OCA v Ladaga

FACTS:
Atty. Ladaga, an RTC Branch Clerk of Court, acted as pro bono
counsel for a relative in a criminal case, without the previous authority
from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as required by the
Administrative Code. An administrative complaint was filed against Atty.
Ladaga for practicing law without permission from the Department Head
as required by law.

ISSUE:
Whether or not Atty. Ladaga’s appearances as a pro bono counsel
for a relative constitutes practice of law as prohibited by the
Administrative Code.

HELD:

No. Practice of law to fall within the prohibition of the statute should be
customarily or habitually holding one’s self to the public as a lawyer and
demanding payment for such services. It does not pertain to isolated
court appearances as in this case. Nevertheless, for his failure to obtain a
prior permission from the head of the Department, as required by law,
respondent was reprimanded.