LEGAL ETHICS COURSE OUTLINE

Arellano University School of Law

I. Introduction/Preliminaries

a. Practice of Law; Definition; Criteria

(Cayetano v. Monsod, 201 SCRA 210; Cruz v. Atty. Cabrera, A.C. No. 5737, October 25,
2004; Rodolfo Bernardo v. Atty. Ismael F. Mejia, A.C. No. 2984, August 31, 2007; Alawi
v. Alauya, A. M. SDC-97-2-P, February 24, 1997; In Re: Argosino, Bar Matter No. 712,
July 13, 1995 and March 19, 1997; Ruthie Lim-Santiago v. Atty Carlos Sagucio, A.C. No.
6705, March 31, 2006)
b. Passing the Bar and Practice of Law
(Aguirre v. Rana; B.M. 1036, June 10, 2003; Petition to sign in the Roll of Attorneys,
Michael Medado, B.M. No. 2540, September 24, 2013)
c. Requirements Before Admission to the Bar or Practice of Law
(Atty. Noe-Lacsaman v. Atty. Busmente, A.C. No. 7269 (2011); Query of Atty. Silverio-
Buffe, A.M. No. 08-6-352-RTC (2009); Re: Elmo Abad, A.M. No. 139 (1983); Normatan &
Pagayokan v. Balajadia, G.R. No. 169517 (2006); In Re: Juan Publico, Petition for
Reinstatement in the Roll of Attorneys, February 20, 1981; Figueroa v. Barranco, Jr.,
SBC Case No. 519 (1997); PP v. Hon. Maceda and Javellana, G.R. No. 89591-96,
January 24, 2000; Petition to Reacquire the Privilege to Practice Law in the Philippines,
Muneses, B.M. 2112 (2012); PP v. De Luna, et al., G.R. Nos. L-10236-48, January 31,
1958; In Re: Purisima, B.M. Nos. 979 and 986 (2002); Paguia v. Office of the President,
G.R. No. 176278 (2010); Ulep v. Legal Clinic, Inc., B.M. 553, June 17, 1993)
d. Membership in the IBP
(In Re: Atty. Marcial Edilion, A. M. 1928, August 3, 1978)
e. Payment of IBP Dues
(Letter of Atty. Cecilio Y. Arevalo Jr., B.M. 1370, May 9, 2005; Santos Jr. v. Llamas, A.C.
4749, January 20, 2000)
f. Citizenship Requirement
(Petition for Leave to Resume Practice of Law, Dacanay, B.M. No. 1678, December 17,
2007; Article 12, Par. 14, 1987 Constitution)
g. Appearance of Non-Lawyers; Law Student Practice Rule
Rule 138-A, Revised Rules of Court, as amended by A.M. No. 19-03-24-SC; Section 34,
Rule 138 (Cruz v. Mina, G.R. No. 154207, April 27, 2007; Bulacan v. Torcino, G.R. No. L-
44388, January 30, 1985; Maderada v. Judge Mediodea, A.M. No. MTJ-02-1459,
October 14, 2003; Cantimbuhan v. Hon. Cruz, Jr., G.R. No. L-51813-14, November 29,
1983)
h. Prohibited Practice of Non-Lawyers and Appearance Without Authority
(Zeta v. Malinao, A.M. No. P-220, December 20, 1978)
i. Public Officials and the Practice of Law
j. Lawyers Authorized to Represent the Government P.D. No. 478, Sec. 1; Local
Government Code of 1991, Sec 481; Administrative Code of 1987, Book IV, Title III,
Chapter 3, Sec. 10 (Phividec Industrial Authority v. Capitol Steel Corporation, G.R. No.
155692, 23 October 2003)
k. The Lawyer’s Oath