Professional Documents
Culture Documents
LEGAL ETHICS – is a branch of moral science, which treats of the duties which an attorney
owes to the court, to the client, to his colleagues in the profession and to the public as embodied
in the Constitution, Rules of Court, the Code of Professional Responsibility, Canons of
Professional Ethics, jurisprudence, moral laws and special laws.
Practice of Law – 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 give notice
or render any kind of service, which or devise or service requires the use in any degree of legal
knowledge or skill (Cayetano v. Monsod, 201 SCRA 210).
Attorney in fact – an agent whose authority is strictly limited by the instrument appointing him,
though he may do things not mentioned in his appointment necessary to the performance of the
duties specifically required of him by the power of attorney appointing him, such authority being
necessarily implied. He is not necessarily a lawyer.
Counsel de Oficio – a counsel, appointed or assigned by the court, from among members of the
Bar in good standing who, by reason of their experience and ability, may adequately defend the
accused.
Note: In localities where members of the Bar are not available, the court may appoint any person,
resident of the province and good repute for probity and ability, to defend the accused. Sec. 7,
Rule 116, Rules of Court.
Attorney ad hoc – a person named and appointed by the court to defend an absentee defendant
in the suit in
which the appointment is made (Bienvenu v. Factor’s of Traders Insurance Cp., 33 La.Ann.209)
Attorney of Record – one who has filed a notice of appearance and who hence is formally
mentioned in court records as the official attorney of the party. Person whom the client has
named as his agent upon whom service of papers may be made.
(Reynolds v. Reynolds, Cal.2d580).
Of Counsel – to distinguish them from attorneys of record, associate attorneys are referred to as
“of counsel” (5 Am. Jur. 261).
Lead Counsel – The counsel on their side of a litigated action who is charged with the principal
management and direction of a party’s case.
House Counsel – Lawyer who acts as attorney for business though carried as an employee of
that business and not as an independent lawyer.
Advocate – The general and popular name for a lawyer who pleads on behalf of someone else.
Titulo de Abogado – it means not mere possession of the academic degree of Bachelor of Laws
but membership in the Bar after due admission thereto, qualifying one for the practice of law.
Practice of Law
The practice of law is a privilege granted only to those who possess the STRICT
INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL QUALIFICATIONS required of lawyers who are instruments
in the effective and efficient administration of justice. (In Re: Argosino, 1997).
Requirement of Good Moral Character: a continuing requirement; good moral character is not
only a condition precedent for admission to the legal profession, but it must also remain intact in
order to maintain one’s good standing in that exclusive and honored fraternity. (Tapucar vs.
Tapucar, 1998)
Public Officials who cannot engage in the private practice of Law in the Philippines:
1. Judges and other officials as employees of the Supreme Court (Rule 148, Sec. 35, RRC).
2. Officials and employees of the OSG (Ibid.)
3. Government prosecutors (People v. Villanueva, 14 SCRA 109).
4. President, Vice-President, members of the cabinet, their deputies and assistants (Art. VIII
Sec. 15, 1987 Constitution).
5. Members of the Constitutional Commission (Art IX-A, Sec. 2, 1987 Constitution)
6. Ombudsman and his deputies (Art. IX, Sec. 8 (2nd par), 1987 Constitution)
7. All governors, city and municipal mayors (R.A. No. 7160, Sec. 90).
8. Those prohibited by special law
Attorney’s Oath:
“I, __________________, do solemnly swear that I will maintain allegiance to 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 willingly nor wittingly promote or sue any groundless, false or
unlawful suit, or 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 my knowledge and discretion, with all
good fidelity as well to the court as to my clients; and I impose upon myself this voluntary
obligations without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. So help me God.” (Form 28,
RRC)
Rule 2.01 – A lawyer shall not reject, except for valid reasons, the cause of the defenseless
or oppressed.
Rule 2.02 – In such a case, even if a lawyer does not accept a case, he shall not refuse to
render legal advise to the person concerned if only to the extent necessary to safeguard
latter’s rights.
Rule 2.03 – a lawyer shall not do or permit to be done any act designed primarily to solicit
legal business.
Primary characteristics which distinguish the legal profession from business;
1. duty of service, of which the emolument is a by product, and in which one may attain the
highest eminence without making such money;
2. a relation as an ‘officer of court’ to the administration of justice involving thorough
sincerity, integrity and reliability;
3. a relation to clients in the highest degree of fiduciary;
4. a relation to colleagues at the bar characterized by candor, fairness and unwillingness to
resort to current business methods of advertising and encroachment on their practice or
dealing with their clients.
Defenseless – not in the position to defend themselves due to poverty, weakness,
ignorance or other similar reasons.
Oppressed – victims of acts of cruelty, unlawful exaction, domination or excessive use of
authority.
Rule on Advertisements
General Rule: No advertisements allowed. The most worthy and effective advertisement
possible is the establishment of a well-merited reputation for professional capacity and
fidelity to trust.
Lawyers may not advertise their services or expertise nor should not resort to indirect
advertisements for professional employment, such as furnishing or inspiring newspaper
comments, or procuring his photograph to be published in connection with causes in which the
lawyer has been engaged or concerning the manner of their conduct, the magnitude of the
interest involved, the importance of the lawyer’s position, and all other self-laudation.
CANON 3 – A lawyer in making known is legal services shall use only true, honest, fair
dignified and objective information or statement of facts.
Rule 3.01 – A lawyer shall not use or permit the use of any false, fraudulent, misleading,
deceptive, undignified, self-auditory or unfair statement or claim regarding his
qualifications or legal services.
Violation of Rule 3.01 is unethical, whether done by him personally or through another
with his permission.
Rule 3.02 – 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 communication that said partner is deceased.
Rule 3.03 – 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 law
concurrently.
Rule 3.04 – A lawyer shall not pay or give anything of value to representatives of the mass
media in anticipation of, or in return for, publicity to attract legal business.
It is unethical to use the name of a foreign firm.
Death of a partner does not extinguish attorney-client relationship with the law firm.
Negligence of a member in the law firm is negligence of the firm.
CANON 4 – A lawyer shall participate in the improvement of the legal system by initiating
or supporting efforts in law reform and in the administration of justice.
Examples: Presenting position papers or resolutions for the introduction of pertinent bills
in congress; Petitions with the Supreme Court for the amendment of the Rules of Court.
Sec 3. Corrupt practice of Public Officers. In addition to acts or omission of public officers
already penalized by existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practice of any public
officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:
(d) accepting or having any member of his family accept employment in a private enterprise
which has pending official business with him during the pendency thereof or within one year
after termination.
Section 7 (b) of RA 6713 prohibits officials from doing any of the following acts:
Lawyers in the government service are prohibited to engage in the private practice of
their profession unless authorized by the constitution or law, provided that such practice
will not conflict or tend to conflict with their official functions.
Misconduct in office as a public official may be a ground for disciplinary action (if of
such character as to affect his qualification as lawyer or to show moral delinquency).
Should recommend the acquittal of the accused whose conviction is on appeal, IF he
finds no legal basis to sustain the conviction.
Includes restriction is representing conflicting interest (e.g. Accepting engagements vs.
former employer, PNB)
The OSG is not authorized to represent a public official at any state of a criminal case.