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The Lawphil Project ­ Arellano Law Foundation
Rule 138
 
ATTORNEYS AND ADMISSION TO BAR

RULE 138

Attorneys and Admission to Bar

Section 1. Who may practice law. — Any 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.

Section 2. Requirements for all applicants for admission to the bar. — Every applicant for admission as a
member of the bar must be a citizen of the Philippines, at least twenty-one years of age, of good moral character,
and resident of the Philippines; and 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.

Section 3. Requirements for lawyers who are citizens of the United States of America. — Citizens of the United
States of America who, before July 4, 1946, were duly licensed members of the Philippine Bar, in active practice
in the courts of the Philippines and in good and regular standing as such may, upon satisfactory proof of those
facts before the Supreme Court, be allowed to continue such practice after taking the following oath of office:

I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., having been permitted to continue in the practice of law in the

Philippines, do solemnly swear that I recognize the supreme authority of the Republic of the Philippines; I
will support its Constitution and obey the laws as well as the legal orders of the duly constituted
authorities therein; I will do no falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in court; I will not wittingly or
willingly promote or sue any groundless, false or unlawful suit, nor give aid nor consent to the same; I will
delay no man for money or malice, and will conduct myself as a lawyer according to the best of may
knowledge and discretion with all good fidelity as well as to the courts as to my clients; and I impose upon
myself this voluntary obligation without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. So help me God.

Section 4. Requirements for applicants from other jurisdictions. — Applicants for admission who, being Filipino
citizens, are enrolled attorneys in good standing in the Supreme Court of the United States or in any circuit court
of appeals or district court therein, or in the highest court of any State or Territory of the United States, and who
can show by satisfactory certificates that they have practiced at least five years in any of said courts, that such
practice began before July 4, 1946, and that they have never been suspended or disbarred, may, in the discretion
of the Court, be admitted without examination.

Section 5. Additional requirements for other applicants. — All applicants for admission other than those referred
to in the two preceding section shall, before being admitted to the examination, satisfactorily show that they have
regularly studied law for four years, and successfully completed all prescribed courses, in a law school or
university, officially approved and recognized by the Secretary of Education. The affidavit of the candidate,
accompanied by a certificate from the university or school of law, shall be filed as evidence of such facts, and
further evidence may be required by the court.

No applicant shall be admitted to the bar examinations unless he has satisfactorily completed the following
courses in a law school or university duly recognized by the government: civil law, commercial law, remedial
law, criminal law, public and private international law, political law, labor and social legislation, medical
jurisprudence, taxation and legal ethics.

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Section 6. Pre-Law. — No applicant for admission to the bar examination shall be admitted unless he presents a
certificate that he has satisfied the Secretary of Education that, before he began the study of law, he had pursued
and satisfactorily completed in an authorized and recognized university or college, requiring for admission
thereto the completion of a four-year high school course, the course of study prescribed therein for a bachelor's
degree in arts or sciences with any of the following subjects as major or field of concentration: political science,
logic, english, spanish, history and economics.

Section 7. Time for filing proof of qualifications. — All applicants for admission shall file with the clerk of the
Supreme Court the evidence required by section 2 of this rule at least fifteen (15) days before the beginning of
the examination. If not embraced within section 3 and 4 of this rule they shall also file within the same period the
affidavit and certificate required by section 5, and if embraced within sections 3 and 4 they shall exhibit a license
evidencing the fact of their admission to practice, satisfactory evidence that the same has not been revoked, and
certificates as to their professional standing. Applicants shall also file at the same time their own affidavits as to
their age, residence, and citizenship.

Section 8. Notice of Applications. — Notice of applications for admission shall be published by the clerk of the
Supreme Court in newspapers published in Pilipino, English and Spanish, for at least ten (10) days before the
beginning of the examination.

Section 9. Examination; subjects. — Applicants, not otherwise provided for in sections 3 and 4 of this rule, shall
be subjected to examinations in the following subjects: Civil Law; Labor and Social Legislation; Mercantile
Law; Criminal Law; Political Law (Constitutional Law, Public Corporations, and Public Officers); International
Law (Private and Public); Taxation; Remedial Law (Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence); Legal
Ethics and Practical Exercises (in Pleadings and Conveyancing).

Section 10. Bar examination, by questions and answers, and in writing. — Persons taking the examination shall
not bring papers, books or notes into the examination rooms. The questions shall be the same for all examinees
and a copy thereof, in English or Spanish, shall be given to each examinee. Examinees shall answer the questions
personally without help from anyone.

Upon verified application made by an examinee stating that his penmanship is so poor that it will be difficult to
read his answers without much loss of time., the Supreme Court may allow such examinee to use a typewriter in
answering the questions. Only noiseless typewriters shall be allowed to be used.

The committee of bar examiner shall take such precautions as are necessary to prevent the substitution of papers
or commission of other frauds. Examinees shall not place their names on the examination papers. No oral
examination shall be given.

Section 11. Annual examination. — Examinations for admission to the bar of the Philippines shall take place
annually in the City of Manila. They shall be held in four days to be disignated by the chairman of the committee
on bar examiners. The subjects shall be distributed as follows: First day: Political and International Law
(morning) and Labor and Social Legislation (afternoon); Second day: Civil Law (morning) and Taxation
(afternoon); Third day: Mercantile Law (morning) and Criminal Law (afternoon); Fourth day: Remedial Law
(morning) and legal Ethics and Practical Exercises (afternoon).

Section 12. Committee of examiners. — Examinations shall be conducted by a committee of bar examiners to be
appointed by the Supreme Court. This committee shall be composed of a Justice of the Supreme Court, who
shall act as chairman, and who shall be designated by the court to serve for one year, and eight members of the
bar of the Philippines, who shall hold office for a period of one year. The names of the members of this
committee shall be published in each volume of the official reports.

Section 13. Disciplinary measures. — No candidate shall endeavor to influence any member of the committee,
and during examination the candidates shall not communicate with each other nor shall they give or receive any

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assistance. The candidate who violates this provisions, or any other provision of this rule, shall be barred from
the examination, and the same to count as a failure against him, and further disciplinary action, including
permanent disqualification, may be taken in the discretion of the court.

Section 14. Passing average. — In order that a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examinations
successfully, he must have obtained a general average of 75 per cent in all subjects, without falling below 50 per
cent in any subjects. In determining the average, the subjects in the examination shall be given the following
relative weights: Civil Law, 15 per cent; Labor and Social Legislation, 10 per cent; Mercantile Law, 15 per cent;
Criminal Law; 10 per cent: Political and International Law, 15 per cent; Taxation, 10 per cent; Remedial Law, 20
per cent; Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, 5 per cent.

Section 15. Report of the committee; filing of examination papers. — Not later than February 15th after the
examination, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, the committee shall file its report on the result of such
examination. The examination papers and notes of the committee shall be filed with the clerk and may there be
examined by the parties in interest, after the court has approved the report.

Section 16. Failing candidates to take review course. — Candidates who have failed the bar examinations for
three times shall be disqualified from taking another examination unless they show the satisfaction of the court
that they have enrolled in and passed regular fourth year review classes as well as attended a pre-bar review
course in a recognized law school.

The professors of the individual review subjects attended by the candidates under this rule shall certify under
oath that the candidates have regularly attended classes and passed the subjects under the same conditions as
ordinary students and the ratings obtained by them in the particular subject.

Section 17. Admission and oath of successful applicants. — An applicant who has passed the required
examination, or has been otherwise found to be entitled to admission to the bar, shall take and subscribe before
the Supreme Court the corresponding oath of office.

Section 18. Certificate. — The supreme Court shall thereupon admit the applicant as a member of the bar for all
the courts of the Philippines, and shall direct an order to be entered to that effect upon its records, and that a
certificate of such record be given to him by the clerk of court, which certificate shall be his authority to practice.

Section 19. Attorney's roll. — The clerk of the Supreme Court shall kept a roll of all attorneys admitted to
practice, which roll shall be signed by the person admitted when he receives his certificate.

Section 20. Duties of attorneys. — It is the duty of an attorney:

(a) To maintain allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and to support the Constitution and obey the laws of the Philippines.

(b) To observe and maintain the respect due to the courts of justice and judicial officers;

(c) 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.

(d)  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;

(e) 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;

(f) 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;

(g)  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;

(h) Never to reject, for any consideration personal to himself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed;

(i)  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.

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Section 21. Authority of attorney to appear. — an attorney is presumed to be properly authorized to represent any cause in which he appears, and no written power
of attorney is required to authorize him to appear in court for his client, but the presiding judge may, on motion of either party and on reasonable grounds therefor
being shown, require any attorney who assumes the right to appear in a case to produce or prove the authority under which he appears, and to disclose, whenever
pertinent to any issue, the name of the person who employed him, and may thereupon make such order as justice requires. An attorneys wilfully appear in court for
a  person  without  being  employed,  unless  by  leave  of  the  court,  may  be  punished  for  contempt  as  an  officer  of  the  court  who  has  misbehaved  in  his  official
transactions.

Section 22. Attorney who appears in lower court presumed to represent client on appeal. — An attorney who appears de parte in a case before a lower court shall
be presumed to continue representing his client on appeal, unless he files a formal petition withdrawing his appearance in the appellate court.

Section 23. Authority of attorneys to bind clients. — Attorneys have authority to bind their clients in any case by any agreement in relation thereto made in writing,
and  in  taking  appeals,  and  in  all  matters  of  ordinary  judicial  procedure.  But  they  cannot,  without  special  authority,  compromise  their  client's  litigation,  or  receive
anything in discharge of a client's claim but the full amount in cash.

Section 24. Compensation  of  attorneys;  agreement  as  to  fees.  —  An  attorney  shall  be  entitled  to  have  and  recover  from  his  client  no  more  than  a  reasonable
compensation  for  his  services,  with  a  view  to  the  importance  of  the  subject  matter  of  the  controversy,  the  extent  of  the  services  rendered,  and  the  professional
standing of the attorney. No court shall be bound by the opinion of attorneys as expert witnesses as to the proper compensation, but may disregard such testimony
and base its conclusion on its own professional knowledge. A written contract for services shall control the amount to be paid therefor unless found by the court to
be unconscionable or unreasonable.

Section 25. Unlawful retention of client's funds; contempt. — When an attorney unjustly retains in his hands money of his client after it has been demanded, he may
be  punished  for  contempt  as  an  officer  of  the  Court  who  has  misbehaved  in  his  official  transactions;  but  proceedings  under  this  section  shall  not  be  a  bar  to  a
criminal prosecution.

Section 26. Change of attorneys. — An attorney may retire at any time from any action or special proceeding, by the written consent of his client filed in court. He
may also retire at any time from an action or special proceeding, without the  consent of his client, should the  court, on notice to  the  client and attorney, and on
hearing, determine that he ought to be allowed to retire. In case of substitution, the name of the attorney newly employed shall be entered on the docket of the court
in place of the former one, and written notice of the change shall be given to the advance party.

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. However, the
attorney may, in the discretion of the court, intervene in the case to protect his rights. For the payment of his compensation the attorney shall have a lien upon all
judgments for the payment of money, and executions issued in pursuance of such judgment, rendered in the case wherein his services had been retained by the
client.

Section 27. Attorneys  removed  or  suspended  by  Supreme  Court  on  what  grounds.  —  A  member  of  the  bar  may  be  removed  or  suspended  from  his  office  as
attorney by the Supreme Court for any deceit, malpractice, or other gross misconduct in such office, grossly immoral conduct, or by reason of his conviction of a
crime involving moral turpitude, or for any violation of the oath which he is required to take before the admission to practice, or for a wilfull disobedience of any
lawful order of a superior court, or for corruptly or willful appearing as an attorney for a party to a case without authority so to do. The practice of soliciting cases at
law for the purpose of gain, either personally or through paid agents or brokers, constitutes malpractice.

Section 28. Suspension of attorney by the  Court of Appeals or a Court of First Instance. — The  Court of Appeals or a Court of First Instance may suspend an

attorney from practice for any of the  causes named in the  last preceding section, and after such suspension such attorney shall not practice his profession until
further action of the Supreme Court in the premises.

Section 29. Upon suspension by the Court of Appeals or Court of First Instance, further proceedings in Supreme Court. — Upon such suspension, the  Court of
Appeals or the Court of First Instance 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 the receipt of such certified copy and statement, the Supreme Court shall make a full investigation of the facts involved and make
such order revoking or extending the suspension, or removing the attorney from his office as such, as the facts warrant.

Section 30. Attorney to be heard before removal or suspension. — No attorney shall be removed or suspended from the practice of his profession, until he has had
full opportunity upon reasonable notice to answer the charges against him, to produce witnesses in his own behalf, and to be heard by himself or counsel. But if
upon reasonable notice he fails to appear and answer the accusation, the court may proceed to determine the matter ex parte.

Section 31. Attorneys for destitute litigants. — A court may assign an attorney to render professional aid free of charge to any party in a case, if upon investigation it
appears that the party is destitute and unable to employ an attorney, and that the services of counsel are necessary to secure the ends of justice and to protect the
rights of the party. It shall be the duty of the attorney so assigned to render the required service, unless he is excused therefrom by the court for sufficient cause
shown.

Section 32. Compensation for attorneys de oficio. — Subject to availability of funds as may be provided by the law the court may, in its discretion, order an attorney
employed as counsel de oficio to  be compensates in such sum as the  court may fix in accordance with section 24 of this rule. Whenever such compensation is
allowed, it shall be not less than thirty pesos (P30) in any case, nor more than the following amounts: (1) Fifty pesos (P50) in light felonies; (2) One hundred pesos
(P100) in less grave felonies; (3) Two hundred pesos (P200) in grave felonies other than capital offenses; (4) Five Hundred pesos (P500) in capital offenses.

Section 33. Standing in court of person authorized to appear for Government. — Any official or other person appointed or designated in accordance with law to
appear for the Government of the Philippines shall have all the rights of a duly authorized member of the bar to appear in any case in which said government has an
interest direct or indirect.

Section 34. By whom litigation conducted. — In the court of a justice of the peace a party may conduct his litigation in person, with the aid of an agent or friend
appointed  by  him  for  the  purpose,  or  with  the  aid  an  attorney.  In  any  other  court,  a  party  may  conduct  his  litigation  personally  or  by  aid  of  an  attorney,  and  his
appearance must be either personal or by a duly authorized member of the bar.

Section 35. Certain attorneys not to practice. — No judge or other official or employee of the superior courts or of the Office of the Solicitor General, shall engage in
private practice as a member of the bar or give professional advice to clients.

Section 36. Amicus Curiae.  —  Experienced  and  impartial  attorneys  may  be  invited  by  the  Court  to  appear  as  amici  curiae  to  help  in  the  disposition  of  issues
submitted to it.

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Section 37. Attorneys' liens. — An attorney shall have a lien upon the funds, documents and papers of his client which have lawfully come into his possession and
may retain the same until his lawful fees and disbursements have been paid, and may apply such funds to the satisfaction thereof. He shall also have a lien to the
same extent upon all judgments for the payment of money, and executions issued in pursuance of such judgments, which he has secured in a litigation of his client,
from and after the time when he shall have the 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 the caused written notice thereof to be delivered to his client and to the adverse paty; and he shall have the same right and
power over such judgments and executions as his client would have to enforce his lien and secure the payment of his just fees and disbursements.

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