!
Old(concept,(Practice(of(Law(
People!vs.!Villanueva,!14!SCRA!109!(1965)!
Criteria!Determinative!of!Practice!of!Law!
1.) Habituality!
2.) Compensation!
3.) Application!of!Law,!Legal!Principle,!Practice!of!Legal!!Procedure!which!calls!for!legal!knowledge,!competence!and!
experience!
4.) AttorneyHClient!Relationship!
!
!
Is(Teaching(of(law(Practice(of(Law?(
! A!law!professor!does!not!actually!deal!with!clients!whose!rights!are!or!may!be!subject!to!legal!controversies;!he!
does!not!hold!himself!out!to!the!public!as!a!lawyer!but!as!a!mentor!learned!in!the!law!who!is!qualified,!by!reason!of!his!legal!
training!instruct!students!on!legal!subject.!(Minister!of!Justice!Opinion!No.!89!Series!of!1986)!
!
Based!on!this!opinion,!teaching!of!law!is!not!a!practice!of!law!because!a!law!professor!is!not!acting!as!a!lawyer!but!as!a!
teacher.!This!is!1986!and!Cayetano!vs.!Monsod!was!decided!in!1991.!We,!therefore,!can!say!that!if!teaching!of!law!involves!
knowledge,!experience!then!it!is!practice!of!law.!So!what!to!follow?!I!AM!GIVING!YOU!BOTH!!Ex:!In!one!of!the!graduate!law!
school!in!Manila,!the!Dean!is!not!a!lawyer.!We!have!professionals!teaching!law!but!are!not!lawyers.!So!there!is!a!bit!truth!in!
the!pronouncement!of!the!Justice!Opinion!regardless!of!Cayetano!vs.!Monsod.!
!
!
Practice(of(Law(a(Privilege,(but(also(in(the(nature(of(a(right(
• Privilege!because!lawyers!must!bow!to!the!inherent!regulatory!power!of!the!Court!to!exact!compliance!with!the!
lawyer’s!public!responsibilities.!
• Right! because! the! lawyer! cannot! be! prevented! from! practicing! law! except! for! valid! reasons! (e.g.! prohibition! on!
some!public!officers)!
o Philippine!Lawyers’!Association!vs.!Agrava!
• Members! of! the! Philippine! Bar! should! be! allowed! to! practice! before! the! Patent! Office! (IPO)!
without!further!examination!or!other!qualification.!
!
Do! not! confuse! the! Agrava! case! with! the! lawyer! who! wants! to! be! employed.! The! case! talks! about! appearing! before! the!
Patent!Office.!But!if!you!want!to!be!employed!in!the!Legal!Dept.!of!Patent!Office,!it!is!always!the!employer’s!prerogative!if!
giving!an!examination!is!their!means!to!screen!applicants.!
(
(
Why(is(the(practice(of(law(generally(limited(to(lawyers?(
Hto!protect!party!litigants!because!of!the!complex!nature!of!judicial!proceedings!
Hto!protect!public!interest!through!assuring!that!judicial!proceedings!take!place!with!dispatch!without!sacrificing!justice!and!
efficiency!
!
!
Sanctions(for(Unauthorized(Practice(of(Law:(
• Injunction!to!restrain!continuation!of!unauthorized!practice;!contempt!of!court!(Sec!!3!(e),!Rule!71,!ROC),!criminal!
prosecution,!damages,!denial!of!right!to!fees.!
• Manangan! vs.! CFI! –! one! whop! masqueraded! a! lawyer! using! the! name! of! a! deceased! lawyer! __! found! guilty! of!
continuous! fraudulent! misrepresentation! and! highly! improper! conduct! tending! directly! to! impede,! obstruct,!
degrade! and! make! a! mockery! of! the! administration! of! justice.! Consequently,! he! was! adjudged! in! contempt! of!
court,!severely!censured,!and!sentenced!to!suffer!3!months!imprisonment.!
Can!you!disbar?!Of!course!you!cannot!disbar!a!non6lawyer,!but!there!could!be!unauthorized!practice!of!law!by!a!disbarred!
lawyer!or!by!lawyer!during!the!period!of!his!suspension.!This!suspended!lawyer!can!be!disbarred.!
!
Shari’a! lawyers! who! are! LLB! graduates! but! not! member! of! the! bar! are! not! allowed! to! practice! before! regular! courts!
even!if!both!parties!are!Muslims.!
Par.2!!Art!143!of!P.D.!!1083,!The!Code!of!Muslim!Personal!Laws!of!the!Philippines!provides!for!concurrent!jurisdiction!of!
the!Shari’a!Court!with!existing!civil!courts.!
!
They!have!to!be!admitted!also!to!the!Philippine!Bar.!In!the!same!way!that!if!one!is!admitted!to!the!Philippine!Bar!but!not!to!
the!Shari’a!Bar,!he!cannot!appear!before!the!Shari’a!courts.!Supreme!Court!gives!the!Shari’a!Bar!Exams.!
!
!
Appearance(“In(Propria(Persona”(or(“Pro(Se”(Practice(
Happearance!in!court!by!a!nonHlawyer!for!himself!and!without!the!assistance!of!a!member!of!the!Bar.!
Basis:!Sec.!1(2),!Art.!III,!Constitution!(due!process!clause)!
Hright!to!be!heard!by!himself!and!counsel,!except!in!criminal!cases);!Sec.!3,!Rule!7,!ROC!Every!pleading!must!be!signed!by!
the!party!or!a!counsel!representing!him..”!
!
If!a!non6lawyer!is!a!party!to!the!case,!he!can!appear!without!the!assistance!of!a!lawyer.!But!in!doing!so,!he!is!still!subject!to!
the!same!rules!of!procedure.!He!cannot!claim!exemption.!
!
“Sec.(34,(Rule(138,(ROC(–(By(whom(litigation(conducted.(
Hin! the! court! of! justice! of! the! peace,! a! party! may! conduct! his! litigation! in! person,! with! the! aid! of! an! agent! or! friend!
appointed! by! him! for! that! purpose,! or! with! the! aid! of! an! attorney.! In! any! other! court,! a! party! may! conduct! his! litigation!
personally!or!by!the!aid!an!attorney,!and!his!appearance! may!either!be!personal!or!by!a!duly!authorized!member!of!the!
bar.”!
!
Justice!of!the!peace!=MTC.!Therefore,!Pro!Se!practice!is!allowed!before!ANY!COURT.!
A!non6lawyer!in!pro!se!practice!is!engage!in!the!practice!of!law?!FALSE!
!
In!a!litigation,!parties!may!personally!do!everything!during!its!progress!–from!its!commencement!to!its!termination.!When!
they,! however,! act! as! their! own! attornyes,! they! are! restricted! to! the! same! rules! of! evidence! and! procedure! as! those!
qualified!to!practice!law;!otherwise,!ignorance!would!be!unjustifiably!rewarded.!
Individuals!have!long!been!permitted!to!manage,!prosecute!and!defined!their!own!actions;!and!when!they!do!so,!they!are!
not!considered!to!be!in! the! practice!of!law.!“One!does!not!practice! law! by! acting!for!himself!any!more!that!he! practices!
medicine!by!rendering!first!aid!in!himself.!
!
While!Pro!Se!Practice!is!allowed,!it!is!not!advisable.!(In!Re:!Joaquin!T.!Borromeo,!241!SCRA!405)!
“A!little!learning!is!a!dangerous!thing.!He!who!acts!as!his!own!lawyer!has!a!fool!for!a!client.”!
!
!
NonIlawyers(who(are(authorized(to(appear(in(court:(
• GR:!a!nonHlawyer!may!represent!a!party!before!the!MTC!
Exc:!Criminal!case!
Exc!to!exc:!in!a!locality!where!a!licensed!member!of!the!Bar!is!not!available!
• Senior! law! student! –! enrolled! in! a! recognized! law! school’s! clinical! education! program! approved! by! the! SC! may!
appear!before!any!court,!tribunal,!agency,!office,!without!compensation,!to!represent!indigent!clients!accepted!by!
the!Legal!Clinic!of!the!school;!under!direct!supervision!and!control!of!an!IBP!member!duly!accredited!by!the!law!
school:!civil,!criminal!,!administrative!(Sec.!1,!Rule!138HA,!Rules!of!Court)!
o Before!RTC!and!higher!courts!–!must!be!accompanied!by!a!supervising!lawyer!in!all!h8is!appearance.!
In! all! courts! you! need! a! supervising! lawyer.! The! only! difference! is! whether! you! need! to! be! accompanied! by! a!
supervising!lawyer.!
• Labor!Code!–!1)!when!they!represent!themselves,!2)!they!represent!their!organization!or!members!thereof!with!
written!authorization!of!the!latter,!3)!duly!accredited!members!of!any!legal!aid!office!duly!recognized!by!the!DOJ,!
or!the!IBP!in!cases!referred!to!by!the!latter!
• Cadastral!ActH!a!nonHlawyer!can!represent!claimant!before!the!cadastral!court!
• Before!the!Department!of!Agrarian!Reform!Adjudication!Board!
!
!
Proceedings(where(lawyers(are(Prohibited(to(Appear:(
1.) Conciliation!proceedings!under!the!Katarungang!Pamgbarangay!Law;!
2.) Small!Claims!cases;!
3.) Indigenous!System!of!Settlement!(Sec.!10,!Rule!4,!NCIP!ADMINISTRATIVE!CIRCULAR!NO.!1H03)!pursuant!to!RA!8371,!
otherwise! known! as! “The! Indigenous! People! Rights! Act! of! 1997”.! As! a! general! rule,! lawyers! are! prohibited! to!
appear!any!party!as!counsel,!except!when!such!lawyer!is!appearing!in!his/her!capacity!as!a!member!of!the!council!
of! elders! or! due! to! his/her! obligation! as! member! of! the! IP! community! or! for! the! purpose! of! defending! or!
prosecuting!his/her!case.!
4.) Sec.!5(7)!on!Settlement!of!Money!Claims,!Guidelines!on!Insurance.!Rule!XVI!of!the!Omnibus!Rules!and!Regulations!
Implementing! the! Migrant! Workers! and! Overseas! Filipino! Act! HLawyers! for! the! insurance! for! the! insurance!
companies,!unless!the!latter!are!!impleaded!shall!be!prohibited!to!appear!before!the!NLRC!in!money!claims!cases!HH
H!
!
!
Let’s!start!with!the!CPR!
CHAPTER(ONE.(THE(LAWYER(&(SOCIETY(
CANON(1.(UPHOLD(THE(CONSTITUTION,(OBEY(THE(LAWS,(PROMOTE(RESPECT(FOR(LAW(AND(LEGAL(PROCESSES(
!
LAWYER’S!OATH!–!contains!in!capsule!from!the!ethical!standards!required!for!lawyers.!
1.) Not! to! unduly! delay! a! case! –! lawyer! was! reprimanded! when! he! used! his! legal! expertise! to! unnecessarily! and!
unjustly!delay!a!case!(Del!Mundo!vs.!CA,!252!SCRA!43)!
2.) To! delay! no! man! for! money! or! malice! –! a! lawyer! should! not! delay! a! case! just! because! he! may! not! be! paid! well!
because!the!legal!profession!is!not!a!moneyHmaking!profession.!But!this!does!not!mean!that!a!lawyer!cannot!reject!
a!case!the!facts!of!which!do!not!convince!him!to!be!meritorious.!If!a!lawyer!is!deliberately!not!paid,!the!honourable!
thing!for!him!to!do!is!desist!from!the!case!as!to!allow!the!client!to!employ!another!lawyer.!
3.) Do!no!falsehood!–!Moreno!vs.!Araneta!
!
!
• Bongalonta!vs.!Castillo!,!240!SCRA!310!
The!lawyer!in!this!case,!used!the!IBP!number!of!another!lawyer.!His!defense!is!that!it!is!his!secretary’s!fault!for!not!
paying! his! IBP! dues! and! for! erroneously! placing! in! his! pleading! the! IBP! number! of! his! associate.! The! secretary!
executed!an!affidavit!affirming!the!lawyer’s!contention.!
Ruling:!
As! employer! of! the! secretary,! the! lawyer! has! the! duty! to! supervise.! Secretary! is! not! the! guardian! of! the! lawyer’s!
responsibility.!
• Moreno!vs.!Araneta,!A.C.!No.!1109,!April!27,!2005!
!
!
DISCOURAGING(LAWSUITS(
IUnder(Rule(1.03(of(CPR,(a(lawyer(shall(not(for(any(corrupt(motive(or(interest,(encourage(any(suit(or(proceeding(or(delay(
any(man’s(cause.(
!
Ratio:!Not!to!clog!the!court’s!docket!with!cases!not!deserving!of!the!court’s!attention.!Clogging!of!dockets!result!to!slower!
administration!of!justice!which!translate!to!poor!service!to!the!public!by!the!court.!
!
Crime/Tort(of(MaintenanceI(Intermeddling(of(an(uninterested(party(to(encourage(a(lawsuit.(
A!lawyer!owes!to!the!society!and!to!the!court!the!duty!not!to!stir!up!litigation.!The!following!are!unprofessional!acts:!
1. Volunteering!advice!to!bring!lawsuit!except!when!ties!of!blood,!relationship!and!trust!make!it!a!duty!to!do!so.!
2. Hunting!up!defects!in!titles!or!other!causes!of!action;!to!breed!litigation!by!seeking!out!claims!for!personal!injuries!
3. Employing!agents!or!runners!
4. Paying!direct!or!indirect!reward!to!those!who!bring!or!influence!the!bringing!of!cases!to!his!office.!
5. Searching!for!unkown!heirs!and!soliciting!for!their!employment.!
!
Barratry!–offense!of!frequently!inciting!and!stirring!up!quarrels!and!suits;!fomenting!suits;!then!offering!his!legal!services!to!
one!of!the!parties.!
!
Ambulance(ChasingH!a!lawyer’s!act!of!figuratively!chasing!the!victims!of!an!accident!for!the!purpose!of!talking!to!the!victim!
or!the!latter’s!relatives!and!offering!his!legal!services!for!the!filing!of!the!cases!against!the!person!who!cause!the!accident.!
!
Recognized(evils(of(ambulance(chasing:(
1. Fomenting!of!litigation;!burden!on!courts!and!society!
2. Subornation!of!perjury!
3. Mulcting!of!innocent!persons!by!judgments,!upon!manufactured!causes!of!action!
4. Defrauding! of! injured! persons! having! proper! causes! of! action! but! ignorant! of! their! legal! rights! and! court!
procedures! by! means! of! contracts! which! retain! exorbitant! percentages! of! recovery! and! illegal! charges! for! court!
cost!and!expenses!and!by!settlement!made!for!good!returns!of!!fees!and!against!the!just!rights!of!the!injured.!
!
!
CANON(2.(MAKING(AVAILABLE(EFFICIENT(LEGAL(SERVICE(
Rule(2.01.(A(lawyer(shall(not(reject,(except(for(valid(reasons(the(cause(of(the(defenceless(or(the(oppressed(
• Valid! reasons! to! decline! engagement:! (Rule! 14.03! –! not! in! a! position! to! carry! out! the! work! effectively! or!
competently;!he!labors!under!a!conflict!of!interest!between!him!and!the!prospective!client!or!between!a!present!
client!!
• Most!exercise!the!same!degree!or!standard!of!diligence!accorded!to!paying!clients;!Legal!aid!is!not!a!charity!but!a!
public!service!
!
!
B.M.(No.(2012,(February(10,(2009,(PROPOSED(RULE(ON(MANDATORY(LEGAL(AID(SERVICE(FOR(PRATICING(LAWYERS(
!
All!practicing!lawyers!are!required!to!render!a!minimum!of!sixty!(60)!hours!of!free!legal!aid!services!to!indigent!litigants!in!a!
year.! Clerks! of! Court! and! the! IBP! Legal! Aid! Chairperson! of! IBP! Chapter! are! designated! to! coordinate! with! the! lawyer! for!
cases!where!he!may!render!free!legal!aid!service.!
!
Indigent!and!pauper!litigants!are!those!whose!gross!income!and!that!of!their!immediate!family!do!not!exceed!an!amount!
double! the! monthly! minimum! wage! of! an! employee! and! those! who! not! own! any! real! property! shall! be! exempt! from!
payment!of!docket!fee!and!other!legal!fees!as!well!as!transcripts!of!stenographic!notes.!
!
PENALTIES:!
A!penalty!of!P4,000!shall!be!imposed!on!the!lawyer!who!fails!to!meet!the!require!minimum!number!of!hours!of!legal!aid!
service!each!year!required!by!the!IBP!without!satisfactory!explanation.!The!lawyer!shall!have!a!“not!in!good!standing”!status!
and!shall!not!be!allowed!to!appear!in!court!or!any!quasiHjudicial!body!as!counsel!for!a!period!of!3!months.!A!lawyer!who!
fails!to!comply!with!the!duties!in!the!Rules!for!at!least!3!consecutive!years!shall!be!subject!to!disciplinary!proceedings!and!
may!be!suspended!from!practice!of!law!for!1!year.!!
!
!
Canon(2.03(Solicitation((discussed(together(with(Canon(3)(
!
Canon!2.04.!A!lawyer!shall!not!charge!rates!lower!than!those!customarily!prescribed!unless!the!circumstances!so!warrant.!
• Consider!the!IBP!Chapter!Local!Schedules!of!Attorney’s!Fees!
• To!avoid!demeaning!and!degrading!competition!
!
!
• Ulep!vs.!Legal!Clinic,!Inc.,!233!SCRA!378!
!
!
CANON(3.(USE(OF(TRUE,(HONEST,(FAIR(AND(OBJECTIVE(INFORMATION(IN(MAKING(KNOWN(HIS(LEGAL(SERVICES(
!
Advertising!
GR:!A!lawyer!cannot!advertise!his!talent,!as!he!is!a!member!of!an!honourable!profession!the!primary!purpose!of!which!is!to!
render!public!service!and!secure!justice;!remuneration!is!a!mere!incident.!
!
Exc:!(Forms!of!Permissible!Advertisement)!
1. Writing! legal! articles,! for! legal! publication! in! which! he! gives! information! about! the! laws! but! he! cannot! accept!
employment!from!such!publication!to!advise!inquirers!in!respect!to!individual!rights!of!persons!
2. Law!lists,!but!only!brief!biographical!and!informative!data!
3. Ordinary!professional!cards!
4. Notice!to!other!local!lawyers!and!publishing!in!a!legal!journal!!
5. Proffer!of!free!legal!services!to!the!indigent!even!when!broadcasted!over!the!radio!or!tendered!through!circulation!
of!printed!matter!to!the!general!public!
6. Simple!announcement!of!the!opening!of!a!law!firm!or!of!changes!in!the!partnership,!associates,!firm!name!or!office!
address,!being!the!convenience!of!the!profession!
7. Listing!in!a!phone!directory!of!his!name!but!not!under!a!designation!of!special!branch!of!law!
!
(
Solicitation(of(cases(constitutes(malpractice(
The!law!prohibits!lawyers!from!soliciting!cases!for!the!purpose!of!gain,!either!personally!or!through!paid!agents!or!brokers!
(Rule!138,!Sec.!27,!ROC)!
!
!
Use(of(Law(Firm(Name:(
1. 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!partner!is!permissible!provided!that!the!firm!indicates!in!all!its!communications!that!said!partner!is!
deceased.!This!rule!abandoned!the!doctrine!in!the!case!of!In!Re:!Sycip,!92!SCRA!1!(1979).!
2. Where!a!partner!accepts!public!office,!he!shall!withdraw!from!the!firm!and!his!name!shall!be!dropped!from!the!
firm!name,!unless!the!law!allows!him!to!practice!concurrently.!
Ex:! If! a! partner! appointed! as! Secretary! of! DENR,! should! his! name! be! dropped! in! the! name! of! the! law! firm?! Yes,!
because!under!the!Constitution,!members!of!the!cabinet!are!not!allowed!to!practice!law.!
If!appointed!as!Chairman!of!Civil!Service!Commission?!–!Yes!because!prohibition!under!the!Constitution.!
If!elected!as!City!Councillor?!No!need,!because!Sangunian!members!are!allowed!to!practice!law.!
If!elected!as!Brgy.!Captain?!No!need,!because!brgy.!Captains!are!allowed!practice!law.!Only!mayors!and!governors!
are!prohibited.!YOU!SHOULD!KNOW!THESE.!!
3. Filipino! lawyers! cannot! practice! law! under! the! name! of! a! foreign! law! firm,! as! the! latter! cannot! practice! law! in!
Philippines!and!the!use!of!a!foreign!law’s!firm!name!is!unethical.!
Regardless!if!such!lawyer!is!accredited!by!the!foreign!law!firm.!
!
!
CANON(5.(KEEP(ABREAST(OF(LEGAL(DEVELOPMENTS(AND(PARTICIPATE(IN(CONTINUING(LEGAL(EDUCATION(PROGRAM(
BAR(MATTER(850:(MANDATORY(CONTINUING(LEGAL(EDUCATION(,(August(8,(2000(
!
Requirements!for!Completion!of!MCLE:!at!least!36!hours!of!continuing!legal!education!activities!per!3!years:!
6!hours!–!legal!ethics!
4!hours!–!trial!and!pretrial!skills!
5!hours!–!alternative!dispute!resolution!
9!hoursH!updates!on!substantive!and!procedural!laws!and!jurisprudence!
4!hours!–!writing!and!oral!advocacy!
2!hours!–!international!law!and!international!law!and!international!conventions!
6!hours!–!other!subjects!as!may!be!prescribed!by!the!MCLE!Committee!
You!should!follow!the!breakdown!of!the!36!hours.!
!
EXEMPTIONS((Rule(7)(
SECTION(1.(Parties(exempted(from(the(MCLE.(II!The!following!members!of!the!Bar!are!exempt!from!the!MCLE!
requirement:!
(a)!The!President!and!the!Vice!President!of!the!Philippines,!and!the!Secretaries!and!Undersecretaries!of!Executive!
Departments;!
(b)!Senators!and!Members!of!the!House!of!Representatives;!
(c)!The!Chief!Justice!and!Associate!Justices!of!the!Supreme!Court,!incumbent!and!retired!members!of!the!judiciary,!
incumbent!members!of!the!Judicial!and!Bar!Council!and!incumbent!court!lawyers!covered!by!the!Philippine!Judicial!
Academy!program!of!continuing!judicial!education;!
(d)!The!Chief!State!Counsel,!Chief!State!Prosecutor!and!Assistant!Secretaries!of!the!Department!of!Justice;!
(e)!The!Solicitor!General!and!the!Assistant!Solicitors!General;!
(f)!The!Government!Corporate!Counsel,!Deputy!and!Assistant!Government!Corporate!Counsel;!
(g)!The!Chairmen!and!Members!of!the!Constitutional!Commissions;!
(h)!The!Ombudsman,!the!Overall!Deputy!Ombudsman,!the!Deputy!Ombudsman!and!the!Special!Prosecutor!of!the!Office!of!
the!Ombudsman;!
(i)!Heads!of!government!agencies!exercising!quasiHjudicial!functions;!
(j)!Incumbent!deans,!bar!reviewers!and!professors!of!law!who!have!teaching!experience!for!at!least!ten!(10)!years!in!
accredited!law!schools;!
(k)!The!Chancellor,!ViceHChancellor!and!members!of!the!Corps!of!Professors!and!Professorial!Lecturers!of!the!Philippine!
Judicial!Academy;!and!
(l)!Governors!and!Mayors.!
(
SEC.(2.(Other(parties(exempted(from(the(MCLE.(The!following!Members!of!the!Bar!are!likewise!exempt:!
(a)!Those!who!are!not!in!law!practice,!private!or!public.!
(b)!Those!who!have!retired!from!law!practice!with!the!approval!of!the!IBP!Board!of!Governors.!
(
Good(Causes(for(Exemption(from(or(Modification(of(Requirement:((Section(3)(
• Verified!Request!
• Grounds!
• Physical!disability!
• Illness!
• PostHgraduate!study!abroad!
• Proven!expertise!in!law!
In!a!case,!the!lawyer!indicated!in!the!pleading,!instead!of!putting!MCLE!compliance!certificate!number,!“MCLE!exemption!
application!pending.”!His!application!was!denied!and!so!he!filed!motion!for!reconsideration!for!the!denial!of!his!application!
for! exemption,! his! pleading! now! indicates! “MCLE! exemption! application! motion! for! reconsideration! pending.“! His! ground!
was!proven!expertise!of!experience!for!being!in!the!practice!for!50!years,!written!published!law!books!and!a!legal!counsel!of!
well6known! politicians! in! their! high6profiled! cases,! and! handled! noble! cases,! long! served! his! province! as! a! governor! and!
offered!a!seat!in!the!Supreme!Court.!!
Ruling:!
Proven!expertise!in!law,!under!this!rule,!refers!to!academic!qualifications.!
(
Consequences(for(NonIcompliance(
1. listed!as!delinquent!member!by!the!IBP!Board!of!Governors!upon!the!recommendation!of!the!Committee!on!MCLE!
!
The!listing!as!a!delinquent!member!is!administrative!in!nature!but!shall!be!made!with!notice!and!hearing!by!the!
Committee!on!MCLE.!
!
!
BAR!MATTER!NO.!1922,!
June!3,!2008!
"Bar!Matter!No.!1922.!–!Re:!Recommendation!of!the!Mandatory!Continuing!Legal!Education!(MCLE)!Board!to!Indicate!in!All!
Pleadings!Filed!with!the!Courts!the!Counsel’s!MCLE!Certificate!of!Compliance!or!Certificate!of!Exemption.!–!The!Court!
Resolved!to!NOTE!the!Letter,!dated!May!2,!2008,!of!Associate!Justice!Antonio!Eduardo!B.!Nachura,!Chairperson,!Committee!
on!Legal!Education!and!Bar!Matters,!informing!the!Court!of!the!diminishing!interest!of!the!members!of!the!Bar!in!the!MCLE!
requirement!program.!
The!Court!further!Resolved,!upon!the!recommendation!of!the!Committee!on!Legal!Education!and!Bar!Matters,!to!REQUIRE!
practicing!members!of!the!bar!to!INDICATE!in!all!pleadings!filed!before!the!courts!or!quasiHjudicial!bodies,!the!number!and!
date!of!issue!of!their!MCLE!Certificate!of!Compliance!or!Certificate!of!Exemption,!as!may!be!applicable,!for!the!immediately!
preceding!compliance!period.!Failure!to!disclose!the!required!information!would!cause!the!dismissal!of!the!case!and!the!
expunction!of!the!pleadings!from!the!records.!
The!New!Rule!shall!take!effect!sixty!(60)!days!after!its!publication!in!a!newspaper!of!general!circulation."!CaprioHMorales!
Velasco,!Jr.,!Nachura,!JJ.,!on!official!leave.!
Is!this!applicable?!NO.!IT!HAS!ALREADY!BEEN!CHANGED.!THE!CONTROLLING!RULE!IS!OCA(CIRCULAR(NO.(79,(2014.(Instead(
of(dismissal(of(the(case(or(expunction(of(the(pleadings(from(the(records,(the(consequence(is(only(fine(for(lawyers.(
OCA(CIRCULAR(NO.(79I2014(
The!following!rules!for!nonHdisclosure!of!current!MCLE!compliance/exemption!number!in!the!pleadings:(
(i)The!lawyer!shall!be!imposed!a!fine!of!P2,000.00!for!the!first!offense,!P3,000.00!for!the!second!offense!and!P4,000.00!for!
the!third!offense;!
(ii)!In!addition!to!the!fine,!counsel!may!be!listed!as!a!delinquent!member!of!the!Bar!pursuant!to!Section!2,!Rule!13!of!Bar!
Matter!No.!850!and!its!implementing!rules!and!regulations;!and!
(iii)!The!nonHcompliant!lawyer!shall!be!discharged!from!the!case!and!the!client/s!shall!be!allowed!to!secure!the!services!of!a!
new!counsel!with!the!concomitant!right!to!demand!the!return!of!fees!already!paid!to!the!nonHcompliant!lawyer.!
!
CANON(6.(APPLCABILITY(OF(THE(CPR(TO(LAWYERS(IN(THE(GOVERNMENT(SERVICE(
• A!lawyer!does!not!shed!his!professional!obligations!upon!assuming!public!office.!
• Lawyers! who! are! incumbent! judges! governed! by! the! Code! of! Judicial! Conduct.! Judges! cannot! be! investigated! by!
the!IBP!Commission!on!Bar!Discipline.!
!
Government! lawyers! are! prohibited! to! engage! in! private! practice! unless! authorized! by! the! Constitution! or! law,! provided!
that!such!practice!will!not!conflict!or!tend!to!conflict!with!their!official!functions!(Sec.!7!(bH2),!RA!6713)!
!
!
Canon(6.01.(Lawyers(engaged(in(public(prosecution(
• Primary!duty!is!not!to!convict!but!to!see!that!justice!is!done.!
• The! suppression! of! facts! or! concealment! of! witnesses! capable! of! establishing! the! innocence! of! the! accused! is!
highlyHreprehensible!and!is!a!cause!for!disciplinary!action.!
!
A!prosecutor!is!a!quasiHjudicial!officer.!
Thus,!he!should!seek!equal!and!impartial!justice.!He!should!be!as!much!concerned!with!seeing!that!no!innocent!man!suffers!
as!seeing!that!no!guilty!man!escapes.!
!
!
If!a!prosecutor!finds!that!there!is!no!sufficient!evidence:!
• In!the!preliminary!investigation:!resolve!to!the!effect!that!there!is!no!probable!cause.!
• If!case!has!already!been!filed:!file!a!motion!before!the!court!for!the!dismissal!of!the!action!
• If!case!on!appeal:!recommend!before!the!appellate!court!the!acquittal!of!the!accused.!
!
!
Canon(6.02.(
IA(lawyer(in(the(public(service(shall(not(use(his(public(position(to(promote(or(advance(his(private(interests,(nor(allow(the(
latter(to(interfere(with(his(public(duties(
!
GR:!a!lawyer!who!holds!a!government!office!may!not!be!disciplined!as!a!member!of!the!Bar!for!misconduct!in!the!discharge!
of!his!duties!as!a!government!official.!
Exc:!misconduct!is!of!such!character!as!to!affect!his!qualification!as!a!lawyer!or!to!show!moral!delinquency,!then!he!may!be!
disciplined!as!a!member!of!the!Bar.!
!
!
Canon(6.(03.(After(leaving(government(service,(a(lawyer(shall(not(accept(engagement(or(employment(in(connection(with(
any(matter(in(which(he(had(intervened(while(in(said(service.(
!
PCGG(vs.(Sandiganbayan(
G.R.(No.(151805((2005)(
Read(this(case(
• AdverseHinterest!conflicts!
• CongruentHinterest!conflicts!
!
(
Coverage(for(midterms:(
• Introduction!of!Judicial!ethics!
• Judicial!Ethics!
# Both!old!and!new!code!
• Administrative!liability!of!judges!
• Procedure!against!judges!
• Introduction!to!Legal!Ethics!!
• Canon!1H6!of!Legal!Ethics!
!
!
!
PALE%Transcript%for%Finals!
PELAEZ&Moot&Court,&2016!
February!11,!2016!
CANON!7!–!LAWYER’S!DUTY!AND!THE!LEGAL!PROFESSION!
!
To#Summarize:#
1. The#duty#to#uphold#the#integrity#and#dignity#of#the#legal#profession#and#support#the#IBP.#
2. Be#courteous,#fair#and#frank#to#fellow#lawyers.#
3. Not#to#assist#in#the#unauthorized#practice#of#law.#
4. Not#to#encroach#upon#the#employment#of#another#lawyer.#
#
Otherwise;#
F Denied#permission#to#take#the#Bar.#
F Not#allowed#to#take#oath.#
F Stricken#from#the#Roll#of#Attorneys.#
#
CANON! 7.! A! LAWYER! SHALL! AT! ALL! TIMES! UPHOLD! THE! INTEGRITY! AND! DIGNITY! OF! THE! LEGAL!
PROFESSION,!AND!SUPPORT!THE!ACTIVITIES!OF!THE!INTEGRATED!BAR.!
!
Rule! 7.01.! A! lawyer! shall! be! answerable! for! knowingly! making! a! false! statement! or! suppressing! a!
material!fact!in!connection!with!his!application!for!admission!to!the!bar.!
!
! This%rule%punishes%2%things:%#
1.%Misrepresentation%–%if%you%make%a%false%statement.%
2.%Concealment%–%suppression%of%material%fact.%
! Both%are%punishable.%So%in%your%petition%to%take%the%Bar,%do%not%make%any%misrepresentation%or%
concealment.%A%Bar%applicant%who%does%a%misrepresentation%or%concealment%in%the%application%to%
take%the%Bar%is%in%danger%of%violating%Rule%7.01.%
! Consequences:%%
H%if%not%yet%taken%the%Bar%and%the%concealment%or%misrepresentation%is%discovered:%He%will%not%be%
allowed%to%take%the%Bar.%
H%if%already%passed%the%Bar:%He%might%not%be%allowed%to%take%the%lawyer’s%oath.%
H%if%already%been%duly%admitted%to%the%Bar:%He%could%be%disbarred.%
! Example:%Under%oath%the%applicant%sworn%that%he%has%not%been%charged%with%any%offense%nor%is%
there%a%pending%case%against%him%but%in%reality%there%is%a%case%of%slight%physical%injury%pending%
against%him.%Because%of%this%concealment,%he%was%allowed%to%take%the%Bar%and%after%7%takes,%he%
passed%and%was%admitted%to%the%Bar.%Subsequently%though,%the%concealment%was%discovered%and%
he%was%disbarred.%LICENSE%REVOKED%(In%Re:%Ramon%Galang)%
! Example:% False% representing% that% he% has% finished% an% Arts% Degree% when% he% has% not.%
Misrepresentation%here%pertains%not%to%the%LLB%but%to%the%undergraduate%course%but%still%it%was%a%
misrepresentation%and%the%lawyer%was%disbarred.%STRICKEN%FROM%THE%ROLL%(Diso%vs.%Martinez)%
%
! Concealment% of% a% crime% not% involving% moral% turpitude% –% the% concealment% itself% is% evidence% of%
sufficient%lack%of%good%moral%character.%Thus,%it%is%still%not%an%excuse.%
%
Rule!7.02.!A!lawyer!shall!not!support!the!application!for!admission!to!the!bar!of!any!person!known!by!
him!to!be!unqualified!in!respect!to!character,!education,!or!other!relevant!attribute.!
!
! Violation#makes#a#lawyer#liable#for#disciplinary#action;#gross#misconduct#in#office.#(Rule#138,#Sec.#
27,#ROC)#
! This% is% still% in% keeping% with% the% lawyer’s% duty% to% uphold% the% integrity% and% dignity% of% the% legal%
profession.#
! If%a%lawyer%is%not%allowed%to%make%misrepresentation%and%concealment,%he%is%also%not%allowed%to%
support%an%applicant%to%the%Bar%whom%he%knows%is%not%qualified.%%
! Example:% Neighbor% asks% you% to% execute% the% testimonial% of% good% moral% character% but% you%
wondered%if%he%took%up%law%because%for%the%last%4%years,%almost%every%night%you%see%him%in%the%
street%corner%having%a%drinking%spree%with%friends%so%how%could%he%have%attended%law%school.%So%
you%asked%your%neighbor%what%school%did%he%graduate%from%and%he%answered%that%he%graduated%
in%San%Carlos.%You%asked%about%Joan%Largo%but%he%did%not%know%her%and%when%asked%about%the%
law%bldg.%he%answered%that%it%is%in%Talamban.%These%are%red%flags.%So%you%inquired%in%San%Carlos.%
Given%these%circumstances,%he%may%not%execute%the%testimonial%of%good%moral%character%because%
if%he%does%so,%he%may%be%held%liable%under%Rule%7.02.%%
%
Rule!7.03.!A!lawyer!shall!not!engage!in!conduct!that!adversely!reflects!on!his!fitness!to!practice!law,!
nor!shall!he,!whether!in!public!or!private!life,!behave!in!a!scandalous!manner!to!the!discredit!of!the!
legal!profession.!
!
! Commission# of# unlawful# act# though# not# related# to# the# discharge# of# professional# duties# which#
puts#his#moral#character#in#serious#danger#and#renders#him#unfit#to#continue#practice#of#law.#
! So%the%conduct%of%the%lawyer%can%always%be%subject%to%investigation%by%the%Supreme%Court.%The%
lawyer%cannot%say,%‘private%naman%ni.”#
#
!
THE!INTEGRATED!BAR!
!
! Official# state# organization# requiring# membership# and# financial# support# of# all# attorneys# as# a#
condition#precedent#to#the#practice#of#law.#
! National#organization#of#lawyers#(IBP)#created#January#16,#1973#pursuant#to#Rule#139FA,#ROC.#
! Constituted#as#body#corporate#by#the#issuance#of#PD#No.#181.#
!
!
Integration!of!the!BAR!
!
! Essentially# as# process# by# which# every# lawyer# is# afforded# an# opportunity# to# do# his# share# in#
carrying# out# the# objectives# of# the# BAR# as# well# as# obliged# to# bear# his# portion# of# its#
responsibilities.#
! Dictated# by# overriding# considerations# of# public# interest# which# justifies# the# restrictions# that#
integration#imposes#upon#the#personal#interests#and#convenience#of#the#individual#lawyers.#
! Mandated#by#the#Constitution#and#has#the#power#to#promulgate#rules.#
! You%are%a%lawyer,%you%passed%the%bar%but%you%are%not%really%working%as%a%lawyer.%Let%say%you%are%
working%as%a%doctor.%Are%you%required%to%pay%your%IBP%dues?%#
#
1.!In!Re:!Edillon#–#Edillon#refuses#to#pay#his#IBP#dues#claiming#that#it#is#a#violation#of#his#
freedom#of#association.#He#said#that#he#is#being#forced#to#join#the#IBP#when#he#does#not#like#the#
IBP#at#all.#He#also#said#that#it#is#a#violation#to#his#right#to#property#because#he#is#forced#to#part#
with#his#money#to#pay#for#his#dues.##
F SC#said#that#the#integration#of#the#bar#is#a#legitimate#exercise#of#police#power#to#regulate#an#
important#profession#which#is#the#legal#profession.#This#is#because#the#said#profession#works#
in# partnership# with# one# of# the# 3# branches# of# government.# The# activities# of# the# IBP# can#
benefit# not# only# the# lawyers# but# the# society# as# well.# It# has# legal# clinic,# legal# aid# work# and#
some# IBP# chapters# are# also# accredited# MCLE# providers.# (In% the% cases% of% legal% ethics,% you%
noticed%that%the%IBP%is%the%investigative%arm%of%the%Supreme%Court.%Before%the%Supreme%Court%
decides,%it%refers%the%case%to%the%IBP%to%make%a%report%and%recommendation).#
F As#to#the#violation#of#freedom#of#association,#the#SC#said#that#bar#integration#does#not#make#
a#lawyer#a#member#of#an#association#of#which#he#is#already#a#member.#In%other%words,%it%is%
not%the%doing%of%the%integration%that%a%lawyer%becomes%a%member%of%the%IBP.%This%is%done%by%
the%lawyer%himself%by%going%to%law%school,%by%taking%the%bar,%by%taking%the%lawyer’s%oath;%he%
is% automatically% admitted% as% a% member% of% the% IBP.% Integration% is% only% the% process% of%
organizing%the%lawyers%but%membership%in%the%IBP%is%the%doing%of%the%lawyer%himself.%So%how%
can%there%be%violation%in%the%freedom%of%association%when%the%lawyer%himself%made%himself%a%
member%of%the%IBP.%#
F SC#further#said#that#besides,#the#lawyer#is#not#forced#to#join#the#activities#of#the#IBP.#He#need#
not#vote#in#the#election#of#officers.#There#is#no#compulsion#EXCEPT#for#the#payment#of#IBP#
dues.#
F As#to#right#to#property,#SC#said#that#there#is#merit#to#the#argument#but#this#right#must#bow#
down#to#the#higher#right#of#the#State,#which#is#the#police#power.#
#
2.! Santos! vs! Llamas! (AC! No.! 4749)# –# the# lawyer# here# did# not# pay# his# IBP# dues# on# the#
ground# that# he# is# a# senior# citizen# and# thus,# he# must# be# exempted# because# under# the# Senior#
Citizens#Act,#senior#citizens#are#exempted#from#the#payment#of#income#tax.#Another#is#that#he#
claims#that#he#has#a#very#limited#practice#as#his#primary#livelihood#is#farming.#He#only#has#3#cases#
with#that#of#his#friends.#
F SC#said#that#this#he#should#still#pay#for#IBP#dues.##
#
#
#
# ##
#
DISTINCTIONS!BETWEEN!INTEGRATED!BAR!AND!OTHER!BAR!ASSOCIATION!(I.E.!FIDA,!YLAC)!
!
# # #
# INTEGRATED!BAR# BAR!ASSOCIATIONS#
Membership# Compulsory# # # # Voluntary#

Membership#in# # # Sine# qua# non# to# the# practice# of# No.#
Good#standing# law.#
# Violation# of# rules# on# integration# No.#
is#sufficient#cause#for#disbarment#
or#suspension.#
#
#
# # Shall# not# operate# at# cross#
purposes# with# the# IBP# and# they#
should#not#obstruct#or#defeat#the#
purposes#of#the#IBP.#
#
#
# ! ! ! !
# # #
CANON!8.!A!LAWYER!SHALL!CONDUCT!HIMSELF!WITH!COURTESY,!FAIRNESS!AND!CANDOR!TOWARDS!
HIS! PROFESSIONAL! COLLEAGUES,! AND! SHALL! AVOID! HARASSING! TACTICS! AGAINST! OPPOSING!
COUNSEL.#
!
Rule!8.01.!A!lawyer!shall!not,!in!his!professional!dealings,!use!language!which!is!abusive,!offensive!or!
otherwise!improper.!
!
! Should#be#observed#even#in#the#pleadings#that#lawyers#file.#
! Forceful#but#dignified,#emphatic#but#respectful#
! Clients,#not#the#lawyers,#are#the#litigants.##
#
Rule! 8.02.! A! lawyer! shall! not,! directly! or! indirectly,! encroach! upon! the! professional! employment! of!
another!lawyer;!however,!it!is!the!right!of!any!lawyer,!without!fear!or!favor,!to!give!proper!advice!and!
assistance!to!those!seeking!relief!against!unfaithful!or!neglectful!counsel.!
#
! Simply%put,%do%not%steal%clients%because%it%is%unethical.#
! Example:%A%client%consulted%you%regarding%her%case,%an%annulment%case,%which%is%pending%in%the%
RTC% and% she% told% you% that% she% already% had% a% lawyer% yet% she% discovered% from% a% very% reliable%
source% that% her% husband% secretly% met% with% her% lawyer.% She% continued,% and% said% that% she%
discovered%that%her%lawyer%is%helping%my%husband%to%get%custody%of%our%minor%children.%She%asked%
you%what%she%would%do.#
%
Give%your%honest%advice.%That%her%lawyer%did%not%do%the%proper%thing%because%her%lawyer%
owed% to% her,% his% 100%% loyalty% and% he% seeing% her% husband% without% her% knowledge% and% consent%
and% talking% about% the% custody% of% their% minor% children% is% contrary% to% her% interest.% The% lawyer% is%
being%unfaithful.%You%advise%her%to%fire%that%lawyer.%If%she%asks%you%to%be%her%lawyer%instead,%then%
you%may%accept.%You%are%not%considered%guilty%of%stealing%client%because%of%the%exception%in%Rule%
8.02%(“however”%part).%
%
! A# lawyer# shall# not# negotiate# with# opposite# party# who# is# represented# by# counsel,# without# the#
latter’s#knowledge#or#presence.%
! What%about%witnesses?%Can%you%interview%them%without%the%knowledge%of%the%other%party%or%the%
other%lawyer?%–%Yes,%there%is%no%prohibition%only%a%party.%
%
%
CANON!9.!A!LAWYER!SHALL!NOT!DIRECTLY!OR!INDIRECTLY!ASSIST!IN!THE!UNAUTHORIZED!PRACTICE!
OF!LAW.!
#
! Only%those%who%are%licensed%to%practice%law%can%practice%law.%
! A%lawyer%allows%her%paralegal%to%appear%as%counsel.#
! When%we%say%unauthorized%practice%of%law,%what%comes%to%our%minds%are%those%nonHlawyers%who%
masquerade%as%lawyers%but%lawyers%can%also%be%guilty%to%unauthorized%practice%of%law%when:#
1. lawyers%are%public%officials%and%their%positions%does%not%allow%concurrent%practice%of%law#
2. practice%of%law%during%the%period%of%his%suspension#
3. disbarred%lawyers%who%continue%to%practice%law#
#
Canon!9.01.!A!lawyer!shall!not!delegate!to!any!unqualified!person!the!performance!of!any!task!which!
by!law!may!only!be!performed!by!a!member!of!the!bar!in!good!standing.!
#
! Delegation#to#a#nonFlawyer,#or#to#a#disbarred#lawyer,#suspended#lawyer,#alien#lawyer#unethical#
! Example:% Paralegals% drafting% contracts,% petitions,% affidavits,% even% interviews% witnesses% and%
clients,%are%not%considered%unauthorized%practice%of%law%nor% is% it% considered% a% delegation% to% an%
unqualified% person% which% may% be% performed% only% by% a% member% of% the% bar,% because% they% are%
considered% employees% of% the% lawyer.% The% lawyer% is% responsible% and% owns% the% product% of% their%
paralegal’s% works.% They% ought% to% review% and% sign% them% thus;% they% are% deemed% owners% of% such%
works.#
#
Rule! 9.02.! A! lawyer! shall! not! decide! or! stipulate! to! divide! a! fee! for! legal! services! with! persons! not!
licensed!to!practice!law,!except:!
#
1. Where!there!is!a!prebexisting!agreement!with!a!partner!or!associate!that,!upon!the!latter’s!
death,! money! shall! be! paid! over! a! reasonable! period! of! time! to! his! estate! or! to! the!
persons!specified!in!the!agreement;!or!
! Example:% A% partner% died% leaving% minor% children% and% the% spouse% have% no% means% to%
support% the% family% as% she% is% a% fullHtime% wife,% and% so% the% partners% agreed% that% for% a%
period%of%5%years,%their%law%firm%will%give%20%%of%its%earnings%to%the%heirs%of%the%dead%
partner.%Not%allowed,%it%should%be%a%preHexisting%agreement.#
#
2. Where!a!lawyer!undertakes!to!complete!unfinished!legal!business!of!a!deceased!lawyer;!
or!
! Considered% an% exception% because% the% share% of% the% dead% lawyer% will% go% to% his% heirs%
who%are%nonHlawyers.#
#
3. Where!a!lawyer!or!law!firm!includes!nonblawyer!employees!in!a!retirement!plan,!even!if!
the!plan!is!based!in!whole!or!in!part!on!a!profit!sharing!arrangement.!
!
!
! General%Rule:%You%do%not%share%fees%with%unauthorized%persons.%
! Reasons:%1.%To%ensure%that%only%lawyers%can%do%legal%works.%Otherwise,%nonHlawyers%may%also%do%
legal% works% because% they% have% a% share% in% the% fees.% 2.% The% nonHlawyers% are% not% subject% to%
administrative%control.%
! Example:%Your%law%partner%is%disbarred%but%he%still%remains%in%the%law%firm%doing%clerical%works%
but%still%share%profits.%This%is%not%allowed%because%he%is%not%authorized%to%practice%law.%He%may%
only%receive%salary%as%a%paralegal.%
! Example:%Friends%who%has%referrals%for%notarization%of%documents%gets%a%share%in%the%notarial%fee.%
Not%allowed.%
%
%
CANON!10:!A!LAWYER!OWED!CANDOR,!FAIRNESS!AND!GOOD!FAITH!TO!THE!COURT.!
%
Rule!10.01.!A!lawyer!shall!not!do!any!falsehood,!nor!consent!to!the!doing!of!any!in!court,!nor!shall!he!
mislead!or!allow!the!court!to!be!misled!by!any!artifice.!
#
! When%can%we%honestly%say%that%justice%is%done%in%a%particular%case?#
H%If%the%truth%prevails.%How%can%there%be%justice%if%the%finding%of%facts%by%the%court%is%not%correct%
because% the% lawyer% did% not% present% the% correct% facts.% So% it% is% the% lawyer’s% duty% to% be% truthful,%
honest%and%candid%to%the%court,%with%the%end%view%that%the%truth%will%come%out%in%the%litigation%
and%ultimately%justice%will%be%served.%
%
! Cases#of#Falsehood:#
F Raising#issues#long#laid#to#rest#by#a#final#and#executory#judgment.#
F Making#it#appear#that#a#person,#long#dead,#executed#a#deed#of#sale#in#the#lawyer’s#favor.#
F Denying#having#received#the#notice#to#file.#
F Presenting#falsified#document#before#the#court.##
F There#could#also#be#criminal#liability#under#Article#184;#knowingly#offering#in#evidence#a#
false#witness#or#testimony#in#any#judicial#or#official#proceedings.#
Rule! 10.02.! A! lawyer! shall! not! knowingly! misquote! or! misrepresent! the! contents! of! a! paper,! the!
language!or!the!argument!of!the!opposing!counsel,!or!the!text!of!a!decision!or!authority,!or!knowingly!
cite!as!a!law!a!provision!already!rendered!inoperable!by!repeal!or!amendment,!or!assert!as!a!fact!that!
has!not!been!proved.!
#
! Example:%Taking%out%a%line%or%2,%or%a%paragraph%from%existing%jurisprudence%and%then%apply%it%to%
suit% your% argument.% It% is% also% possible% that% your% case% is% not% entirely% in% all% fours% with% that%
jurisprudence%that%you%just%cited%but%if%you%take%it%out%of%context%it%can%suit%your%arguments%and%
that%is%misquoting.%Misquoting%the%contents.#
! This%is%in%keeping%to%the%lawyer’s%duty%of%being%honest%to%the%court.#
! Take% note% of% the% word% “knowingly”;% maybe% not% under% Rule% 10.02% but% in% other% rules% such% as%
negligence%for%not%checking%the%quoted%lines%properly,%or%ignorance%of%the%law,%or%incompetence.#
#
#
Rule! 10.03.! A! lawyer! shall! observe! the! rules! of! procedure! and! shall! not! misuse! them! to! defeat! the!
ends!of!justice.!
#
! Litigation#is#not#a#gamble#of#technicalities.#
! Rules%of%procedure%can%be%abused%or%misuse%to%delay%or%defeat%the%ends%of%justice.#
! Eternal! Gardens! Memorial! Park! vs! Ca# F# there% is% already% a% decision% and% the% decision% was,%
“spouses%are%the%rightful%owners%of%the%property,%an%agricultural%land.%Must%be%turned%over%to%the%
spouses.”% Already% final% and% executory% and% so% a% writ% of% execution% was% issued% by% the% RTC,% but%
Eternal% Gardens% comes% in,% a% transferee% pendente% lite.% So% Central% Dying% sold% the% property% to%
Eternal%Gardens%while%the%case%was%pending%and%now,%it%cannot%accept%the%decision%and%filed%for%
MR%but%was%denied,%then%certiorari%and%MR%to%CA%also%denied%,%and%finally%to%SC%which%was%also%
denied.%The%courts%were%consistent%in%saying%the%case%is%already%final%and%executory,%thus,%does%
not%warrant%reHlitigation.%SC%said%that%as%transferee%pendente%lite,%Eternal%Gardens%is%bound%by%
the%judgment%then%the%case%was%remanded%to%RTC%for%execution%but%Eternal%Gardens%filed%for%the%
same% motions% until% it% again% reached% the% SC,% all% were% denied.% Then% third% cycle% went% on% same%
motions% were% made% until% it% again% reached% the% SC.% Because% of% these,% the% execution% of% the%
judgment% was% delayed% for% 15% years% and% in% the% interim,% what% was% once% an% agricultural% land%
became%a%cemetery.%#
#
SC#said#in#this#case#that#as#officers#of#the#court,#lawyers#have#a#responsibility#to#assist#in#
the#proper#administration#of#justice.#They#do#not#discharge#this#duty#by#filing#pointless#petitions#
that#only#add#to#the#work#load#of#the#judiciary#especially#this#Court#which#is#burdened#enough#as#
it# is.# A# judicious# study# of# the# facts# and# the# law# should# advise# them# when# a# case# such# as# this#
should# not# be# permitted# to# be# filed# to# merely# clatter# the# already# congested# judicial# dockets.#
They#do#not#advance#the#cause#of#law#or#their#clients#by#commenting#litigations#that#for#sheer#
lack#of#merits#do#not#deserve#the#attention#of#the#court.#
#
#
CANON! 11.! A! LAWYER! SHALL! OBSERVE! AND! MAINTAIN! THE! RESPECT! DUE! TO! THE! COURTS! AND! TO!
JUDICIAL!OFFICERS!AND!SHOULD!INSIST!ON!SIMILAR!CONDUCT!BY!OTHERS.!
#
! Lawyer’s#first#duty#is#to#the#courts.#
! This#duty#of#respect#applies#to#all#other#judicial#officers#who#take#part#in#the#judicial#work.#
! Obedience#to#the#court#orders#and#processes.#
! In!Re:!Almacen#–#criticisms#must#be#bona#fide#and#must#not#spill#over#the#walls#of#decency.%
%
Almacen% lost% the% case% and% filed% an% MR% but% he% failed% to% include% in% the% MR% a% notice% of%
hearing.% The% effect% was% that% the% MR% was% regarded% as% a% mere% scrap% of% paper% and% does% not%
interrupt%the%reglementary%period.%He%appealed%to%the%CA%was%denied%via%Minute%Resolution,%the%
same%case%in%the%SC.%But%Almacen%was%disappointed%with%the%decision%through%Minute%Resolution%
so%he%filed%a%petition%surrendering%his%license%as%a%lawyer%and%that%he%will%take%it%back%only%if%his%
trust% in% the% judiciary% is% restored.% Further% he% stated% that% his% client% has% become% a% victim% in% the%
judicial%system,%that%the%justices%are%hoodlum%in%robes,%etc.##
#
# Criticism#is#allowed#but#what#makes#it#wrong#in#the#case#of#Almacen#is#that#they#were#
not#bona#fide.#He#lost#the#case#not#because#of#the#doing#of#the#Court#but#because#he#bungled#it#
plus#the#language#was#very#improper.#
#
#
Rule!11.01!b!A!lawyer!shall!appear!in!court!properly!attired.!
!
Rule!11.02!b!A!lawyer!shall!punctually!appear!at!court!hearings.!
!
Rule! 11.03! b! A! lawyer! shall! abstain! from! scandalous,! offensive! or! menacing! language! or! behavior!
before!the!Courts.!
!
Rule!11.04!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!attribute!to!a!Judge!motives!not!supported!by!the!record!or!having!no!
materiality!to!the!case.!
#
! Example:%Saying%that%the%Judge%is%“bogo”%that’s%why%they%lose%the%case.#
! If%no%evidence%to%support%then%better%not%to%say%at%all%because%it%might%harm%the%reputation%of%
the%court.#
! IN!RE!ARGUAS,!1!PHIL.!1!Fthe#instructed#witness#not#to#look#at#defendant’s#lawyer#but#instead#
focus# his# attention# on# the# former.# When# the# witness# did# not# give# heed# to# the# warning,# judge#
arose#from#his#seat#and#grabbed#the#witness#by#the#shoulder..#Lawyer#asked#that#the#incident#be#
placed#on#the#record,#was#held#in#contempt.#
#
SC# ruled# that# such# act# of# insisting# that# the# matter# be# placed# on# record# is# not#
contemptuous.# Lawyers# must# however# be# courageous# enough# to# expose# arbitrariness# and#
injustices#of#judges.#
Rule!11.05.!A!lawyer!shall!submit!grievances!against!a!judge!to!the!proper!authorities!only.!
#
! You%don’t%go%to%the%radio%or%church%group.#
! Only%to%the%proper%authorities:#
F Supreme#Court#
F Office#of#the#Ombudsman##
Maceda#vs#Ombudsman#–#The#Ombudsman#can#investigate#judges#BUT#only#upon#prior#
referral#by#the#SC,#without#referral#it#cannot#investigate.#
F HR#&#Senate#–#for#SC#Justices#(impeachable#officers)#
#
!
RULE!12.!A!LAWYER!SHALL!EXERT!EVERY!EFFORT!AND!CONSIDER!IT!HIS!DUTY!TO!ASSIST!IN!THE!SPEEDY!
AND!EFFICIENT!ADMINISTRATION!OF!JUSTICE.!
!
Rule!12.01!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!appear!for!trial!unless!he!has!adequately!prepared!himself!on!the!law!
and!the!facts!of!his!case,!the!evidence!he!will!adduce!and!the!order!of!its!preferences.!He!should!also!
be!ready!with!the!original!documents!for!comparison!with!the!copies.!
#
Rule!12.02!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!file!multiple!actions!arising!from!the!same!cause.!
!
! ForumbShopping!b!as#a#result#of#or#in#anticipation#of#adverse#opinion#in#one#forum,#a#party#seeks#
favorable#opinion#in#other#forum(s)#on#the#gamble#that#one#will#render#a#favorable#disposition.#
! Shopping%for%a%friendly%court.#
! Evils#of#forumFshopping:#
1. Duplication#or#multiplication#of#suits#
2. Double#or#multiple#vexation#of#lawsuits#arising#from#only#one#cause#
3. Clogging#of#court#dockets#
4. Waste#of#time,#energy#and#resources#
5. Reprehensible#manipulation#of#court#processes#and#proceedings#
6. May#result#in##tribunals#rendering#conflicting#rulings#
! How#do#court#prevent#forumFshopping:#
F Under#the#ROC,#for#every#initiatory#pleading#must#be#accompanied#by#a#certification#of#
nonFforum#shopping.##
F If#no#certification#–#curable#by#amendment#
F Sec.# 5,# Rule#7,# ROC:#CERTIFICATION#OF#NON_FORUM#SHOPPING#in#initiatory#pleadings#
signed#by#the#party,#not#the#lawyer.#Otherwise:#
F##Failure#to#comply#not#curable#by#amendment.#
F#Dismissal#without#prejudice,#unless#otherwise#provided,#upon#motion#and#after#
hearing.#
F#Submission#of#a#false#certification/noncompliance#with#any#of#the#undertakings#
therein#F#indirect#contempt#of#court,#administrative#and#criminal#sanctions.#
F# Willful# and# deliberate# forumFshopping# F# summary# dismissal# with# prejudice,#
direct#contempt,#administrative#action#
!
Rule! 12.03! b! A! lawyer! shall! not,! after! obtaining! extensions! of! time! to! file! pleadings,! memoranda! or!
briefs,!let!the!period!lapse!without!submitting!the!same!or!offering!an!explanation!for!his!failure!to!do!
so.!
!
! There’s%a%case%of%a%lawyer%who%filed%3%motions%for%extension%to%file%his%comment%but%he%did%not%
file%a%comment%afterwards%and%no%explanation%was%given%why%he%was%not%able%to%do%so.%He%was%
found% guilty% of% a% violation% under% this% rule.% The% failure% gives% a% prima% facie% evidence% that% the%
lawyer%is%merely%delaying.!
!
Rule!12.04!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!unduly!delay!a!case,!impede!the!execution!of!a!judgement!or!misuse!
Court!processes.!
#
Rule! 12.05! b! A! lawyer! shall! refrain! from! talking! to! his! witness! during! a! break! or! recess! in! the! trial,!
while!the!witness!is!still!under!examination.!
#
! To#prevent#lawyers#from#teaching#or#coaching#witness#to#testify#in#his#favor#or#to#rectify#some#
mistakes#or#statements#damaging#to#his#cause.#
! In#the#last#analysis,#to#uphold#the#truth.#
!
Rule!12.06!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!knowingly!assist!a!witness!to!misrepresent!himself!or!to!impersonate!
another.!
!
! Lawyer#should#do#no#falsehood#nor#consent#to#the#doing#of#any#in#court.#
! Criminal#Liability:#
F Witness:#false#testimony#(Art#181,#182,#183#RPC,#depending#upon#the#nature#of#the#case)#
F Lawyer:#offering#false#testimony#in#evidence;#criminal#and#administrative#liability#
#
Rule!12.07!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!abuse,!browbeat!or!harass!a!witness!nor!needlessly!inconvenience!him.!
!
Rights!of!the!witness!under!the!Rules!of!Court!(Sec.!3,!Rule!132,!ROC)!
#
! To# be# protected# from# irrelevant,# improper# or# insulting# questions# and# from# harsh# and# insulting#
demeanor.#
! Not#to#be#detained#longer#than#the#interests#of#justice#requires.#
F Do%not%prolong%if%you%can%finish%right%away.#
! Not#to#be#examined#except#only#as#to#matters#pertinent#to#the#issue.#
F Relevant%questions%only.#
! Not# to# give# an# answer# which# will# tend# to# subject# him# to# a# penalty# for# an# offense# unless#
otherwise#provided#by#law.#
F Right%against%selfHincrimination#
! Not#to#give#an#answer#which#will#degrade#his#reputation,#unless#it#be#the#very#fact#at#issue#or#to#a#
fact#from#which#the#fact#in#issue#unless#would#be#presumed.#But#a#witness#must#answer#to#the#
fact#of#his#previous#final#conviction#for#an#offense.#
!
Rule.!12.08.!A!lawyer!shall!avoid!testifying!in!behalf!of!his!client,!except:!
#
a. On!formal!matters,!such!as!the!mailing,!authentication!or!custody!of!an!instrument,!and!the!
like;!or!
F Because%the%lawyer%is%in%the%best%position%to%be%informed%on%those%matters.#
#
b. On!substantial!matters,!in!cases!where!his!testimony!is!essential!to!the!interest!of!justice,!in!
which!event!he!must!during!his!testimony,!entrust!the!trial!of!the!case!to!another!counsel.!
F Example:%The%lawyer%is%the%only%witness.%#
F Take% note% that% the% lawyer% must% entrust% the% trial% to% another% counsel% because% it% will% get%
confusing%as%the%lawyer%will%be%asking%himself%during%trial.#
F The% lawyer% may% only% entrust% the% trial% to% another% lawyer% during% his% testimony% and% may%
not%be%on%the%entire%trial.#
F Example:%The%client%was%charged%with%attempted%murder%and%his%defense%was%denial%and%
alibi.% The% lawyer% executed% an% affidavit% that% he% was% with% the% client% and% that% they% were%
away%at%the%time%of%the%commission%of%the%crime.%Is%the%lawyer%guilty%of%Rule%12.08?#
F Santiago!vs!Rafanan!–%According%to%the%SC,%Rule%12.08%contemplates%of%a%situation%where%
there% is% already% a% trial;% this% rule% applies% only% when% there% is% a% pending% criminal% case% in%
court.%If%only%under%preliminary%investigation%this%rule%does%not%apply%thus,%the%affidavit%
of% the% lawyer% is% not% yet% a% violation% of% the% said% rule.% Also,% the% Court% said% that% the%
testimony%of%the%lawyer%is%essential%because%there%is%no%other%person%who%can%testify%as%
to%the%whereabouts%of%the%client%and%will%fall%under%paragraph,%should%the%case%graduate%
to%trial%but%he%must%entrust%to%another%lawyer%the%trial%during%his%testimony.%
#
! General%Rule:%A%lawyer%shall%avoid%testifying%in%behalf%of%his%client.#
! Reason:% Because% there% is% possible% inconsistency% between% the% role% of% the% lawyer% and% that% of% a%
witness.%A%lawyer%is%expected%to%be%bias,%a%partisan%or%a%favorite%but%a%witness%must%be%objective%
and%be%truthful,%not%to%have%any%favorites.#
! If% he% testifies% it% will% be% admitted% but% the% probative% value% or% weight% of% the% testimony% might% be%
affected%because%the%judge%may%see%bias%on%the%part%of%the%lawyer.#
#
#
CANON! 13! b! A! LAWYER! SHALL! RELY! UPON! THE! MERITS! OF! HIS! CAUSE! AND! REFRAIN! FROM! ANY!
IMPROPRIETY!WHICH!TENDS!TO!INFLUENCE,!OR!GIVES!THE!APPEARANCE!OF!INFLUENCING!THE!COURT!
!
Rule!13.01!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!extend!extraordinary!attention!or!hospitality!to,!nor!seek!opportunity!
for!cultivating!familiarity!with!Judges.!
! REASON:##To#protect#the#good#name#and#reputation#of#both#lawyer#and#judge.#
! To#avoid#misconstruction#of#motive#so#as#not#to#seriously#affect#the#confidence#of#the#litigants#
and#the#public#in#general#on#the#courts#and#justice#system.#
! Lantoria!vs.!Atty.!Bunyi#–#A#lawyer#prepared#draft#decisions#for#the#judge.#The#judge#requested#
it# because# he# is# so# busy.# The# lawyer# said# that# he# was# just# accommodating# the# request# of# the#
judge# and# no# corruption# happened.# Also,# he# claimed# that# the# judge# may# choose# to# ignore# the#
draft#decisions.#SC#said#that#these#were#not#valid#defenses.#Actual#influence#on#the#court#is#not#
necessary.#Appearance#of#influence#or#tends#to#influence#the#court#is#already#actionable.#
#
Rule!13.02!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!make!public!statements!in!the!media!regarding!a!pending!case!tending!
to!arouse!public!opinion!for!or!against!the!party.!
!
! Evil#sought#to#be#avoided#by#the#rule:#TRIAL#BY#PUBLICITY;#tending#to#arouse#the#media#
! Trial#by#Publicity#–#when#there#is#overwhelming#public#opinion#regarding#the#case.#
! Effect# of# Trial# by# Publicity# –# Judge# no# longer# decides# independently# based# solely# on# facts,#
evidence#and#law#but#also#his#decision#is#not#tainted#with#overwhelming#public#opinion.#
! Lawyers#who#are#interviewed#by#the#media#–#they#must#deliver#the#statement#to#the#media#so#as#
not# to# violate# this# rule# by# merely# quoting# the# statements# and# argument# already# found# in# the#
pleadings,#do#not#go#beyond#the#pleadings.#
! When#is#trial#by#publicity#prejudicial?#There#must#be#allegation#and#proof#that#the#judges#have#
been#unduly#influenced,#not#simply#that#they#might#be,#by#the#barrage#of#publicity.#
#
13.03!–!A!lawyer!shall!not!brook!or!invite!interference!by!another!branch!or!agency!of!the!government!
in!the!normal!course!of!judicial!proceedings.!
#
! The%courts%are%supposed%to%be%independent%and%the%lawyer%must%respect%this.%#
! Example:% Writing% to% the% Office% of% the% President% asking% him% to% intervene% in% the% judicial%
proceedings.%#
! This%will%be%violative%of%the%judicial%independence%that%the%judiciary%must%have.#
! Aggrieved%lawyers%must%go%to%the%Supreme%Court,%which%is%the%proper%authority.#
#
March!03,!2016!
LAWYER!AND!THE!CLIENT!
#
Duties!of!the!lawyer!to!a!client!
#
Canon%14% A%lawyer%shall%not%refuse%his%services%to%the%needy.%
%
Rule%14.01% A%lawyer%shall%not%decline%to%represent%a%person%solely%on%account%of%the%latter’s%race,%
sex,%creed,%or%status%of%life,%or%because%of%his%own%opinion%regarding%the%guilt%of%said%person.%
#
Are#lawyers#compelled#to#accept#all#cases?#
F#Not#really#
What#is#prohibited#under#14.01#is#declining#cases#based#on#the#enumerated#grounds.#Otherwise#it#is#
very#discriminatory#for#the#lawyer#to#decline#cases#based#solely#on#sex,#creed,#status,#or#etc.##
#
Can#a#refuse#to#represent#an#accused#on#the#sole#reason#that#he#believes#the#latter#to#be#guilty?#
#
F# No.# There# is# the# presumption# of# innocence# before# proven# guilty.# An# innocent# person,# who# is# a#
victim# only# of# suspicious# circumstances# might# be# denied# of# proper# defense# if# lawyers# are# allowed# to#
decline#just#because#mukhang#guilty.#
#
F# NO,# otherwise,# the# lawyer# assumes# the# character# of# a# judge.# Innocent# persons# who# are# victims#
only# of# suspicious# circumstances# might# be# denied# proper# defense.# The# lawyer# should# defend# the#
accused# by# all# means# that# the# law# permits# regardless# of# his# personal# opinion# as# to# the# guilt# of# the#
accused.#
#
Remember:#just#because#a#lawyer#cannot#decline#a#case,#it#does#not#give#the#lawyer#the#license#to#
resort# to# unethical# and# illegal# means# to# defend# his# client# which# he# thinks# is# guilty.# “Mura# man# jud# nig#
guilty#akong#client,#mapugos#na#lang#jud#ko#anig#pamakak#sa#akong#defense.##
#
The# lawyer# could# ensure# that# they# invoke# the# proper# defenses;# avail# the# mitigating# circumstance#
which#are#in#the#client’s#favor;#yes#the#client#is#guilty#but#the#crime#has#prescribed,#that’s#a#ground#to#
quash#an#information#or#move#to#dismiss#the#criminal#case;#the#penalty#has#prescribed;#the#information#
does#not#allege#an#offense;#the#information#was#filed#by#a#person#unauthorized.#These#are#the#grounds#
under#the#rules#of#court#that#you#can#invoke,#regardless#if#your#client#is#guilty#or#not.##
#
What#if#the#lawyer#is#certain#that#the#client#is#guilty#because#he#confessed?#Can#the#lawyer#refuse#the#
case?#
F#If#the#lawyer#discovers#that#his#client#is#guilty,#he#should#continue#with#the#defense#and#use#all#fair#
and# reasonable# means# in# doing# so;# see# to# it# that# due# process# is# observed# and# that# he# is# accorded# the#
correct#penalty.#If#prosecution#fails#to#prove#the#guilt#beyond#reasonable#means,#then#invoke#for#client’s#
acquittal.#Under#such#circumstance,#the#accused#is#legally#entitled#to#an#acquittal.##
#
Example#Situation:#
The#client#confessed#that#he#forged#the#document.#The#prosecution#on#the#other#hand#submitted#
evidence.#What#evidence?#A#mere#photocopy#of#the#original#document;#not#even#a#certified#photocopy.#
As#defense#counsel#what#should#you#do?##
#
F# You# can# object# to# the# evidence.# Or# move# for# the# acquittal# of# the# client.# Why?# Because# the#
evidence# is# insufficient.# It# is# because# if# we# are# talking# about# forgery,# the# best# evidence# is# the# original#
copy#or#at#the#very#least#a#certified#copy.##
#
Is#this#rule#(the#rule#that#you#cannot#decline#a#case#just#because#the#client#is#at#fault/guilty)#applicable#in#
civil#cases?##
F#NO.#In#civil#cases,#it#is#the#lawyer’s#duty#to#counsel#or#maintain#such#actions#or#proceedings#only#as#
appear#to#him#to#be#just,#and#such#defenses#that#he#believes#are#honestly#debatable#unde#the#law.#The#
lawyer’s#signature#in#a#pleading#is#deemed#a#certification#by#him#that#he#has#read#the#pleading,#that#to#
the#best#of#his#knowledge,#information#and#belief,#there#is#good#ground#to#support#it.##
#
Rule%14.02% A%lawyer%shall%not%decline,%except%for%serious%and%sufficient%cause,%an%appointment%as%
counsel%de%oficio%or%as%amicus%curiae,%or%a%request%from%the%Integrated%Bar%of%the%Philippines%or%any%of%
its%chapters%for%rendition%of%free%legal%aid.%%
#
If#you#are#appointed#as#counsel#de#officio#or#amicus#curae,#do#not#decline#except#you#have#sufficient#
cause.##
#
Can#an#accused#refuse#a#counsel#de#oficio?#
#
F#Yes#if#he#wants#to#hire#a#counsel#of#his#own#choice,#he#cannot#be#compelled#to#accept#counsel#de#
oficio.#But#the#accused#cannot#use#to#this#as#means#to#delay#a#case#or#defeat#the#proceedings.##
#
Can#the#judge#assign#a#lawyer#to#render#free#legal#aid#to#destitutes#or#indigents#in#civil#cases?#
F#Yes,#under#Section#31#Rule#138#where#the#services#of#counsel#are#rendered#to#attain#the#ends#of#
justice.#
But#it’s#no#longer#called#counsel#de#officio.#Counsel#de#oficio#is#for#criminal#cases#only.#But#the#judge#
can#also#assign#a#lawyer#to#civil#case#and#look#at#the#ground#it’s#very#broad;#so#it’s#on#the#discretion#of#
the#judge.#
#
Rule%14.03% A%lawyer%may%not%refuse%to%accept%representation%of%an%indigent,%unless:%
A.)%he%is%not%in%a%position%to%carry%out%the%work%effectively%or%competently;%
B.)%he%labors%under%a%conflict%of%interest%between%him%and%the%prospective%client%
% or%between%a%present%client%and%the%prospective%client.%
#
Concept#of#Conflicting#Interests#
F#when#the#lawyer#would#argue#a#claim#on#one#hand#and#would#have#to#argue#the#defense#against#
such#claim#on#the#other#hand.##
#
Example:##
A#case#where#the#lawyer#is#counsel#for#complainant.#But#it#was#found#out#that#the#same#lawyer#
also#prepared#the#answer#for#the#complaint.#His#defense:#gi#print#ra#sa#opisina,#dili#siya#ang#gahimo#
atu.#Tenable#defense?#NO.#Another#defense:#I#am#not#the#counsel#of#record#for#both#parties.##
SC# said:# For# there# to# be# conflict# of# interest,# it# is# not# required# that# you# should# be# counsel# of#
record#for#both#parties,#otherwise,#we#will#only#be#punishing#the#most#obvious#form#of#conflict#of#
interest.#And#kani#bayang#conflict#of#interest,#this#is#usually#done#covertly#(done#secretly#but#not#on#
record).##
#
Rule%14.04% A%lawyer%who%accepts%the%cause%of%a%person%unable%to%pay%his%professional%fees%shall%
observe%the%same%standard%of%conduct%governing%his%relations%with%paying%clients.%
#
F#same#degree#of#diligence#or#care#should#be#given#to#paying#and#nonFpaying#clients#
#
CANON%15N%A%lawyer%shall%observe%candor,%fairness,%and%loyalty%in%all%his%dealings%and%% % %
% % % % transactions%with%his%clients.%%
#
Rule%15.01% A%lawyer%in%conferring%with%a%prospective%client%shall%ascertain%as%soon%as%practicable%
whether%the%matter%would%involve%a%conflict%with%another%client%or%of%his%own%interest%and%if%so%shall%
so,%forthwith%inform%the%prospective%client.%
%
F#This#is#logical.#While#talking#to#a#client,#you#realize#there#is#conflict#of#interest,#you#should#stop#it#
right#then#and#there.#It#would#be#unethical#for#a#lawyer#if,#after#realizing#that#there#is#conflict#of#interest,#
the#lawyer#would#still#ask#for#more#questions#and#ask#for#more#information.#Because#it#is#unfair#to#the#
person#giving#the#information.#
#
Example:#
#
In#a#labor#case,#there’s#one#complainant#and#several#respondents#in#a#labor#case.#The#lawyer#of#the#
complainant# is# a# counsel# of# one# of# the# respondents.# His# theory# is# that# the# complainant# and# this# one#
respondent#are#in#the#same#footing#because#according#to#him,#his#client#who#is#one#of#the#respondents#is#
not#guilty.#There#is#colorable#truth#to#his#theory#because#the#LA’s#decision#found#the#respondents#guilty#
except#his#client.#So#according#to#him,#there#is#no#conflict#of#interest.##
#
SC#said,#notwithstanding#that#defense,#the#records#of#the#case#are#clear#that#he#filed#the#complaint#
and#as#counsel#of#one#of#the#respondent,#he#filed#a#motion#to#dismiss#his#own#complaint.#And#as#counsel#
of# the# complainant,# he# filed# an# opposition# to# his# motion# to# dismiss.# Then# several# other# pleadings# that#
quarrel#with#one#another#filed#by#one#lawyer.##
#
Can#a#lawyer#represent#conflicting#interests?#
F#GR:#NO.#
Exc:#Rule#15.03#by#written#consent#of#all#concerned#given#after#a#full#disclosure#of#the#facts.##
#
What#if#you#are#the#long#time#lawyer#of#two#companies.#All#of#a#sudden#nagkihaay#ang#duha.#Then#you#
are#representing#both#of#them.#Is#there#a#conflict#of#interest?#
F#YES.#So#you#should#inform#them#of#the#conflict#of#interest.#
#
Can#you#represent#both#of#them?#
F#Yes.#If#they#give#a#written#consent,#after#full#disclosure#of#the#fact.##
#
Can#you#choose#which#among#the#two#will#you#represent?#
F#Yes.#But#still#with#the#written#consent#of#both#clients.##
#
#
Rule%15.03% A% lawyer% shall% not% represent% conflicting% interests% except% by% written% consent% of% all%
concerned%given%after%a%full%disclosure%of%the%facts.%%
%
Representing!conflicting!interests!is!a!criminal!offense.!!
Betrayal!of!Trust!by!an!Attorney.!Art.!209,!RPC!
Treachery!and!doublebdealing!is!condemned.!!
%
Example:#
#
Yesterday:# A# mayor# of# a# municipality# went# to# your# office# for# consultation# about# their# project# for#
computers.#The#project#went#through#proper#bidding,#but#the#prices#is#not#reasonable#because#it#is#overF
priced.# And# there# is# a# business# man# who# complained# about# the# bidding# process.# You# advised# him# na#
overFpriced# jud,# and# the# specs# are# not# remarkable# at# all.# Mahal# ra.# So# the# mayor# responded# and# said#
that#he#will#not#hire#you#anymore#as#his#counsel.#
#
Today:# # A# business# man# paid# you# a# visit.# He# said# that# he# is# engaged# in# a# business# of#
selling#computers.#He#said#he#participated#in#the#procurement#of#computers#in#a#certain#municipality.#He#
said#he#had#the#lowest#bid#with#very#good#specs.#Then#you#realized#that#he#was#referring#to#the#project#
of#the#mayor#who#talked#to#you#yesterday.#So#the#business#man#wants#to#hire#the#lawyer.#He#wants#to#
file#a#case#against#the#municipal#officials.##
#
Should#you#take#the#case?#Is#there#conflicting#interests?#The#mayor#did#not#hire#you.#Is#it#your#fault#na#
wala#ka#gi#hire#ni#mayor?#
F#The#answer#is#in#Hilado#vs#David.#Where#the#lawyer#did#not#accept#the#case#but#he#represented#the#
adverse#party#after#consultation#by#the#other.#
#
Hilado%v%David:%
It# is# not# essential# that# the# client# should# have# employed# or# paid# the# lawyer# professionally;# mere#
onsultation# suffices# to# establish# a# lawyerFclient# relationship.# Lawyer# should# not# represent# conflicting#
interests.#The#lawyer!need!not!be!employed,!he!need!not!even!be!paid.!The#duty#not#to#represent#the#
conflicting#interest#is#already#there.#MERE!CONSULTATION!SUFFICES!TO!ESTABLISH!A!LAWYER!CLIENT!
RELATIONSHIP.# There# being# such# relationship,# there# is# already# the# duty# not# to# represent# a# conflicting#
interest.#
#
F# It# applies# during# consultation# and# even# after# the# clientFlawyer# relationship# is# terminated.# It#
outlasts#the#relationship.##
#
Example:#
#
Two# brothers# are# charged# with# murder.# They# are# represented# by# the# # long# time# lawyer# of# their#
faamily.#They#are#Brothers#A#and#B.#In#the#witness#stand,#A#testified#and#dropped#a#bomb#shell#saying#
“Dili# ko# guilty.# Ako# rang# brother# ang# guilty.”# This# caught# the# lawyer# by# surprise.# Then# the# prosecution#
manifested#that#they#will#utliize#A#as#a#state#witness.##
#
Can#the#same#lawyer#represent#A#and#B?#
F# NO.#There#is#already#conflict#of#interest.#Unless#they#give#their#written#consent.##
#
Rule%15.02% A%lawyer%shall%be%bound%on%the%rule%on%the%privilege%communication%in%respect%of%the%
matters%disclosed%to%him%by%a%perspective%client.%%
#
This#is#the#attorneyFclient#privilege#
#
What#is#covered?##
F#All#forms#of#communication.#
If#the#lawyer#is#asked#to#disclose#the#privileged#communication,#who#will#give#consent?##
F#The#client.#
#
If#the#clerk,#stenographer,#or#lawyer’#secretary#is#asked#to#disclose,#who#will#give#the#consent?##
# F#Both#lawyer#and#client.#
#
What#is#this#rule#and#where#do#we#find#this?#
! b!Found#in#Sec.!24!Rule!130!of!the!Rules!of!Court.!
!
An#attorney#cannot,#without#consent#of#his#client,#be#examined#as#to#any#communication#made#by#the#
client# to# him# or# his# advice# given# thereon# in# the# course# of# OR# WITH# A# VIEW# TO# PROFESSIONAL#
EMPLOYMENT.#
#
This#tells#us#that#attorney#client#relationship#already#exist#even#if#it#is#still#during#consultation.#The#client#
need#not#hire#the#lawyer#in#the#end#or#the#lawyer#need#not#take#the#case,#as#long#as#there#have#been#
communication#with#a#view#to#professional#employee#
#
Are#pleadings#confidential?#
F#Before#they#are#filed#in#court,#they#are#confidential.#
#
#
LIMITATIONS#TO#CONFIDENTIAL#PRIVILEGE#–#not#all#communications#are#privileged.#
Basic!Limitations:!
1. The!purpose!must!be!to!seek!legal!advice!
2. It!does!not!extend!to!communication!of!future!crimes!
3.! Privilege!also!apply!to!law!students!under!Law!Students!Practice!Rule.!
F# When# you# reach# 4th# year,# you# will# be# handling# cases# but# remember# that# the# privilege# also#
apply#to#you.#
#
Purpose:!
1.! To!encourage!clients!to!fully!disclose!to!the!lawyer!without!fear.!
2.! To! enable! counsel! to! obtain! information! so! as! not! to! be! mislead! in! the! evaluation! of! the!
! merits!or!demerits!of!the!client!
!
• A# lawyer# can# only# have# a# true# appreciation# of# the# client’s# case# if# he# knows# all# the# pertinent# facts.#
And#only#if#the#lawyer#can#know#the#pertinent#facts#that#he#can#arrive#for#workable#strategy#on#how#
to#manage#and#handle#the#case.#
• So#if#the#client#withholds#valuable#information,#that#can#be#the#skew#of#the#lawyer’s#picture#of#the#
case.#And#it#is#unfair#on#the#part#of#the#lawyer.#
• To# know# a# valuable# information# the# first# time# the# client# testifies,# there# is# a# danger# that# all# the#
strategy#is#thrown#out#of#the#window#kay#mausab#tanan#if#di#sya#kahibaw.#
#
• 2!Fold!Purpose:!In#favor#of#both#lawyer#and#client#
!
Regala%vs%Sandiganbayan%N#the#issue#is:#Whether#the#identity#of#the#client#is#covered#by#the#attorneyF
client#privilege?#Can#the#lawyer#even#refuse#to#disclose#the#identity#of#his#client#by#invoking#the#attorneyF
client#relationship?#
#
If!your!answer!is!YES,!is!there!exceptions?!If!NO,!exceptions?!
!
GR:!Lawyers!may!not!refuse!to!divulge!the!identity!of!his!client!
F# As#a#matter#of#public#policy,#a#client's#identity#should#not#be#shrouded#in#mystery:#
1.!The!court!has!a!right!to!know!that!the!client!whose!privileged!information!is!sought!to!be!protected!
in!flesh!and!blood.!
2.!The!privilege!begins!to!exist!only!after!the!attorneybclient!relationship!has!been!established.!
3.!The!privilege!generally!pertains!to!the!subject!matter!of!the!relationship!
4.! Due! process! considerations! require! that! the! opposing! party! should,! as! a! general! rule,! know! his!
adversary.!
#
EXCEPTIONS!
1.#When#there#is#a#strong#probability#exists#that#revealing#the#client's#name#would#implicate#that#client#in#
the#very#activity#for#which#he#sought#the#lawyer's#advice.#
2.#Where#disclosure#would#open#the#client#to#civil#liability.#
3.# Where# the# government's# lawyers# have# no# case# against# an# attorney's# client# unless,# by# revealing# the#
client's# name,# the# said# name# would# furnish# the# only# link# that# would# form# the# chain# of# testimony#
necessary#to#convict#an#individual#of#a#crime.#
Other!Exceptions!
Fthe#content#of#any#client#communication#to#a#lawyer#lies#within#the#privilege#if#it#is#relevant#
to#the#subject#matter#of#the#legal#problem#on#which#the#client#seeks#legal#assistance#
Fwhere#the#nature#of#the#attorneyFclient#relationship#has#been#previously#disclosed#and#it#is#the#identity#
which#is#intended#to#be#confidential,#the#identity#of#the#client#has#been#held#to#be#privileged,#since#such#
revelation#would#otherwise#result#in#disclosure#and#the#entire#transaction.#
*information#relating#to#the#identity#of#a#client#may#fall#within#the#ambit#of#the#privilege#when#
the# client's# name# itself# has# an# independent# significance,# such# that# disclosure# would# then# reveal# client#
confidences.#
#
#
Rule%15.04% A%lawyer%may,%with%the%written%consent%of%all%concerned,%act%as%mediator,%conciliator,%
or%arbitrator%in%settling%disputes.%
%
Rule%15.05% A%lawyer%when%advising%his%client,%shall%give%a%candid%and%honest%opinion%on%the%merits%
and% probable% results% of% the% client’s% case,% neither% overstating% nor% understating% the% prospects% of% the%
case.%%
F#This#is#the#duty#of#being#honest#to#your#client.#Do#not#give#the#client#that#which#he#wants#to#hear.#
Do#not#overstate#and#do#not#understate.##
#
A#man#is#shot#dead#in#Colon.#There#is#now#preliminary#investigation#for#a#complaint#for#murder#against#
the# shooter.# The# shooter# goes# to# a# lawyer# and# seeks# for# his# advice.# What’s# the# evidence# against# the#
shooter?# Then# the# prospective# client# aid,# there# is# an# eye# witness# about# 50# of# them.# And# all# of# them#
already#executed#affidavit.#What#else?#CCTV#footage.#And#the#lawyer#said,#“Don’t#worry#you#will#not#go#
to#jail.#Ang#katung#mga#ebidensya#wala#tuy#silbi.”#F#this#is#overstating.##
F# The#lawyer#is#giving#false#hope#to#the#client#and#to#you#the#lawyer#–#He#is#subjecting#himself#to#
unnecessary# stress# and# pressure# to# win# because# he# promised# that# a# difficult# case# is# winnable.# And#
because#of#too#much#pressure,#the#lawyer#might#push#him#to#resort#to#extraFlegal#means#just#to#make#
good#of#his#false#prediction.#
#
If#you#lose#–#What#will#the#client#think#of#the#lawyer?#F#Incompetent,#bakakon,#neglectful#because#how#
did#he#lose#a#case#which#he#represented#as#winnable.#
#
What#about#understating?#
F#The#heirs#of#the#victims#go#to#the#lawyer#and#hired#him#as#their#counsel.#With#the#same#evidence.#
Then# the# lawyer# said,# “Sus# kalisod.# Mao# ra# jud# na# inyong# ebidensya?# I’ll# just# do# my# best# pero# lisod#
kaayo.”#
What#is#wrong#with#understating?#This#time#the#client#is#subjected#to#unnecessary#stress.#What#is#
the#usual#reaction#of#a#stressed#client?#He#will#seek#2nd,#3rd,#etc#opinion.#Then#what#if#they#give#honest#
opinion?#The#client#will#think#that#the#1st#lawyer#is#incompetent#and# he#will#be#enticed#to#transfer#the#
representation#of#his#case#to#another#lawyer.##
!
But!even!though!it!is!not!written!in!any!code,!it’s!common!sense!that!you!should!not!promise!a!
victory.! Because! the! lawyer! is! not! an! ensurer! of! the! outcome! of! the! case.! There! are! many! factors!
beyond!the!lawyer’s!control.!So!how!do!you!correctly!do!it?!
b!You!can!perhaps!give!the!client!the!pros!and!cons!of!his!case.!You#can#do#that#in#a#subtle#way#without#
promising#any#victory#by#telling#him#the#strength#and#weakness#of#the#case.#It’s#up#to#the#client#to#think#
the#outcome.#
#
Rule%15.06% A%lawyer%shall%not%state%or%imply%that%he%is%able%to%influence%any%public%official,%tribunal%
or%legislative%body.%
F# This# is# because# a# case# should# be# won# based# on# merit# and# not# because# the# lawyer# knows# he#
judge#or#arbiter.#Example:#“Kanang#mga#labor#arbiter#diha,#ako#man#nang#mga#classmates#sauna.#Kusug#
pa#jud#na#mangopya.#I#can#just#give#them#a#call”#F#unethical#
##
Rule%15.07% A%lawyer%shall%impress%upon%his%client%compliance%with%the%laws%and%the%principles%of%
fairness.%
F# It#is#the#lawyer#who#should#hold#the#rail.#The#client#should#yield#to#the#lawyer#and#not#the#other#
way#around.##
#
Wicker%vs%Arcangel%
―I%was%just%Lawyering.%I%was%just%serving%as%a%mouth%piece%of%my%client%+%contemptuous%statements%
against%the%judge.%F#not#a#valid#defense#
#
Lawyers!should!advice!client!on!matters!of!decorum!and!proper!attitude!towards!courts!of!justice!
• Let’s# say# the! lawyer! must! curve! the! client’s! desire! to! publicize! the! litigation.# Curve! the! clients!
desire!to!match!on!the!streets!and!rally.!
There’s#a#particular#case#where#a#union#has#a#pending#appeal#in#the#CA#and#dugay#na#kaau,#wala#pa#juy#
action# sa# CA.# so# the# Labor# Union# went# to# their# lawyer,# that# he# will# stage# a# picket# before# the# CA# to#
remind#them#of#their#case#and#position.#The#lawyer#advised#them#to#pursue#with#the#picket#because#it#is#
their#right#to#peaceably#assemble,#it#is#also#an#exercise#of#their#freedom#of#speech#and#expression.#
#
Supreme#Court#held#that#it#is#UNETHICAL#for#the#lawyer#to#make#such#advice.#The#lawyer#should#know#
that#Picketing#and#Rallying#before#courts#and#any#other#quasiFjudicial#agencies#are#forms#of#influence#on#
such#forum.#
b! Remember!that!even!the!appearance!of!influencing!the!court!is!already!unethical.!You!do!not!
prove!actual!influence!on!the!court#
#
Rule%15.08% A% lawyer% who% is% engaged% in% another% profession% or% occupation% concurrently% on% the%
practice%of%law%shall%make%clear%to%his%client%whether%he%is%acting%as%a%lawyer%or%in%another%capacity.%
F## Remember#lawyers#may#practice#other#professions.#But#they#must#make#it#clear#to#the#client#in#
what#capacity#are#they#acting#on,#whether#as#a#lawyer#or#in#another#capacity.#
F# This#is#to#protect#the#client.##
#
Make#it#appear#to#the#lawyer#if#you#are#still#being#a#lawyer#or#you#are#not#being#a#real#estate#agent#or#an#
insurance#agent.#
Example:#
#―Mam,#mao#ni#nahitabo#sa#atong#kaso.#Naghearing#yesterday#and#these#are#blah#blah#
blah..#Do#you#have#any#questions?#―No#more#attorney,#everything#is#perfect,#thank#you#
o#―so#wala#na#man#kay#questions#mam,#karun#naa#koy#baligya#nimo#nga#yuta#(sales#talk#dayun)‖#
!
b! In!this!case,!the!lawyer!must!make!it!clear!that!this!time!around,!he!is!
no!longer!acting!as!a!lawyer!but!rather,!acting!as!a!real!estate!agent!
whose!primary!purpose!is!to!sell!and!to!profit.!
b! This#is#also#in#order#for#client#to#be#wary.#“Ay#dili#na#ko#motuo#aning#attorney#oi,#namaligya#na#ni#
siya.”#
#
#
CANON%16% % A%lawyer%shall%hold%in%trust%all%money%and%properties%of%his%client%may%% %
% % % come%into%his%possession%
%
In#so#far#as#his#client#is#concern,#there#are#DUAL!ROLES!OF!THE!LAWYER:!
1.# that! of! a! fiduciary! or! a! trustee! –# at# most# good# faith# and# fidelity# on# the# part# of# the# lawyer;# strict#
compliance#with#canon#14F22#
2.!as!agent!of!the!client!–!to#appear#in#court#as#representative#of#the#client,#binds#the#client#in#matters#of#
judicial#proceedings;##
#
Foremost,#a#lawyer#is#more#than#an#ordinary#agent,#he#is#an#officer#of#the#court.#
!
Regala%vs%Sandiganbayan%
The#Supreme#Court#made#it#clear#that#the#lawyer#is#more#than#an#ordinary#agent,#he#is#an#officer#of#the#
court.#The#lawyer#controls#the#case#and#if#his#client#insists#on#illegal#means,#it#is#the#lawyer’s#ethical#duty#
not#to#follow#the#client’s#instructions.#
#
An#ordinary#agent#would#have#to#follow#principal#instructions.#But#the#lawyer#may#or#may#not#follow;#it#
depends#on#the#lawyer’s#discretion.#IT’S#MORE#THAN#AN#ORDINARY#AGENT.#
#
EXAMPLES!WHERE!A!LAWYER!BREACH!HIS!CLIENT’S!TRUST!IN!TERMS!OF!
HANDLING!MONEY!OF!THE!CLIENT!
!
1.!Misappropriation!by!lawyer!of!rentals!
F# This#happened#in#an#ejectment#case#to#evict#a#tenant#or#leasee#who#has#not#been#paying#rentals#
which#violated#the#contract.#An#incidental#relief#would#be#the#payment#of#the#unpaid#rentals#while#the#
case# is# still# pending.# Unknown# to# the# client# who# is# the# landlord,# the# tenant# has# been# paying# to# the#
lawyer.#The#lawyer#did#not#tell#his#client#and#instead#used#it#for#himself.#
#
F# It#even#constraint#the#client#to#look#for#another#lawyer#just#so#he#can#file#a#collection#suit#against#
his#other#lawyer.#
!
2.!Securing!money!from!client!for!fictitious!bond!and!appropriating!the!same!
F# Misappropriating#money#given#by#client#to#be#used#for#amicable#settlement.#In#fact,#the#
lawyer#did#not#even#attempt#to#enter#into#amicable#settlement#and#just#pocketed#the#same.#
#
Rule%16.01% A%lawyer%shall%account%for%all%money%or%property%collected%or%received%for%or%from%the%
client.%
%
Why#should#he#account?#
F#because#the#money#or#the#property#is#not#his.##
#
Rule%16.02% A% lawyer% shall% keep% the% funds% of% each% client% separate% and% apart% from% his% own% and%
those%of%others%kept%by%him.%
#
No#coFmingling#of#funds#–#do#no#mingle#your#own#funds#with#client#funds#or#if#you#are#handling#funds#of#
different#client,#keep#all#of#them#separate.#
#
REASONS:!!
1. To#avoid#confusion#
## F# How#much#go#to#whom?#How#much#do#I#own#here#and#how#much#will#go#to#my#client?#
2.#To#prevent#temptation#on#the#part#of#the#lawyer#to#appropriate#client#funds.#
#
CONSEQUENCES!OF!UNLAWFUL!RETENTION!OF!CLIENT!FUNDS!
violation#of#Canon#16,#ADMINISTRATIVE#LIABILITY#
!
Can#it#constitute#contempt#of#court?#
! b! YES.!It#is#a#ground#for#indirect!contempt!of!court.#It#is#the#officer#of#the#court#who#
misbehaves#in#his#official#functions.#There#could#be#also#criminal#and#civil#prosecution.#If#all#
elements#of#Estafa#are#there,#then#he#can#also#be#sued#for#Estafa.#
#
Can!a!lawyer!borrow!money!from!the!client?!
! b! NO.#
!
Reasons:!
• The#lawyer#might#take#advantage#of#his#legal#superiority.#
• There#is#also#moral#ascendancy.#
• There#can#also#be#an#undesirable#effect#on#the#lawyer.#
!
Exceptions:!
#1.# If#the#client’s#interests#are#fully#protected#by#the#nature#of#the#case#or#by#independent## #
# advice.#
F# Let’s#say#your#client#is#a#bank.#Ofcourse#the#bank#also#has#other#lawyers#who#will#protect#
its#interests.#You#are#considered#to#be#equally#balanced.##
#
Can!the!lawyer!lend!money!to!his!client?#
GR:!NO,#same#reason#why#he#cannot#borrow.#
Exception:!When#in#the#interest#of#justice,#he#has#to#advance#necessary#expenses#in#a#legal#matter#he#is#
handling#for#his#client.#
• You#have#to#represent#the#case#in#Tacloban.#You#need#10K#for#air#fare#then#additional#amount#for#
your#accomdation.#But#the#client#said#he#has#no#money.##
#
Can#the#lawyer#shoulder#the#expense#and#extend#it#by#way#of#a#loan?##
F# YES.#Ako#lang#sa.#Pero#kung#naa#na#ka#kwarta,#bayri#jud#dayon#ko.#Allowed?#Yes#in#the#interest#of#
justice#he#has#to#advance#the#expenses.#It#is#in#the#legal#matter#he#us#handling#for#the#client.##
!
Client#borrow#money#from#lawyer#because#fiesta#na#sa#ila.#Can#the#lawyer#lend?##
b! NO,!the#law#is#very#particular.#The#loan#must#be#necessary,#a#legal#expense#in#a#
legal#matter#that#the#lawyer#is#handling.#
#
Can# a# lawyer# enter# into# business# transaction# with# the# client?# Example,# they# will# open# a# restaurant.#
Capital#ang#sa#client,#and#lawyer#ang#chef.#
b! YES,!it#is#allowed#because#there#is#no#prohibition.#He#is#not#barred#from#dealing#with#his#client#
but# he# transaction# must# be# exercised# with# outmost# honesty# and# good# faith.# Much# higher# standard# of#
good#faith#required.##
#
What# if# the# business# of# the# lawyer# is# lending?# Pwede# sya# kapahulam# sa# iyang# client# (kay# different#
business#transaction#man#na?#
F# The#law#that#will#apply#is#16.04.#You#cannot#lend#to#a#client#bisag#your#business#is#lending#pa#na.#
Basta#imong#client,#dili#ka#kapahulam.##
#
#
#
16.03%A%lawyer%shall%deliver%the%funds%and%property%of%his%client%when%due%or%upon%demand.%However,%
he%shall%have%a%lien%over%the%funds%and%may%apply%so%much%thereof%as%may%be%necessary%to%satisfy%his%
lawful%fees%and%disbursements,%giving%notice%promptly%thereafter%to%his%client.%He%shall%also%have%a%lien%
to%the%same%extent%on%all%judgments%and%executions%he%has%secured%for%his%client%as%provided%for%in%the%
Rules%of%Court.%
!
black!font!–!General!Rule!
red!and!blue!–!Exceptions!–!instances!that!the!lawyer!can!retain!funds!and!property!of!the!client!
Redb!retaining!lien!
Blue!b!charging!lien!
!
2!KINDS!OF!ATTORNEY’S!LIENS!
!
1. RETAINING!LIEN!–#also#known#as#the#general#or#a#possessory#lien.#This#is#the#right#of#the#lawyer#to#
withhold# his# clients’# property# (funds# and# documents)# that# lawfully# comes# to# his# possession# until#
payment#of#his#attorney’s#fees.#
#
Why!the!recognition!of!the!attorney’s!lien?!
FIt#is#but#not#natural#that#the#lawyer#be#secured#in#the#fruits#of#his#professional#labor.#
FProper#administration#of#justice#cannot#be#secured#without#an#intelligent#and#prosperous#bar.#
(STANSELL!VS!ROACH,!29!ALR!143)#
#
Example:#
The#lawyer#has#in#his#possession#the#client’s#original#title#to#his#property.#Months#later,#the#lawyer#
does#not#need#the#title#anymore#however,#wa#nay#bayad2#ang#client#sa#attorney’s#fees.#Then#the#client#
wants#to#get#back#the#title#because#he#needs#it.#So#the#lawyer#says#he#will#return#his#title#if#the#client#will#
pay#his#attorney’s#fees.#
#
Can#the#lawyer#do#that?#
! b! Yes.#That#is#the#Retaining#Lien.#The#lawyer#can#retain#funds#and#documents#of#the#client#
until#he#is#paid#of#his#attorney’s#fees.#
#
2.!CHARGING!LIEN!–!also#known#as#special#particular#possessory#lien#
bthis#is#the#right#of#the#lawyer#to#request#the#court#to#annotate#his#claim#for#attorney’s#fees#in#what#ever#
recoveries#made#by#the#client#prom#the#losing#adversary.#
F#it#is#but#natural#that#the#lawyer#be#secured#of#the#fruits#of#his#labor#
F#purpose#is#to#make#it#easier#for#the#lawyer#to#collect,#kay#naa#man#jud#clients#na#difficult#payers##
#
A!lawyer!shall!have!a!lien:!
• upon!all!judgments!for!the!payment!of!money,!and!executions!issued!in!pursuance!thereof!which!
he!has!secured!in!a!litigation!for!his!client!from!and!after!the!time!when!he!shall!have!caused!a!
statement! of! his! claim! of! such! lien! to! be! entered! upon! the! records! of! the! court! rendering! such!
judgment,!or!issuing!such!execution!and!shall!have!caused!written!notice!thereof!to!be!delivered!
to!his!client!and!to!the!adverse!party.!
!
4!REQUISITES:!
1.# the#lawyer#has#won#the#case#for#the#client,#it#is#already#final#and#executor#
2.# it#is#a#money#judgment#
3.# the#lawyer#must#annotate#his#claim#for#attorney’s#fees#in#the#record#of#the#case#
4.# written#notice#to#the#losing#party#and#to#his#client#
!
Q:!If#the#lawyer#has#done#all#four,#what#is#the#effect?#
A:!The#lawyer#now#gets#a#portion#of#the#winnings#to#the#extent#of#his#unpaid#attorney’s#fees.#
#
Example:#
The# lawyer# has# won# the# case# for# the# client# and# the# judgment# award# is# 100K.# The# lawyer# has# an#
amount#of#unpaid#attorney’s#fees#of#30K,#he#annotate#his#claim#and#give#written#notice#to#his#client#and#
the#losing#party.#
#
Q:!What#is#the#effect?#
A:!The#lawyer#gets#30K,#only#70K#goes#to#his#client.#
#
RATIONALE!OF!ATTORNEY’S!LIEN:!
It#is#but#natural#that#the#lawyer#shall#be#secured#of#fruits#of#his#professional#labor.#Di#man#jud#pwede#nga#
cge# lang# jd# kag# pro# bono.# You# have# to# earn# a# livelihood.# Used# to# pay# his# legal# staffs# also.# It# does# not#
mean#nga#pro#bono#man#to#nmu,#pro#bono#ra#pd#sa#imo#staffs,#it#cannot#be.#
#
BASIS:!Rules#of#Court#
An!attorney!shall!have!a!lien!upon!the!funds,!documents,!papers!of!his!client!which!have!lawfully!
come!to!his!possession!and!may!retain!the!same!until!he’s!lawful!fees!and!disbursements!have!been!
paid!and!may!apply!such!funds!to!such!satisfaction!thereof.!
The#lawyer#shall#have#the#same#right#and#power#over#such#judgments#and#executions#as#his#clients#would#
have#in#order#to#enforce#his#liens#and#secure#the#payment#of#his#just#fees#and#disbursements.#
#
As#a#result#a#legal#fiction#is#created.#It#is#as#if#the#lawyer#won#or#the#prevailing#party#litigant#in#the#case.#
But#the#execution#of#the#money#judgment#in#his#favor#extends#only#in#so#far#as#the#amount#of#his#fees#
and#disbursements.#
#
LIMITATIONS!OF!A!RETAINING!LIEN!
1.!funds,!documents,!papers!only!
#F# if# a# lawyer# has# in# his# possession# a# car# of# the# client,# because# the# case# involves# collision.# The#
lawyer# needs# to# conduct# ocular# inspection# on# the# car.# But# later# on# the# client# did# not# pay.# The# lawyer#
decided#that#he#will#not#return#the#car#unless#he#is#paid#of#attorney’s#fees.#–#NOT#ALLOWED#BECAUSE#IT#
IS#ONLY#LIMITED#TO#FUNDS,#DOCUMENTS#AND#PAPER#ONLY,#NOT#ON#OTHER#KINDS#OF#PROPERTIES#
#
2.! the! thing! retained! should! have! lawfully! come! into! possession! of! the! lawyer! under! circumstances!
consistent!with!the!enforcement!of!a!lien!for!services!
F# thus#a#retaining#liens#does#not#apply#to#funds#coming#into#the#lawyers#possession#in#trust##
example:#the#lawyer#took#a#part#of#the#amount#which#was#supposed#to#be#paid#for#the#capital#gains#tax#
para# bayad# iyahang# attorney’s# fees,# ang# ending# kuwang# ang# nabayad# sa# sa# BIR# F# Proper# exercise# of#
retaining#lien?#No#because#the#fund#was#already#alloted#and#in#trust#for#a#particular#purpose.#He#should#
devote#the#fund#for#that#particular#purpose#so#he#cannot#exercise#his#retaining#lien.#
#
3.!a!lawyer!cannot!retain!files!that!the!client!needs!to!pursue!his!case!
#So#if#the#client#fires#you#and#he#needs#the#files,#you#did#not#give#it#because#of#his#unpaid#dues.#But#the#
client#needs#the#documents#to#pursue#his#case.#Then!there!can!be!no!retaining!lien.!
!
CHARGING!LIENS!
1.!the!lawyer!has!won!the!case!for!the!client,!it!is!already!final!and!executory!
2.!it!is!a!money!judgment!
3.!the!lawyer!must!annotate!his!claim!for!attorney’s!fees!in!the!record!of!the!case!
4.!written!notice!to!his!client!AND!TO!THE!ADVERSE!PARTY!
#
F# The# lawyer# shall# have# the# same# right# and# power# over# such# judgments# and# executions# as# his#
client#would#have#in#order#to#enforce#his#need#
F# So#a#legal#fiction#is#created#–#it!is!as!if!the!lawyer!won!or!is!the!prevailing!party!litigant!in!the!
case!–!but#the#execution#of#money#judgment#in#his#favor#is#only#as#so#far#as#the#amount#of#his#fees.#
#
Let’s#say#all#the#requisites#have#been#complied#with#but#the#losing#party#paid#the#entire#money#judgment#
to#the#client.#
Q:!Can#the#lawyer#still#collect#FROM#THE#LOSING#PARTY?#
A:!YES,!because#that’s#the#effect#of#a#charging#lien.#The#losing#party#cannot#claim#ignorance#because#he#
has#been#notified#but#nonetheless#he#paid#everything#to#the#winning#party.#
#
REMEDY! OF! THE! LOSING! PARTY:! Reimbursement# from# the# winning# party# on# the# ground# of# UNJUST#
ENRICHMENT.#
#
Q:!Do#you#consider#amicable#settlement#as#a#winning#claim?#
A:!Go#back#to#the#rules#of#court.#It#says#all#judgments#for#the#payment#of#money#which#he#has#secured#
for#his#client.#
Fstrictly#construe#–#it!refers!only!to!decisions!rendered!by!the!court!
!
LIMITATIONS!ON!THE!CHARGING!LIEN!
1.!applies!only!to!a!specific!action!in!which!the!charging!lien!is!entered!Let’s#say#the#lawyer#is#handling#
many# cases# for# the# client.# They# have# won# Case1# and# the# charging# lien# is# recorded# therein.# Then# the#
lawyer#realizes#that#he#has#still#unpaid#attorney’s#fees#in#Case2,#3,#4,#up#to#10#and#he#also#applied#the#
charging#liens#to#them.#
Q:!can#that#be?#
A:!NO,!because#it#is#a#particular#lien,#applicable#only#to#that#case#where#it#is#recorded.#
!
2.!Favorable!money!judgments!and!execution!pursuant!thereto!
The# lawyer# won# the# case# for# the# client# and# the# dispositive# portion# says,# ―wherefore! premises!
considered,!the!marriage!of!A!and!B!is!considered!null!and!void!by!reason!of!psychological!incapacity.!
So!ordered.!
Q:#Can#there#be#charging#lien?#
A:#NO.#It#is#not#a#money#judgment.##
#
bb! “wherefore,! premises! considered,! the! contract! between! complainant! and! defendant! is!
declared!valid!and!hence,!defendant!is!directed!to!repair!the!vehicle!of!the!complainant!in!accordance!
with!the!provisions!of!the!contract”!
!
Q:# Can#there#be#a#charging#lien?#
A:# NO.#not#a#money#judgment#but#for#specific#performance#
#
Q:# Damages?#
A:# Yes#
#
DISTINGUISH!RETAINING!LIEN!AND!CHARGING!LIEN!
!
! RETAINING!LIEN! CHARGING!LIEN!
Nature! Passive!! Active!
General! Specific!
Basis! Lawful!possession!of!papers,!documents,! Securing! favorable! money!
and!funds!belonging!to!client! judgment!for!client!
Coverage! Only!documents,!papers!and!funds!in!the! Covers! all! judgments! for! the!
lawful! possession! of! the! lawyer! by! payment! of! money! and!
reason!of!his!professional!employment! executions!pursuant!thereto!
Effectivity! As!soon!as!lawyer!takes!possession! As! soon! as! claim! for! lien! is!
entered! into! the! records! of! the!
case!
Notice! Client!need!not!be!notified! Client! and! adverse! party! must!
notified!
Applicability! May! be! exercised! before! judgment! Exercised! only! when! lawyer! has!
execution!or!regardless!thereof! already! secured! a! favorable!
money!judgment!!
!
!
!
RL!–!passive!and#general!
vs! CL!–!active!in#the#sense#that#it#does#not#become#effective#without#any#action#on#the#part#of#the#
lawyer#and#specific!because#it#pertains#only#to#the#case#in#which#it#is#recorded#
##
BASIS!OF!RL!–!lawful#possession#of#papers#documents#and#funds#belonging#to#the#client#
!
BASIS!OF!A!CL!–!favorable#money#judgment#
#
COVERAGE!OF!RL!–!documents#papers#funds#
COVERAGE!OF!CHARGING!LIEN!–!money#judgments#
!
When!does!RL!take!effect?!–!As#soon#as#the#lawyer#takes#possession#
When!does!CL!take!effect?!–!As#soon#as#it#is#annotated#in#the#records#of#the#case#
Is!notice!required!for!RL?!NO,!it#becomes#automatic#as#soon#as#the#lawyer#takes#possession.#
Is!notice!necessary!before!CL!can!be!imposed?!!
b! Yes.!Notices#to#the#LOSING!PARTY!AND!TO!THE!CLIENT.!
!
APPLICABILITY!OF!RL!–!maybe#exercised#before#judgment#or#execution#or#regardless#thereof#
#
Can#you#exercise#RL#even#if#you#are#not#handling#litigation#for#the#client?#–#Let’s#say#simply#advisory,#but#
you#have#funds#and#documents#of#your#client##
–#YES.!It!is!not!dependent!on!any!favorable!outcome!of!the!litigation.!
!
APPLICABILITY!OF!CL!–!there#must#be#a#favorable#money#judgment#
#
Canon%17% % A%lawyer%owes%fidelity%to%the%cause%of%his%client%and%he%shall%be%mindful%of%the%%
% % % trust%and%confidence%reposed%in%him.%%
%
Canon%18%% % A%lawyer%shall%serve%his%client%with%competence%and%diligence.%%
%
Rule%18.01%N%A%lawyer%shall%not%undertake%a%legal%service%which%he%knows%or%should%know%that%he%is%not%
qualified% to% render.% However,% he% may% render% such% service% if,% with% the% consent% of% his% client,% he% can%
obtain%as%collaborating%counsel%a%lawyer%who%is%competent%on%the%matter.%
%
A#lawyer#is#not#required#to#be#competent.#However,#if#you#can#say#that#you#are#not#competent#in#
that# field# of# law# anymore,# then! do! not! undertake! legal! service.! Lawyers# are# only# human;# you# cannot#
expect#him#to#know#all#cases.##This#is#possible#if#you#specialize#a#certain#field#of#law,#and#you#feel#you#are#
no# longer# qualified# to# take# cases# from# another# field.# It# would# be# unethical# for# a# lawyer# to# take# a# case#
knowing#that#he#is#not#competent#to#handle#it.#
!
Q:!But#can#he#still#handle#it#even#if#he#is#incompetent?#
A:!YES.!but#he#must#he#collaborating#counsel#who#is#competent#of#that#matter#with!the!consent!of!the!
client.#
#
Rule%18.02% % A%lawyer%shall%not%handle%any%legal%matter%without%adequate%preparation.%
%
Rule%18.03% % A%lawyer%shall%not%neglect%a%legal%matter%entrusted%to%him,%and%his% %
% % % % % negligence%in%connection%there%with%shall%render%him%liable.%
%
Effects!of!negligence!and!incompetence!of!a!lawyer:!
• disciplinary#action#against#the#lawyer#
• malpractice#suit#for#damages#
• a#criminal#conviction#may#be#set#aside#
• a#retrial#may#be#had#in#civil#cases#
(the#last#two#of#the#enumeration#are#more#of#exceptions#than#general#rule,#they#happen#in#very#
rare#and#exceptional#circumstances)#
#
EFFECTS!OF!NEGLIGENCE!AND!INCOMPETENCE!OF!A!LAWYER:!
1.!Obviously,!you!have!administrative!liability!
2.!There!could!be!a!malpractice!suit!for!damages!–!CIVIL!SUIT!
!
Generally,!a#criminal#conviction#is#not#set#aside,#no#retrial#will#be#held#in#civil#cases#but#in#exceptional!
circumstances,#it#has#been#known#to#happen.##
!
3.!Criminal!conviction!may!be!set!aside!if!the!errors!of!the!defense!counsel!were!so!shocking!that!they!
deprived!the!accused!of!the!constitutional!right!to!effective!counsel!
#
You#can#set#aside#conviction#but#it#must#be#proven#that#the#counsel’s#acts#or#omissions#were#outside#the#
range# of# professionally# competent# assistance.# And# the# negligence# must# have# an# actual# effect# on# the#
outcome#of#the#case,#not#just#a#conceivable#or#a#speculated#effect#on#the#outcome#of#the#case.##
#
So#this#is#more#of#an#exception#kay#usually#mupadayon#ra#jud#ang#kaso.##
#
Example:#
A#lawyer#who#simply#forgot#the#case.#Which#explain#why#he#wasn’t#able#to#appear#hearings#and#he#did#
not#file#a#single#pleading.#He#completely#forgot#about#it.#Very#shocking#so#this#is#an#exception.##
#
EFFECTS!OF!NEGLIGENCE!AND!INCOMPETENCE!OF!COUNSEL:!
CIVIL!CASES!
#Fretrial#may#be#conducted#
#Fcourts#are#slow#in#setting#aside#judgments#in#civil#cases#
CRIMINAL!CASES!
#Fcriminal#conviction#may#be#set#aside#if#the#errors#of#the#defense#counsel#were#shocking#
that#they#deprived#the#accused#of#the#constitutional#right#to#effective#counsel.#
(MCMANN!VS!RICHARDSON,!387!US!759)#
#Fconviction#may#be#set#aside#but#accused#must#show#that#his#counsel’s#acts#or#
omissions#―were#outside#the#range#of#professionally#competent#assistance‖.#
Furthermore,#the#acts#or#omissions#must#have#caused#actual#prejudice,#not#just#some#
conceivable#effect#on#the#outcome#of#the#case.#(STRICKLAND%VS%WASHINGTON%
466%SCRA%668)%
#
4.!Clients!are!bound!by!the!negligence!of!the!lawyer!
DILIGENCE!REQUIRED!OF!A!LAWYER:!b!ORDINARY!CARE!AND!DILIGENCE!–!GOOD!FATHER!OF!A!FAMILY!
Why#not#extraFordinary?#
F# A# lawyer# is# not# an# insurer# of# the# result# of# the# case.# He# can# only# do# his# best;# do# what# he# could,#
according#to#his#knowledge,#capacity#and#discretion.#
#
The#client#bound#to#the#negligence#of#his#counsel?#
A:#YES.!A#lawyer#is#an#agent#of#a#client.#As#agent,#the#lawyer#binds#the#client.#Any#act#of#the#lawyer#within#
the#scope#of#his#general#and#implied#authority#is#considered#an#act#of#the#client.#
#
A#contrary#rule#would#have#a#disastrous#result.#Because#if#that#is#the#case,#we#will#be#putting#premium#to#
negligence.#If#a#party#senses#nga#pildihunon#na#jd#siya,#he#can#always#say#“Pildihunon#na#man#gyud#ko#
Sir,#magpa#as#if#negligent#na#lang#ko#para#makapa#reFtrial#ta.#We#can#have#the#decision#reversed.#We#can#
ask#for#a#new#trial”#So#in#effect,#we#are#now#rewarding#negligence.##
“Ay#napildi#ko.#Maygani#negligent#tu#akong#lawyer.#Pwede#ra#jud#ko#magpa#reFtrial.”#
#
So,# the# client# must# be# bound# by# the# counsel’s# negligence.# Except# those# mentioned# exceptional# cases,#
where#the#application#of#the#general#rule#will#result#to#serious#injustice#and#outright#deprivation#of#the#
client’s#life,#liberty,#or#property#without#due#process#of#law.##
#
Rule%18.04% % A% lawyer% shall% keep% the% client% informed% of% the% status% of% his% case% and% shall%
respond%within%a%reasonable%time%to%client’s%request%for%information.%%
!
The#lawyer#must#keep#in#touch#with#client#for#updates#and#status#of#the#case.#He#should#be#ready#if#the#
client#has#questions#regarding#he#case.#There#is#a#duty#to#keep#the#client#informed.##
#
It# is# also# the# duty# of# the# clientFlitigant# to# be# in# contact# the# lawyer# from# time# to# time# in# order# to# be#
informed#of#the#progress#of#his#case.#This#is#a#corresponding#duty#on#the#part#of#the#client.#No#prudent#
party#would#leave#the#fate#of#his#case#entirely#to#his#lawyer.#Litigant#should#give#necessary#assistance#to#
his#counsel#for#what#is#at#stake#is#their#interest#in#the#case.##
!
!
March!17,!2016!
CANON!19!b!A!LAWYER!SHALL!REPRESENT!HIS!CLIENT!WITH!ZEAL!WITHIN!THE!BOUNDS!OF!THE!LAW.#
#
#Atty.#R:#
Take# note# of# the# phrase# within# the# bounds# of# the# law# because# no# amount# of# zeal# can# ever# justify#
breaking#the#law.#The#zeal#should#be#within#the#parameters#of#what#is#legal.#
#
Rule!19.01!b!A!lawyer!shall!employ!only!fair!and!honest!means!to!attain!the!lawful!objectives!of!his!
client! and! shall! not! present,! participate! in! presenting! or! threaten! to! present! unfounded! criminal!
charges!to!obtain!an!improper!advantage!in!any!case!or!proceeding.#
!
Atty#R.:#
Counter#charges/suits#are#allowed#as#long#as#these#are#grounded#on#facts#and#law#but#if#it#is#filed#just#so#
to#get#leverage#or#to#have#bargaining#power#over#the#other#party#then#it#is#unethical.#
!
%
Defense#of#a#person#accused#of#a#crime#
# It# is# the# duty# of# the# attorney,# in# the# defense# of# a# person# accused# of# a# crime,# by# all# fair# and#
honourable# means,# regardless# of# his# personal# opinion# as# to# the# guilt# of# the# accused,# to# present# every#
defense#that#the#law#permits,#to#the#end#that#no#person#may#be#deprived#of#life#or#liberty,#but#by#due#
process#of#law#(Sec.#20#(i),#Rule#138,#ROC)#
#
Rule! 19.02! b! A! lawyer! who! has! received! information! that! his! client! has,! in! the! course! of! the!
representation,!perpetrated!a!fraud!upon!a!person!or!tribunal,!shall!promptly!call!upon!the!client!to!
rectify!the!same,!and!failing!which!he!shall!terminate!the!relationship!with!such!client!in!accordance!
with!the!Rules!of!Court.#
!
Atty#R.:#
If#you#found#out#that#your#client#is#lying#and#presented#a#false#document#while#on#the#witness#stand.#You#
should#follow#the#steps#laid#down#in#rule#19.02.#Ask#the#client#to#rectify#first#and#if#the#client#refuses#then#
the#lawyer#can#terminate#their#relationship#because#a#lawyer#cannot#be#a#party#to#a#fraud.#However,#the#
lawyer#cannot#expose#the#fraud#because#it#will#be#betraying#a#clients#secret.#
!
Rule!19.03!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!allow!his!client!to!dictate!the!procedure!in!handling!the!case.#
# He# (the# lawyer)# should# follow# his# own# decision# and# not# that# of# his# client.# Thus,# a# lawyer# may#
agree# to# postpone# the# trial# of# the# case,# despite# the# client’s# contrary# wishes,# if# the# opposite# counsel# is#
sick#or#under#bereavement,#or#under#other#justifiable#causes.#
# Counsel#however#is#bound#to#comply#with#his#client’s#lawful#requests.##
#
Atty#R.:#
There#are#matters#which#the#client#ultimately#has#to#decide.##
Ex.#Settling#cases#(it#is#the#client#who#decides#and#the#lawyer#can#only#recommend)#
######Appeal#
!!!!!!!!
CANON!20!b!A!LAWYER!SHALL!CHARGE!ONLY!FAIR!AND!REASONABLE!FEES.#
###
Attorney’s#Fees#Defined#%
# The#remuneration#given#to#a#lawyer#as#reasonable#compensation#for#exchange#for#professional#
services.#
#
Rationale#for#Attorney’s#Fees#
# Although# the# legal# profession# is# not# a# business# undertaking,# the# lawyer# like# all# other# human#
beings#has#a#right#to#livelihood.#(Stansell%vs.%Roach,%29%ALR%142)%
%
Concepts#of#Attorney’s#Fees:#
1. Ordinary#
2. Extraordinary#
#
Ordinary#Concept#of#Attorney’s#Fees#
• Reasonable#compensation#paid#to#a#lawyer#by#his#client#for#the#legal#services#he#has#rendered#to#
the#latter#
#
Extraordinary#Concept#of#Attorney’s#Fees#
# Indemnity#for#damages#ordered#by#the#court#to#be#paid#by#the#losing#party#in#a#litigation#
# # Fform#of#damages#as#stated#in#art.#2208#in#the#civil#code#
#
GR:#payable#to#the#client#
Exception:#agreement#between#the#lawyer#and#client#that#the#attorney’s#fees#shall#pertain#to#the#lawyer#
as#additional#compensation#or#as#part#thereof.##
# F#The#lawyer#must#first#explain#to#the#client#that#the#attorney's#fees(extraordinary)#as#a#form#of#
# damages#is#really#intended#for#the#client.#
#
!
Article#2208.#In#the#absence#of#stipulation,#attorney's#fees#and#expenses#of#litigation,#other#than#judicial#
costs,#cannot#be#recovered,#except:##
(1)#When#exemplary#damages#are#awarded;#
(2)#When#the#defendant's#act#or#omission#has#compelled#the#plaintiff#to#litigate#with#third#persons#or#to#
incur#expenses#to#protect#his#interest;##
(3)#In#criminal#cases#of#malicious#prosecution#against#the#plaintiff;##
(4)#In#case#of#a#clearly#unfounded#civil#action#or#proceeding#against#the#plaintiff;##
(5)#Where#the#defendant#acted#in#gross#and#evident#bad#faith#in#refusing#to#satisfy#the#plaintiff's#plainly#
valid,#just#and#demandable#claim;##
(6)#In#actions#for#legal#support;##
(7)#In#actions#for#the#recovery#of#wages#of#household#helpers,#laborers#and#skilled#workers;##
(8)#In#actions#for#indemnity#under#workmen's#compensation#and#employer's#liability#laws;##
(9)#In#a#separate#civil#action#to#recover#civil#liability#arising#from#a#crime;##
(10)#When#at#least#double#judicial#costs#are#awarded;##
(11)#In#any#other#case#where#the#court#deems#it#just#and#equitable#that#attorney's#fees#and#expenses#of#
litigation#should#be#recovered.##
In#all#cases,#the#attorney's#fees#and#expenses#of#litigation#must#be#reasonable.#
%
#
Presumption#as#to#Entitlement#of#Attorney’s#Fees:#
GR:#if#a#lawyer#renders#valuable#services#to#one#who#receives#the#benefits#thereof,#a#promise#to#pay#a#
reasonable#value#is#presumed#(facio%ut%des:%I%do%so%that%you%will%give)#
EXC:#if#the#services#is#intended#to#be#gratuitous##
#
How#agreement#re:#attorney’s#fees#is#made:#
1. Oral#
2. Written#
3. Implied#
F#Services#have#been#rendered#and#the#client#has#benefited#from#it#then#there#is#an#implied#contract#for#
attorney's#fees.#Unjust#Enrichment#principle.##
#
Written#Contract#for#Attorney’s#Fees#
# To#avoid#controversy#over#attorney’s#fees#it#is#advisable#to#agree#in#advance#as#to#the#matter#of#
how#the#lawyer#is#to#be#compensated.#
# Furthermore,#in#case#of#unjustified#dismissal#of#an#attorney,#he#shall#be#entitled#to#recover#from#
the# client# full# compensation# based# on# the# written# contract.# The# law# seeks# to# protect# lawyer# from#
unscrupulous#and#ungrateful#clients#who#dismiss#lawyers#to#avoid#payment#of#attorney’s#fees.#
# F# The# lawyer# can# recover# the# full# amount# based# on# the# written# contract# if# unjustifiable#
dismissed.## This#benefit#is#not#available#if#the#contract#is#merely#implied#or#oral.#
# F# in# case# of# doubt# or# ambiguity# in# construing# the# contract# for# attorney's# fees# you# construe# in#
# favor#of#the#client#and#against#the#lawyer.#
#
Interpretation#of#Contracts#for#Attorney’s#Fees#
Attorney’s#Fees#are#subject#to#judicial#review#
Reason:# A# lawyer# is# primarily# an# officer# of# the# court# charged# with# the# duty# of# assisting# the# court# in#
administering#impartial#justice#between#the#parties,#and#hence#his#attorney’s#fees#should#be#subject#to#
judicial#review#
# #
Kinds#of#Attorney’s#Fees#Arrangements:#
1. Fixed#or#absolute#fee#
Fthe#lawyer#gets#paid#no#matter#what#
2. Contingent#fee#
Fthe#lawyer#gets#paid#only#if#they#win#
3. Fixed#fee#payable#per#appearance#
4. Fixed#fee#hourly#rate/time#billing#
5. Fixed#fee#based#on#piece#work#
Fex.#Paid#per#page#
#
FThe#contract#for#attorney's#fees#is#consensual#like#any#other#contract.#They#can#agree#as#to#what#kind#of#
arrangement# and# can# combine# any# or# all# the# arrangements# as# long# as# both# the# client# and# the# lawyer#
consents.#
#
Contingent#Fee#Contract#
• A#contract#whereby#a#lawyer#gets#paid#for#his#services#only#if#he#wins#the#case#for#the#client#
• A.K.A.#“No#Cure,#No#Pay#Basis”#
• Agreement#laid#down#in#an#express#contract#between#a#lawyer#and#a#client#in#which#the#lawyer’s#
professional#fee,#usually#a#fixed#percentage#of#what#may#be#recovered#in#the#action,#is#made#to#
depend#upon#the#success#of#the#litigation##(Taganasa%Case)#
#
Rationale#of#the#Contigent#Fee#Contract#
# Such# contract# is# often# the# only# way# by# which# the# poor# and# helpless# can# have# their# rights#
vindicated#and#upheld.#
#
Amount#of#the#Contigent#Fee#
# A# contract# for# a# contingent# fee,# where# sanctioned# by# law,# should# be# reasonable# under# all#
circumstances#including#the#risk#and#uncertainty#of#the#compensation,#and#should#always#be#subject#to#
the#supervision#of#the#court,#as#to#its#reasonableness.#(Canon%13,%CPE)%
% An#attorney#engaged#on#a#contingent#fee#basis#may#not,#in#order#to#collect#his#fees,#prosecute#an#
appeal#despite#his#client’s#refusal#to#appeal.#(Leviste%vs.%CA,%G.R.%No.%29184,%Jan.%30,%1989)%
%
Champertous#Contract,#Defined.#
One# whereby# the# lawyer# agrees# to# prosecute# suits# at# his# own# expense# for# the# recovery# of# things# or#
property# belonging# to# or# claimed# by# the# client,# the# latter# agreeing# to# pay# the# former# a# portion# of# the#
thing#or#property#recovered#as#compensation.#VOID.#
# F#Void#because#the#lawyer#is#now#investing#in#the#case#and#it#is#normal#human#behavior#that#a#
# person#always#wants#to#get#a#return#from#his#investment#the#lawyer#might#resort#to#unethical#or#
# illegal#means#just#to#win#the#case#and#recover#his#investment.#
#
Difference:#
Champertous#Contract# Contingent#Contract#
• Lawyer# undertakes# to# bear# all# expenses# • Lawyer# only# waives# his# attorney's# fees# and#
incident#to#the#litigation# does#not#undertake#to#bear#expenses#
• Payable#in#cash#or#in#kind# • Payable#in#cash#or#in#kind#
• Void;# against# public# policy# and# ethics# of# the# • Valid#
profession#
#
Rule!20.01!b!A!lawyer!shall!be!guided!by!the!following!factors!in!determining!his!fees:#
(a)!the!time!spent!and!the!extent!of!the!service!rendered!or!required;#
(b)!the!novelty!and!difficulty!of!the!questions!involved;#
(c)!The!importance!of!the!subject!matter;#
(d)!The!skill!demanded;#
(e)!The!probability!of!losing!other!employment!as!a!result!of!acceptance!of!the!proffered!case;#
(f)!The!customary!charges!for!similar!services!and!the!schedule!of!fees!of!the!IBP!chapter!to!which!he!
belongs;#
(g)!The!amount!involved!in!the!controversy!and!the!benefits!resulting!to!the!client!from!the!service;#
(h)!The!contingency!or!certainty!of!compensation;#
(i)!The!character!of!the!employment,!whether!occasional!or!established;!and#
(j)!The!professional!standing!of!the!lawyer.#
! #
! b!there!is!no!standard!rate!for!attorney's!fees#
%
Other#factors#in#determining#lawyer’s#fees:#
a.%the%clients%ability%to%pay#
b.%reasonable%request%from%a%fellow%lawyer#
% ex.%A%lawyer%ask%a%lawyer%friend%to%notarize%
%
Quantum#Meruit#
• Determination#of#attorney’s#fees#which#is#as#much#as#the#lawyer#deserves;#
• “As#much#as#he#deserves”#
#
When#attorney’s#fees#based#on#Quantum#Meruit#are#Awarded:#
• When#the#fees#stipulated#appear#excessive,#unconscionable,#unreasonable#
• Where#there#is#no#express#contract#
• Where# the# contract# of# employment# is# void# because# of# some# irregularity# in# its# execution# or# as# to#
purely#formal#matters#
• There#is#an#agreement#to#pay#attorney’s#fees#but#the#amount#has#not#been#agreed#
• Where#the#lawyer#withdraws#with#justifiable#cause#
#
Attorney’s#fees#where#client#withdraws#(Sec.#26,#Rule#138):#
The#lawyer#shall#recover#the#FULL#AMOUNT#of#compensation#stipulated#in#the#contract#if#the#following#
conditions#concur:#
• Contract#has#been#reduced#to#writing#
• Dismissal#of#attorney#is#without#justifiable#cause#
#
Attorney’s#fees#where#counsel#withdraws:#
• Cause#is#justified#–#quantum#meruit#
• Cause#is#not#justified#–#attorney’s#fees#may#be#reduced#or#even#forfeited#
#
Law#may#limit#the#collection#of#Attorney’s#Fees#
• The#state#as#parens%patriae%may#protect#the#interest#of#the#underprivileged#
• Social#legislation#(e.g.#for#the#benefit#of#the#veterans#or#the#working#class#for#instance)#
#
Examples#of#law#limitations#on#Attorney’s#Fees:#
• R.A.#No.#145#(U.S.#Veterans#Claims)#–#a#lawyer#is#limited#to#attorney’s#fees#of#not#more#than#P20.00#
• “It# shall# be# unlawful# for# any# person# to# demand# or# accept,# in# any# judicial# or# administrative#
proceedings#for#the#recovery#of#wages,#attorney’s#fees#which#exceed#ten#percent#of#the#amount#of#
wages.#(Art.#111,#Labor#Code)#
#
Rule!20.02!b!A!lawyer!shall,!in!case!of!referral,!with!the!consent!of!the!client,!be!entitled!to!a!division!
of!fees!in!proportion!to!the!work!performed!and!responsibility!assumed.#
%
Requisites#for#feeFsplitting:#
• Referral#cases#
• With#the#client’s#consent#
• Proportionate#to#the#work#performed#and#the#responsibility#assumed#
#
Rule!20.03!b!A!lawyer!shall!not,!without!the!full!knowledge!and!consent!of!the!client,!accept!any!fee,!
reward,! costs,! commission,! interest,! rebate! or! forwarding! allowance! or! other! compensation!
whatsoever!related!to!his!professional!employment!from!anyone!other!than!the!client.#
!
Rule! 20.04! b! A! lawyer! shall! avoid! controversies! with! clients! concerning! his! compensation! and! shall!
resort!to!judicial!action!only!to!prevent!imposition,!injustice!or!fraud.#
%
Assumpsit#
The#action#filed#by#a#lawyer#against#his#client#for#collection#of#attorney’s#fees.#
#
!
CANON!21!b!A!LAWYER!SHALL!PRESERVE!THE!CONFIDENCE!AND!SECRETS!OF!HIS!CLIENT!EVEN!AFTER!
THE!ATTORNEYbCLIENT!RELATION!IS!TERMINATED.#
%
Consequences#of#Violating#Client’s#Confidence:#
Criminal#liability:#Betrayal#of#trust#by#an#attorney#or#solicitor,#Revelation#of#Secrets#(Art.#209,#RPC)#
#
Rule!21.01!b!A!lawyer!shall!not!reveal!the!confidences!or!secrets!of!his!client!except;#
(a)!When!authorized!by!the!client!after!acquainting!him!of!the!consequences!of!the!disclosure;#
(b)!When!required!by!law;#
(c)!When!necessary!to!collect!his!fees!or!to!defend!himself,!his!employees!or!associates!or!by!judicial!
action.#
%
Exception# No.1:# When# authorized# by# the# client# after# acquainting# him# of# the# consequences# of# the#
disclosure.#
• Authorization#amounts#to#a#waiver#on#the#part#of#the#client##
#
If#the#witness#to#be#examined#is#the#lawyer’s#secretary,#stenographer#or#clerk,#consent#of#client#is#NOT#
enough.#
In#such#case:#CONSENT#OF#THE#CLIENT#AND#THE#LAWYER#MUST#BOTH#BE#OBTAINED.#
#
Exception#No.2#:#When#required#by#law.#
The# law# does# not# make# a# law# office# a# nest# of# vipers# in# which# to# hatch# crimes# or# frauds.# (Gerhardt# vs.#
United#R.#Co.,#220#SW#677)#
• Public#policy#and#the#lawyer’s#duty#forbid#the#lawyer#from#assisting#in#the#commission#of#a#crime#or#
permitting#the#privilege#to#conceal#a#wrongdoing#
• Privilege# does# not# apply# to# future# crimes# or# frauds.# Lawyer# cannot# be# properly# consulted# on# the#
commission#of#future#crimes#and#frauds.#
#
Exception#No.#3:#When#necessary#to#collect#fees#or#to#defend#himself#or#his#staff#by#Judicial#Action#
#
Rule! 21.02! b! A! lawyer! shall! not,! to! the! disadvantage! of! his! client,! use! information! acquired! in! the!
course! of! employment,! nor! shall! he! use! the! same! to! his! own! advantage! or! that! of! a! third! person,!
unless!the!client!with!full!knowledge!of!the!circumstances!consents!thereto.#
!
Rule! 21.03! b! A! lawyer! shall! not,! without! the! written! consent! of! his! client,! give! information! from! his!
files!to!an!outside!agency!seeking!such!information!for!auditing,!statistical,!bookkeeping,!accounting,!
data!processing,!or!any!similar!purpose.#
! b# A# lawyer# must# refuse# to# give# the# files# of# the# client# which# are# treated# as# confidential# to# any#
# other#person#without#the#client's!written!consent.#
%
% Ex.% NBI% asks% the% lawyer% to% give% them% the% client's% files% for% investigation% of% investment% fraud.%
% Thereafter% the% lawyer% calls% the% client% through% phone% and% the% client% consents% with% the% giving% of%
% the% files.% The% lawyer% still% should% not% give% out% the% files% because% the% consent% of% the% client% was
% obtained%only%through%phone.%Written%consent%is%necessary.%
%
People#vs.#Sy#Juco,#64#Phil.#667#–#Court#cannot#order#the#opening#of#a#lawyer’s#cabinet#seized#by#virtue#
of#a#search#warrant#which#cabinet#contains#confidential#files#of#his#client.#
#
Rule!21.04!b!A!lawyer!may!disclose!the!affairs!of!a!client!of!the!firm!to!partners!or!associates!thereof!
unless!prohibited!by!the!client.#
!
Rule!21.05!b!A!lawyer!shall!adopt!such!measures!as!may!be!required!to!prevent!those!whose!services!
are!utilized!by!him,!from!disclosing!or!using!confidences!or!secrets!of!the!clients.#
%
The#lawyer#is#obliged#to#exercise#care#in#selecting#and#training#his#employees#so#that#the#sanctity#of#all#
confidences#and#secrets#of#his#clients#may#be#preserved.#
#
Rule!21.06!b!A!lawyer!shall!avoid!indiscreet!conversation!about!a!client's!affairs!even!with!members!of!
his!family.#
!
Rule! 21.07! b! A! lawyer! shall! not! reveal! that! he! has! been! consulted! about! a! particular! case! except! to!
avoid!possible!conflict!of!interest.#
%
!
CANON!22!b!A!LAWYER!SHALL!WITHDRAW!HIS!SERVICES!ONLY!FOR!GOOD!CAUSE!AND!UPON!NOTICE!
APPROPRIATE!IN!THE!CIRCUMSTANCES.#
%
Withdrawal#by#Lawyer:#
1. With#consent#of#the#client#
2. Without#consent#of#the#client#
#
Withdrawal#by#lawyer#with#the#consent#of#the#client,#how#effected#(Sec.#26,#Rule#138,#ROC):#
An#attorney#may#retire#at#any#time#from#any#action#from#any#action#or#special#proceeding,#
a. By#the#written#consent#of#his#client;#
b. Motion#for#withdrawal#filed#in#court;#
c. Served#upon#the#adverse#party.#
#
Withdrawal#by#lawyer#without#the#consent#of#the#client,#how#effected#(Sec.#26,#Rule#138,#ROC):#
An#attorney#may#retire#at#any#time#from#an#action#or#special#proceeding,#
a. Without#the#consent#of#his#client;#
b. If#upon#hearing#after#due#notice#to#both#layer#and#client#
c. The#court#determine#if#the#lawyer#ought#to#be#allowed#to#retire#
#
When#may#client#discharge#his#lawyer?#
Anytime.#(Sec.#26,#Rule#138,#ROC)#
“…A%client%may%at%any%time%dismiss%his%attorney%or%substitute%another%in%his%place,%but%if%the%contract%between%client%
and%attorney%has%been%reduced%to%writing%and%the%dismissal%of%the%attorney%was%without%justifiable%cause,%he%shall%
be%entitled%to%recover%from%the%client%the%full%compensation%stipulated%in%the%contract…”%
#
Rule!22.01!b!A!lawyer!may!withdraw!his!services!in!any!of!the!following!case:#
(a)!When!the!client!pursues!an!illegal!or!immoral!course!of!conduct!in!connection!with!the!matter!he!
is!handling;#
(b)!When!the!client!insists!that!the!lawyer!pursue!conduct!violative!of!these!canons!and!rules;#
(c)!When!his!inability!to!work!with!cobcounsel!will!not!promote!the!best!interest!of!the!client;#
(d)!When!the!mental!or!physical!condition!of!the!lawyer!renders!it!difficult!for!him!to!carry!out!the!
employment!effectively;#
(e)! When! the! client! deliberately! fails! to! pay! the! fees! for! the! services! or! fails! to! comply! with! the!
retainer!agreement;#
! F#must#be#deliberate#in#order#to#be#a#ground#for#withdrawal#
(f)!When!the!lawyer!is!elected!or!appointed!to!public!office;!and!#
! F#refers#to#a#public#office#which#allows#the#concurrent#private#practice#of#law#the#lawyer#may#or#
# may# not# withdraw# but# if# the# public# office# absolutely# prohibits# the# private# practice# of# law# then#
# it# is# mandatory# for# the# lawyer# to# withdraw# from# all# his# cases.#
(g)!Other!similar!cases.#
%
Other#Similar#Cases,#Some#Examples:#
• Where#client#conducts#himself#in#a#manner#which#tends#to#degrade#himself#in#a#manner#which#
tends#to#degrade#his#lawyer#
• When#it#is#apparent#that#the#lawyer#may#be#required#to#act#as#a#witness#on#substantial#matters#
• When#the#client#insists#on#perjuring#testimony#
• Where#client#refused#cooperation##
#
Court#Action#in#Case#of#Substitution#of#Counsel#(Sec.#26,#Rule#138,#ROC):#
F The#name#of#the#lawyer#newly#employed#shall#be#entered#on#the#docket#of#the#court#in#place#of#
the#former#one,#and#
F Written#notice#of#the#change#shall#be#given#to#the#adverse#party#
Fimportant#for#due#process#purposes#
#
Duty#of#Lawyer#being#Replaced#
• To#inform#the#court#of#such#replacement#and#to#ask#that#he#be#allowed#to#withdraw#as#counsel#
• Shall,#subject#to#a#retainer#lien,#immediately#turn#over#all#papers#and#property#to#which#the#client#is#
entitled#
• To# cooperate# with# his# successor# in# the# orderly# transfer# of# the# matter# including# all# information#
necessary#for#the#proper#handling#of#the#matter.##
#
Effect#of#Discharge#of#Lawyer#by#Client,#if#Written#Contractual#Relation#Exists#
• Unjustified#causeF#lawyer#entitled#to#recover#full#amount#stipulated#in#the#written#contract#
• Justified#causeF#quantum#meruit#
#
Hiring#of#Additional#Counsel#
A#client’s#proffer#of#additional#assistance#should#not#be#regarded#as#evidence#of#want#of#confidence,#but#
the#matter#should#be#left#to#the#discretion#of#the#client.#(Canon#7,#CPE)#
However,#counsel#may#withdraw#when#his#inability#to#work#with#coFcounsel#will#not#promote#the#best#
interest#of#the#client.#
#
Lawyers#Cease#to#be#Attorneys#for#their#Clients#in#Case#of#the#Death#of#the#Latter#
In# the# absence# of# a# retainer# from# the# heirs# or# authorized# representatives# of# his# deceased# client,# the#
attorney#would#have#no#further#power#or#authority#to#appear#or#to#take#any#further#action#in#the#case,#
save#to#inform#the#court#of#his#client’s#death#and#take#the#necessary#steps#to#safeguard#the#decedents#
rights#in#the#case.##
# F#The#lawyer#cannot#force#the#heirs#to#retain#him#as#the#lawyer#of#the#decedent.#The#heirs#are#
not## bound.#
%
Duty#of#an#Attorney#Upon#Death#of#Client#
Upon# the# death# (incapacity# or# incompetency)# of# the# client,# it# is# the# duty# of# the# lawyer# to# inform# the#
court# immediately# of# such# event,# and# to# give# the# name# and# residence# of# his# executor,# administrator,#
guardian#or#other#legal#representative.##
#
Rule! 22.02! b! A! lawyer! who! withdraws! or! is! discharged! shall,! subject! to! a! retainer! lien,! immediately!
turn! over! all! papers! and! property! to! which! the! client! is! entitled,! and! shall! cooperative! with! his!
successor! in! the! orderly! transfer! of! the! matter,! including! all! information! necessary! for! the! proper!
handling!of!the!matter.#
#
!
!
ADMINSTRATIVE!LIABILITIES!OF!LAWYERS!
Lawyer#violates#his#obligations#under#peril(s)#of:#
• Disciplinary#action/administrative#action#
• Criminal#action#
F#acts#of#the#lawyer#constitutes#a#criminal#offense#
• Civil#action/damages#
• Contempt#of#court#
F#all#can#proceed#independently#
#
Different!kinds!of!disciplinary!actions:#
1.#Warning##
• act# or# fact# of# putting# one# on# his# guard# against# an# impending# danger,# evil,# consequences# or#
penalties# Fa# statement# put# forth# to# a# lawyer,# that# any# similar# or# other# infraction# of# ethical# or#
other#required#conduct#would#be#visited#with#a#higher#or#more#serious#penalty#
#
2.#Admonition.#
• A#gentle#or#friendly#reproof,#mild,#rebuke,#reminder,#counseling,#on#a#fault,#error#or#oversight#
#
3.#Fine#
• A#pecuniary#punishment#which#courts#impose#against#a#miscreant#lawyer##
• Imposed#in#accord#with#criminal#violations#of#the#law#or#as#a#consequence#of#the#contempt#power#of#
the#court.#
#
4.#Reprimand!#
• more#severe#nature;#a#public#and#formal#censure#or#sever#reproof,#administered#to#a#person#in#
fault#by#his#superior#officer#or#a#body#to#which#he#belongs#
#
5.#Suspension#
• The#act#of#prohibiting#an#attorney#from#practicing#law#for#a#certain#period#
• “Qualified% disbarment”% because# the# attorney# is# deprived# temporarily# of# the# right# to# practice# his#
profession.#
• Suspension#shows#that#a#lawyer#is#currently#not#a#member#in#good#standing#
#
6.#Disbarment#
It#deprives#a#person#of#the#right#to#practice#as#an#attorneyFatFlaw#
Consequently:#
• The#attorney’s#name#is#stricken#from#the#Roll#of#Attorneys#
• He#ceases#to#be#a#member#of#the#bar#
#
7.#Contempt#
#
8.#Imprisonment#
#
Nature#of#Disciplinary#Action#
• Sui%generisH%a#class#by#itself##
• Neither#purely#civil#nor#criminal#
• It#is#an#investigation#by#the#court#into#the#conduct#of#one#of#its#officers#
F# Admin# cases# is# not# concerned# with# private# rights# (ex.# A# neighbor# # files# a# case# against# the# lawyer# for#
grossly#immoral#conduct.#The#lawyer#files#a#motion#to#dismiss#on#the#ground#that#his#neighbor#is#not#a#
real#party#in#interest.#Such#argument#is#untenable#because#administrative#cases#does#not#concern#itself#
with#private#rights)#
• Prescription#is#not#applicable#
#
#
Disciplinary#action#not#dismissed#upon#withdrawal#by#private#complainant#
• The#power#to#discipline#lawyers#who#are#officers#of#the#court#may#not#be#cut#short#by#compromise#
and#withdrawal#of#charges.#
• Disciplinary#proceedings#involve#no#private#interest#and#afford#no#redress#for#private#grievance.#They#
are#undertaken#and#prosecuted#solely#for#public#welfare.#
• However,#If#upon#desistance#there#is#nothing#more#to#substantiate#the#charge#then#the#case#may#be#
dismissed#on#the#ground#of#lack#of#substantial#evidence#and#not#on#the#ground#of#desistance.##
#
Acquittal#in#a#criminal#case#not#a#bar#to#disciplinary#action#
F The#standards#of#the#legal#profession#are#not#satisfied#by#conduct#which#merely#enables#one#to#
escape#the#penalties#of#criminal#law#
F The#court,#in#disbarment#proceedings,#is#acting#in#an#entirely#different#capacity#from#that#which#
the#court#assume#in#trying#criminal#cases#
#
#
Pendency#of#criminal#action#does#not#suspend#disbarment#proceedings#
%
%
Supreme#Court#trying#Disciplinary#Cases#
En%Banc%
% Cases#where#the#penalty#to#be#imposed#is#the#dismissal#of#a#judge,#officer#or#employee#of#the#
judiciary,#disbarment#of#a#lawyer,#or#either#the#suspension#of#any#of#them#for#a#period#of#more#than#one#
(1)#year#or#a#fine#exceeding#P10,000.#
#
Direct#contempt#
Misbehavior#in#the#presence#of#or#so#near#a#court#as#to#obstruct#or#interrupt#the#proceedings#before#the#
same,# including# disrespect# toward# the# court,# offensive# personalities# toward# others,# or# refusal# to# be#
sworn#or#to#answer#as#a#witness,#or#to#subscribe#an#affidavit#or#deposition#when#lawfully#required#to#do#
so.#
#
Indirect#contempt#
a.) Misbehavior# of# an# officer# of# a# court# in# the# performance# of# his# official# duties# or# in# his# official#
transanctions;#
b.) Disobedience#of#or#resistance#to#a#lawful#writ,#process,#order#,#or#judgment#of#a#court,#including#
the# act# of# a# person# who,# after# being# dispossessed# or# ejected# from# any# real# property# by# the#
judgment# or# process# of# any# court# or# competent# jurisdiction,# enter# or# attempts# or# induces#
another# to# enter# in# to# # or# upon# such# real# property,# for# the# purpose# of# executing# acts# of#
ownership#or#possession,#or#in#any#manner#disturbs#the#possession#given#to#the#person#adjudged#
to#be#entitled#thereto;#
c.) Any# abuse# of# any# unlawful# interference# with# the# processes# or# proceedings# of# a# court# not#
constituting#direct#contempt#under#section#1#of#this#Rule;#
d.) Any# improper# conduct# tending,# directly# or# indirectly,# to# impede,# obstruct# or# degrade# the#
administration#of#justice;#
e.) Assuming#to#be#an#attorney#or#an#officer#of#a#court,#and#acting#as#such#without#authority;#
f.) Failure#to#obey#a#subpoena#duly#served;#
g.) The#rescue,#or#attempted#rescue,#of#a#person#or#property#in#the#custody#of#an#officer#by#virtue#of#
an#order#or#process#of#a#court#held#by#him.#
#
#
Disciplinary#Powers# Contempt#Powers#
Fbroader# Fparticular#
Fover#lawyers#only# Fover#any#person#
May#proceed#simultaneously#
#
Grounds#for#Suspension#or#Disbarment#
In#General#
• Acts#committed#prior#to#admission#to#practice#
• Acts#committed#after#admission#to#practice#
#
Acts#committed#prior#to#admission#to#practice#
Acts#in#violation#of#the#required#qualifications#for#admission#to#the#Philippine#Bar,#to#wit:#
• Citizenship#
• Age#
• Good#moral#character#
• Residence#
• Education#
• Passing#the#bar#examinations#
• Taking#the#Lawyer’s#Oath#
• Signing#the#Roll#of#Attorneys#
#
Acts#Committed#After#Admission#to#Practice#(Sec.#27,#Rule#138,#ROC):#
• Deceit#
• Malpractice,#or#other#gross#misconduct#in#office#
• Grossly#immoral#conduct#
• Conviction#of#a#crime#involving#moral#turpitude#
• Violation#of#the#Lawyer’s#Oath#
• Willful#disobedience#of#any#lawful#order#of#a#superior#court#
• Corrupt#or#willful#appearance#as#an#attorney#for#a#party#to#a#case#without#authority#to#do#so#
#
Deceit.#
# Fraudulent#and#deceptive#misrepresentation,#artifice,#or#device,#used#by#one#or#more#persons#to#
deceive#and#trick#another,#who#is#ignorant#of#the#true#facts,#to#the#prejudice#and#damage#of#the#party#
imposed#upon.##
#
Malpractice#or#Other#Gross#Misconduct#in#Office#
# Legal#malpractice#consists#of#failure#of#an#attorney#to#use#such#skill,#prudence,#and#diligence#a#
lawyers# of# ordinary# skill# and# capacity# commonly# possess# and# exercise# in# performance# of# tasks# which#
they#undertake#and#when#such#failure#proximately#causes#damage,#it#gives#rise#to#an#action#in#tort.#
#
Civil#Liability#for#Damages#
Those#who#in#the#performance#of#their#obligation#are#guilty#of#fraud,#negligence,#delay#xxx#are#liable#for#
damages.#(Art.#1170,#Civil#Code)#
#
Grossly#Immoral#Conduct#
# Willful,#flagrant,#or#shameless,#and#which#shows#a#moral#indifference#to#the#opinion#of#the#good#
and#respectable#members#of#the#community.#
# F#Ex.#Serial#womanizer#
#
Conviction#of#Crime#Involving#Moral#Turpitude#
Faside# from# civil# interdiction# being# a# possible# accessory# penalty,# the# conviction# shows# the# absence# of#
good#moral#character#
# Fcivil#interdiction#results#to#the#deprivation#of#legal#capacity#including#the#capacity#to#enter#into#
contracts.#A#lawyerFclient#relationship#is#a#contract.#Therefore,#a#person#suffering#from#civil#interdiction#
cannot#practice#law.#
#
Others:#
F Violation#of#Oath#of#Office#
F Willful#Disobedience#of#any#Lawful#Order#of#a#Superior#Court#
F Willful#Appearance#for#a#Client#without#being#employed#
#
Disbarment#or#Suspension#of#a#Filipino#Lawyer#in#a#Foreign#Country#
# The# judgment,# resolution# or# order# of# the# foreign# court# or# disciplinary# agency# shall# be# a# prima%
facie#evidence#of#the#ground#for#disbarment#or#suspension.#
# F#The#court#is#not#bound#with#the#foreign#decision.#The#foreign#decision#is#only#prima#facie.#
#
Disbarment#and#Disciplinary#Proceedings#
• Judicial#in#nature#
• Presumption#exists#in#favor#of#lawyerFrespondent#
• Quantum#of#proof;#substantial#evidence#
• Res%ipsa%loquitor#
• Burden#of#proof#is#on#the#complainant#
• Confidential##
F#only#the#proceedings#is#confidential#and#not#the#decision##
#
In%pari%delicto%will#not#exempt#the#lawyer##
# This# is# not# a# proceeding# to# grant# a# relief# to# the# complainant,# but# one# to# purge# the# law# of#
profession#of#unworthy#members,#to#protect#the#public#and#the#court#
#
Mitigating#Circumstances#in#Disbarment#
• Good#faith#in#the#acquisition#of#the#property#
• Inexperience#of#the#lawyer#
• Age#
• Apology#
• Lack#of#intention#to#slight#or#offend#the#court#
• Other#analogous#circumstances#
#
Reinstatement#
• Restoration#to#a#disbarred#lawyer,#the#privilege#to#practice#law#
• Readmission#to#membership#in#the#Bar#
#
Effect#of#Executive#Pardon#on#a#Disbarred#Lawyer#
# There#is#still#a#need#for#the#filing#of#an#appropriate#petition#for#reinstatement#with#the#SC.##
#
Effect#of#Executive#Pardon#on#a#pending#disbarment#case#
If%absolute:%case%dismissed.%
% “A#pardon#reaches#both#the#punishment#prescribed#for#the#offense#and#the#guilt#of#the#offender;#
and#when#the#pardon#is#full,#it#releases#the#punishment#and#blots#out#of#existence#the#guilt,#so#that#in#
the#eye#of#the#law#the#offender#is#as#innocent#as#if#he#had#never#committed#the#offense.#If#granted#after#
conviction,#it#removes#the#penalties#and#disabilities,#and#restores#him#to#all#his#civil#rights;#It#makes#him#
as#it#were#a#new#man#and#gives#him#a#new#credit#and#capacity.”#
#
If%conditional:%case%not%dismissed%
%
BAR#MATTER#1645#
October#13,#2015#
#
Only%the%Supreme%Court%can%dismiss%administrative%cases%against%lawyers.%
!
!
RULE!139bB#
Disbarment!and!Discipline!of!Attorneys#
Section!1.#How%Instituted.#—#Proceedings#for#the#disbarment,#suspension,#or#discipline#of#attorneys#may#be#taken#
by#the#Supreme#Court#motu%propio,#or#by#the#Integrated#Bar#of#the#Philippines#(IBP)#upon#the#verified#complaint#of#
any# person.# The# complaint# shall# state# clearly# and# concisely# the# facts# complained# of# and# shall# be# supported# by#
affidavits# of# persons# having# personal# knowledge# of# the# facts# therein# alleged# and/or# by# such# documents# as# may#
substantiate#said#facts.#
The# IBP# Board# of# Governors# may,#motu% propio#or# upon# referral# by# the# Supreme# Court# or# by# a# Chapter# Board# of#
Officers,#or#at#the#instance#of#any#person,#initiate#and#prosecute#proper#charges#against#erring#attorneys#including#
those#in#the#government#service.#
Six# (6)# copies# of# the# verified# complaint# shall# be# filed# with# the# Secretary# of# the# IBP# or# the# Secretary# of# any# of# its#
chapter#who#shall#forthwith#transmit#the#same#to#the#IBP#Board#of#Governors#for#assignment#to#an#investigator.#
A.!PROCEEDINGS!IN!THE!INTEGRATED!BAR!OF!THE!PHILIPPINES#
Section!2.#National%Grievance%Investigators.#—#The#Board#of#Governors#shall#appoint#from#among#IBP#members#an#
Investigator# or,# when# special# circumstances# so# warrant,# a# panel# of# three# (3)# investigators# to# investigate# the#
complaint.#All#Investigators#shall#take#an#oath#of#office#in#the#form#prescribed#by#the#Board#of#Governors.#A#copy#of#
the#Investigator's#appointment#and#oath#shall#be#transmitted#to#the#Supreme#Court.#
An#Investigator#may#be#disqualified#by#reason#of#relationship#within#the#fourth#degree#of#consanguinity#of#affinity#
to#any#of#the#parties#of#their#counsel,#pecuniary#interest,#personal#bias,#or#his#having#acted#as#counsel#to#his#acting#
as#such#Investigator.#Where#the#Investigator#does#not#disqualify#himself,#a#party#may#appeal#to#the#IBP#Board#of#
Governors,#which#by#majority#vote#of#the#members#present,#there#being#a#quorum,#may#order#his#disqualification.#
Any#Investigator#may#also#be#removed#for#cause,#after#due#hearing,#by#the#vote#of#at#least#six#(6)#members#of#the#
IBP#Board#of#Governors.#The#decision#of#the#Board#of#Governors#in#all#cases#of#disqualification#or#removal#shall#be#
final.#
Section!3.#Duties%of%the%National%Grievance%Investigator.#—#The#National#Grievance#Investigators#shall#investigate#
all#complaints#against#members#of#the#Integrated#Bar#referred#to#them#by#the#IBP#Board#of#Governors.#
Section! 4.# Chapter% assistance% to% complainant.# —# The# proper# IBP# Chapter# may# assist# the# complainant(s)# in# the#
preparation#and#filing#of#his#complaint(s).#
Section!5.#Service%or%dismissal.#—#If#the#complaint#appears#to#be#meritorious,#the#Investigator#shall#direct#that#a#
copy#thereof#be#served#upon#the#respondent,#requiring#him#to#answer#the#same#within#fifteen#(15)#days#from#the#
date#of#service.#If#the#complaint#does#not#merit#action,#or#if#the#answer#shows#to#the#satisfaction#of#the#Investigator#
that# the# complaint# is# not# meritorious,# the# same# may# be# dismissed# by# the# Board# of# Governors# upon# his#
recommendation.#A#copy#of#the#resolution#of#dismissal#shall#be#furnished#the#complainant#and#the#Supreme#Court#
which#may#review#the#case#motu%propio#or#upon#timely#appeal#of#the#complainant#filed#within#15#days#from#notice#
of#the#dismissal#of#the#complainant.#
No# investigation# shall# be# interrupted# or# terminated# by# reason# of# the# desistance,# settlement,# compromise,#
restitution,# withdrawal# of# the# charges,# or# failure# of# the# complainant# to# prosecute# the# same,#unless% the% Supreme%
Court%motu%propio%or%upon%recommendation%of%the%IBP%Board%of%Governors,%determines%that%there%is%no%compelling%
reason%to%continue%with%the%disbarment%or%suspension%proceedings%against%the%respondent.#(Amendment#pursuant#
to#Supreme#Court#Resolution#dated#May#27,#1993#re#Bar#Matter#356).#
Section!6.#Verification%and%service%of%answer.#—#The#answer#shall#be#verified.#The#original#and#five#(5)#legible#copies#
of#the#answer#shall#be#filed#with#the#Investigator,#with#proof#of#service#of#a#copy#thereof#on#the#complainant#or#his#
counsel.#
Section!7.#Administrative%counsel.#—#The#IBP#Board#of#Governors#shall#appoint#a#suitable#member#of#the#Integrated#
Bar# as# counsel# to# assist# the# complainant# of# the# respondent# during# the# investigation# in# case# of# need# for# such#
assistance.#
Section!8.#Investigation.#—#Upon#joinder#of#issues#or#upon#failure#of#the#respondent#to#answer,#the#Investigator#
shall,# with# deliberate# speed,# proceed# with# the# investigation# of# the# case.# He# shall# have# the# power# to# issue#
subpoenas# and# administer# oaths.# The# respondent# shall# be# given# full# opportunity# to# defend# himself,# to# present#
witnesses#on#his#behalf,#and#be#heard#by#himself#and#counsel.#However,#if#upon#reasonable#notice,#the#respondent#
fails#to#appear,#the#investigation#shall#proceed#ex%parte.#
The# Investigator# shall# terminate# the# investigation# within# three# (3)# months# from# the# date# of# its# commencement,#
unless#extended#for#good#cause#by#the#Board#of#Governors#upon#prior#application.#
Willful#failure#or#refusal#to#obey#a#subpoena#or#any#other#lawful#order#issued#by#the#Investigator#shall#be#dealt#with#
as#for#indirect#contempt#of#court.#The#corresponding#charge#shall#be#filed#by#the#Investigator#before#the#IBP#Board#
of#Governors#which#shall#require#the#alleged#contemnor#to#show#cause#within#ten#(10)#days#from#notice.#The#IBP#
Board#of#Governors#may#thereafter#conduct#hearings,#if#necessary,#in#accordance#with#the#procedure#set#forth#in#
this#Rule#for#hearings#before#the#Investigator.#Such#hearing#shall#as#far#as#practicable#be#terminated#within#fifteen#
(15)#days#from#its#commencement.#Thereafter,#the#IBP#Board#of#Governors#shall#within#a#like#period#of#fifteen#(15)#
days#issue#a#resolution#setting#forth#its#findings#and#recommendations,#which#shall#forthwith#be#transmitted#to#the#
Supreme#Court#for#final#action#and#if#warranted,#the#imposition#of#penalty.#
Section! 9.# Depositions.# —# Depositions# may# be# taken# in# accordance# with# the# Rules# of# Court# with# leave# of# the#
investigator(s).#
Within#the#Philippines,#depositions#may#be#taken#before#any#member#of#the#Board#of#Governors,#the#President#of#
any#Chapter,#or#any#officer#authorized#by#law#to#administer#oaths.#
Depositions# may# be# taken# outside# the# Philippines# before# diplomatic# or# consular# representative# of# the# Philippine#
Government#or#before#any#person#agreed#upon#by#the#parties#or#designated#by#the#Board#of#Governors.#
Any#suitable#member#of#the#Integrated#Bar#in#the#place#where#a#deposition#shall#be#taken#may#be#designated#by#
the#Investigator#to#assist#the#complainant#or#the#respondent#in#taking#a#deposition.#
Section!10.#Report%of%Investigator.#—#Not#later#than#thirty#(30)#days#from#the#termination#of#the#investigation,#the#
Investigator# shall# submit# a# report# containing# his# findings# of# fact# and# recommendations# to# the# IBP# Board# of#
Governors,#together#with#the#stenographic#notes#and#the#transcript#thereof,#and#all#the#evidence#presented#during#
the#investigation.#The#submission#of#the#report#need#not#await#the#transcription#of#the#stenographic#notes,#it#being#
sufficient#that#the#report#reproduce#substantially#from#the#Investigator's#personal#notes#any#relevant#and#pertinent#
testimonies.#
Section!11.#Defects.#—#No#defect#in#a#complaint,#notice,#answer,#or#in#the#proceeding#or#the#Investigator's#Report#
shall# be# considered# as# substantial# unless# the# Board# of# Governors,# upon# considering# the# whole# record,# finds# that#
such#defect#has#resulted#or#may#result#in#a#miscarriage#of#justice,#in#which#event#the#Board#shall#take#such#remedial#
action#as#the#circumstances#may#warrant,#including#invalidation#of#the#entire#proceedings.#
Section!12.#Review#and#decision#by#the#Board#of#Governors.#
a)#Every#case#heard#by#an#investigator#shall#be#reviewed#by#the#IBP#Board#of#Governors#upon#the#record#
and#evidence#transmitted#to#it#by#the#Investigator#with#his#report.#The#decision#of#the#Board#upon#such#
review# shall# be# in# writing# and# shall# clearly# and# distinctly# state# the# facts# and# the# reasons# on# which# it# is#
based.#It#shall#be#promulgated#within#a#period#not#exceeding#thirty#(30)#days#from#the#next#meeting#of#the#
Board#following#the#submittal#of#the#Investigator's#Report.#
b)#If#the#Board,#by#the#vote#of#a#majority#of#its#total#membership,#determines#that#the#respondent#should#
be#suspended#from#the#practice#of#law#or#disbarred,#it#shall#issue#a#resolution#setting#forth#its#findings#and#
recommendations# which,# together# with# the# whole# record# of# the# case,# shall# forthwith# be# transmitted# to#
the#Supreme#Court#for#final#action.#
c)# If# the# respondent# is# exonerated# by# the# Board# or# the# disciplinary# sanction# imposed# by# it# is# less# than#
suspension# or# disbarment# (such# as# admonition,# reprimand,# or# fine)# it# shall# issue# a# decision# exonerating#
respondent#or#imposing#such#sanction.#The#case#shall#be#deemed#terminated#unless#upon#petition#of#the#
complainant#or#other#interested#party#filed#with#the#Supreme#Court#within#fifteen#(15)#days#from#notice#of#
the#Board's#resolution,#the#Supreme#Court#orders#otherwise.#
d)#Notice#of#the#resolution#or#decision#of#the#Board#shall#be#given#to#all#parties#through#their#counsel.#A#
copy#of#the#same#shall#be#transmitted#to#the#Supreme#Court.#
B.!PROCEEDINGS!IN!THE!SUPREME!COURT#
Section!13.#Supreme%Court%Investigation.#—#In#proceedings#initiated#motu%propio#by#the#Supreme#Court#or#in#other#
proceedings#when#the#interest#of#justice#so#requires,#the#Supreme#Court#may#refer#the#case#for#investigation#to#the#
SolicitorFGeneral#or#to#any#officer#of#the#Supreme#Court#or#judge#of#a#lower#court,#in#which#case#the#investigation#
shall# proceed# in# the# same# manner# provided# in# sections# 6# to# 11# hereof,# save# that# the# review# of# the# report# of#
investigation#shall#be#conducted#directly#by#the#Supreme#Court.#
Section! 14.# Report% of% the% Solicitor% General% of% other% CourtHdesignated% Investigator.# —# Based# upon# the# evidence#
adduced# at# the# investigation,# the# Solicitor# General# or# other# Investigator# designated# by# the# Supreme# Court# shall#
submit#to#the#Supreme#Court#a#report#containing#his#findings#of#fact#and#recommendations#for#the#final#action#of#
the#Supreme#Court.#
C.!COMMON!PROVISIONS#
Section! 15.# Suspension% of% attorney% by% Supreme% Court.# —# After# receipt# of# respondent's# answer# or# lapse# of# the#
period# therefor,# the# Supreme# Court,#motu% propio,# or# at# the# instance# of# the# IBP# Board# of# Governors# upon# the#
recommendation#of#the#Investigator,#may#suspend#an#attorney#from#the#practice#of#his#profession#for#any#of#the#
causes#specified#in#Rule#138,#Section#27,#during#the#pendency#of#the#investigation#until#such#suspension#is#lifted#by#
the#Supreme#Court.#
Section!16.#Suspension%of%attorney%by%the%Court%of%Appeals%or%a%Regional%Trial%Court.#1#—#The#Court#of#Appeals#or#
Regional#Trial#Court#may#suspend#an#attorney#from#practice#for#any#of#the#causes#named#in#Rule#138,#Section#27#2,#
until#further#action#of#the#Supreme#Court#in#the#case.#
Section!17.#Upon%suspension%by%Court%of%Appeals%or%Regional%Trial%Court,%further%proceedings%in%Supreme%Court.#—#
Upon# such# suspension,# the# Court# of# Appeals# or# a# Regional# Trial# Court# shall# forthwith# transmit# to# the# Supreme#
Court#a#certified#copy#of#the#order#of#suspension#and#a#full#statement#of#the#facts#upon#which#the#same#was#based.#
Upon#receipt#of#such#certified#copy#and#statement,#the#Supreme#Court#shall#make#a#full#investigation#of#the#case#
and#may#revoke,#shorten#or#extend#the#suspension,#or#disbar#the#attorney#as#the#facts#may#warrant.#
Section!18.#Confidentiality.#—#Proceedings#against#attorneys#shall#be#private#and#confidential.#However,#the#final#
order#of#the#Supreme#Court#shall#be#published#like#its#decisions#in#other#cases.#
Section!19.#Expenses.#—#All#reasonable#and#necessary#expenses#incurred#in#relation#to#disciplinary#and#disbarment#
proceedings#are#lawfull#charges#for#which#the#parties#may#be#taxed#as#costs.#
Section!20.#Effectivity%and%Transitory%Provision.#—#This#Rule#shall#take#effect#June#1,#1988#and#shall#supersede#the#
present#Rule#139#entitled#"DISBARMENT#OR#SUSPENSION#OF#ATTORNEYS".#All#cases#pending#investigation#by#the#
Office#of#the#Solicitor#General#shall#be#transferred#to#the#Integrated#Bar#of#the#Philippines#Board#of#Governors#for#
investigation# and# disposition# as# provided# in# this# Rule# except# those# cases# where# the# investigation# has# been#
substantially#completed#
Note:% the% illustration% below% was% used% by% Atty.% R.% in% her% discussion% on% Rule% 139NB.% However,% this% does% not%
perfectly%illustrate%the%Rule%since%pics%of%the%slides%were%unclear%and%we%were%not%able%to%audio%record%this%part.%
Hence,%the%team%opted%to%post%the%entire%RULE%139NB%above.%Our%apologies%! %
##
!
Filing!of!Complaint!(Sec.!1,!Rule!139,!ROC)!
What:#Verified#Complaint#
Who:#By#any#person,#or#by#the#Supreme#Court#motu#proprio,#or#by#the#IBP#
Board#of#Governors#motu#proprio#or#upon#referral#by#the#SC#or#by#
a#Chapter#Board#of#Officers,#or#at#the#instance#of#any#person#
Where:#Supreme#Court,#IBP#National#or#Chapter#Offices#
IF!FILED!WITH!THE!SUPREME!COURT!
SC#refers#to#IBP#for# SC#refers#to#Solicitor#General#or#
SC#directly# investigation,#Report#and# Other#Designated#Officer#for#
investigates# Recommendation# Investigation,#Report#and#
Recommendation#
IBP#refers#the#case#to#its# Final#Report#and#
SC!DECISION! Recommendation#of#
Commission#on#Bar#Discipline#
the#Solicitor#General#
or#other#Designated#
Officer#is#forwarded#to#
the#SC#for#the#final#
action#
Forwarded#to#
SC#for#the#final#
action##
SC!DECISION!
SC!DECISION!
!
!

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Within!thirty!(30)!days!from!the!termination!of!the!investigation,!the!investigating!Justice!or!Judge!shall!submit!to!the!

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