LEGAL ETHICS

2A SY 2021-2022

Maria Patricia Cervantes-Poco

mpcervantes@ateneo.edu

Orientation Course Requirements

9 February Class Rules
Brief reflection: What do I want to protect with my legal license?

Session 1 Introduction: Why Must We Teach Legal Ethics? How Must It Be Taught?
14 February
 Justice Hilarion Aquino, Problem Areas in Legal Ethics, 48 Ateneo L.J. 870
(2003)
 David Luban & W. Bradley Wendel, Philosophical Legal Ethics: An
Affectionate History, 30 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 337 (2017)
 Jeffrey A. Maine, Importance of Ethics and Morality in Today’s Legal World, 29
Stetson L. Rev. 1073 (2000)
 Letter of Sen Jose W Diokno to his eldest son, Jose Ramon I Diokno, dated 23
October 1972
 Justice Pompeyo Diaz, Passion for Justice (1981)

Session 2 Module 1: The Practice of Law and Regulation of the Legal Profession
16 February
1. Practice of Law

 Cayetano v. Monsod, G.R. No. 10013, September 3, 1991

 Ulep v. Legal Clinic, Inc., B.M. No. 553, June 17, 1993
 Bonifacio v. Era, A.C. No.11754, October 3, 2017

Commentary:
Agpalo, Chapter 2 (Admission to Practice - What Constitutes Practice of Law, pp. 32-
35). See also: Agpalo, Chapter 1 (pp. 1-23)

2. Supervision and Control

 1987 Constitution, Article VIII, Sections 1, 2, 5, and 6

 In Re Cunanan, 94 Phil 534 (1954) - focus on the portions explaining judicial
control vs powers of Congress in relation to the practice of law
 Pimentel v. LEB, G.R. No. 230642, September 10, 2019

Commentary:
Agpalo, Chapter 2 (Admission to Practice - Judicial Control, pp. 27-31)

3. Who May Practice Law (See Agpalo, pp. 37-68)

a. Privilege to practice - Agpalo, pp. 39-40

b. Application to take the bar exam

 Rules of Court, Rule 138, Sec 1-7 

 A.M. No. 19-03-24-SC, Revised Rule 138-A - only insofar as CLEP is a
requirement to take the bar 
 Generally - Ui v. Bonifacio, A.C. No. 3319, June 8, 2000
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  "Crime involving moral turpitude" - Soriano v. Dizon, A.C. No. 792,
January 25, 2006
 Educational qualification - In re Investigation of Angel Parazo for
alleged leakage, December 3, 1948
 Good moral character: In re Disqualification of Bar Examinee Haron S
Meiling in the 2002 Bar Examinations, B.M. N0. 1154, June 8, 2004

c. The Bar Exam

- Rule 138, Sec 9-16; see also developments in the bar exam modality

Session 3 d. Oath and Signing of the Roll

21 February
 Rule 138, Sec 17-19
 Arganoza v. Tubaces, A.C. No. 510, September 30, 1971
 In re Argosino, B.M. No. 712 - two resolutions, dated July 13, 1995 and March
19, 1997
 De Zuzuaregui v. De Zuzuaregui, B.M. No. 2796, February 11, 2020
 So v. Lee, B.M. No. 3288, April 10, 2019
 People v. Bella Bautista, G.R. No. 30541, March 30, 1929

e. Continuing requirements - "in good standing"

 IBP requirements
 Professional Tax
 MCLE - See B.M. No 850 on MCLE

Lawyer’s Oath – memorize; See also Rule 138, Sec. 20 – where are they similar?
The Four-Fold Duty

Submit Writing Assignment on People Power Revolution

Session 4 Brief sharing on Writing Assignment

23 February
Module 2: The Lawyer and Society

Read Agpalo Chapter on Lawyers’ Duties to Society (pp. 69-96)

Canon 1, CPR – Duty to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws of the land

1. Unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct (Rule 1.01)

 Piatt v. Abordo, 58 Phil 350 (1933)

 Narciso L. Hipolito v. Atty. Ma. Carmina M. Alejandro-Abbas and Atty.
Joseph Anthony M. Alejandro, A.C. No. 12485, December 10, 2019
 Alfred Lehnert v. Atty. Dennis Diño, A.C. No. 12174 (2018)
 In re Gutierrez, A.C. No. 363, July 31, 1962

2. Not counsel or abet defiance of the law (Rule 1.02)

 Stemmerik v. Mas, A.C. No. 8010, June 16, 2009

3. Not encourage any suit or delay a man’s cause for any corrupt motive or
interest (Rule 1.03)

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  Caspe v. Mejica, A.C. No. 10679, March 10, 2015

4. Encourage fair settlement (Rule 1.04)

 See doctrines of Cabildo v. Navarro, 54 SCRA 26 (1973) and Jeselva v.

Bautista, 105 Phil 348 (1959) – only insofar as what happens to lawyer’s
fees when clients decide to settle
 Larry Sevilla v. Atty. Marcelo Millo, A.C. No. 10697 (2019)

Canon 2, CPR – Duty to make legal services available in an efficient and convenient
manner

 Indigent litigants – Sec. 19, Rule 141, ROC; Article II – Clientele (Sec. 1-7),
PAO Memorandum Circular No. 18 (2002); Counsel de oficio, Sec. 31-32, Rule
138, ROC

Canon 3, CPR – Duty to make legal services known in true, honest, fair, dignified
manner

 Pedro L. Linsangan v. Atty. Nicomedes Tolentino, A.C. 6672, September 4,

2009

Canon 4, CPR – Duty to participate in the development of legal system

Canon 5, CPR – Duty to keep abreast of legal developments and participate in

continuing legal education

Canon 6, CPR – Applicability to lawyers in government service

 Read closely Agpalo, pp. 79-96

 Huyssen v. Gutierrez, A.C. No. 6707, March 24, 2006
 Aquilino Pimentel Jr. v. Attys. Antonio Llorente and Ligaya Salayon, A.C.
No. 4680, August 29, 2000
 Mike Fermin v. Lintang Bedol, A.C. No. 6560 (2019)
 Presidential Commission on Good Governance v. Sandiganbayan and
Mendoza, G.R. Nos. 151809-12, April 12, 2005
 Catu v. Rellosa, A.C. No. 5738, February 19, 2008