Lawyer's Oath

I, do solemnly swear that I will maintain allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines,

I will support the 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, 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
courts as to my clients;

and I impose upon myself these voluntary obligations without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion. So help me God
The new oath, for example, emphasizes the honor, privilege, duty, and responsibility of practicing law in the
Philippines as an officer of the court, while the old oath does not explicitly mention these facets.

The new oath also focuses on promoting the rule of law “in a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and
peace,” whereas the old oath does not explicitly mention these values. Moreover, the new oath commits to
safeguarding “the rights and meaningful freedoms of all persons, identities, and communities, and ensuring greater
and equitable access to justice.” The inclusion of these aspects in the new oath, which are omitted in the old oath,
signifies a more inclusive approach towards practicing law.

The explicit mention of “integrity and civility” in the discharge of duties under the new oath emphasizes the importance
of ethical conduct in legal practice. Also, its emphasis on adherence to the rule of law characterized by truth, justice,
freedom, love, equality, and peace, represents a significant improvement over the old oath's more limited focus on
obeying laws and legal orders issued by duly constituted authorities

the old oath also did not contain "the expression of our most important duty: To do justice or to even ensure access to
justice."

Allegiance and Support: Both versions express allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and a commitment to supporting
the Constitution and obeying laws.

Honesty and Integrity: The old oath emphasizes refraining from falsehood and not promoting groundless, false, or unlawful
suits. The combined oath reaffirms this commitment to honesty and integrity, adding a promise not to pervert the law to
unjustly favor or prejudice anyone.

Professional Conduct: While the old oath focuses on not delaying justice for personal gain and conducting oneself with fidelity
to the courts and clients, the combined oath extends this by emphasizing conscientious and courageous work for justice,
safeguarding rights, ensuring access to justice, and faithful discharge of duties with integrity and civility.

Responsibility to Society: The combined oath includes a commitment to working in the interest of the people, promoting the
rule of law, and striving for a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace. This aspect is not explicitly stated in
the old oath.

Inclusivity: The combined oath pledges to safeguard the rights and meaningful freedoms of all persons, identities, and
communities, ensuring greater and equitable access to justice. This inclusionary language is absent from the old oath.

Overall, the combined oath encompasses the commitments and values of both the old and new versions, reflecting a more
comprehensive and modern approach to the responsibilities of a lawyer in the Philippines.