LEGAL & JUDICIAL ETHICS REVIEWER

LAWYERS OATH:
I, _______________________, do solemnly swear that I will maintainallegiance to the Republic of the Philippines; I will support its
Constitutiona n d o b e y t h e l a w s a s w e l l a s t h e l e g a l o r d e r s o f t h e d u l y c o n s t i t u t e d authorities
therein; I will do no falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in co ur t; I will n ot willin gly n or willfully
p ro mote or sue any gro undless, false or unlawful suit; or give aid nor consent to the same; I will delay noman for
money or malice, and will conduct myself as a lawyer according tothe best of my knowledge and discretion, with all good fidelity as
well as tothe court as to my clients; and I impose or purpose of evasion. So help meGod.
Nature of a Lawyers Oath:

The lawye rs oat h is n ot a mere for mality rec ited fo r a few minutes in th e glare of fl as hing cameras and
before the presence of select witness.
(In re: Arthur M. Cuevas, Jr. 285 SCRA 59, January 27. 1998).

The lawye rs oat h is n ot mere facile wo rds , d r if t an d h ollow, b ut a s acred tr ust t h at must be upheld
and kept inviolable.
(Sebastian v. Calis, Adm. Case No. 5118, Sept. 9, 1999)
Duties of Attorneys:
a.to main t ain allegiance to t h e Rep ub lic of t h e Ph ilippines and to s uppo r t t he Constitution and obey the
laws of the Philippines;
b.obs e r ve and main t ain t he respec t due to t h e co ur ts of justice an d jud icial o ffi cers;
c. to counse l o r main t ain such ac tion s o r p roc eedings on ly as app ear to h im as just, and such defenses
only as he believes to be honestly debatable under the laws;
d. to emp loy, fo r t h e p ur pose of main t aining t h e c auses confi ded to him, s uch means as only as are
consistent with truth and honor, and never seek to misleadthe judge as any judicial officer by an artifice or false
statement of fact or law;
e. to maint ain inv io late t h e co nfi de nce, and at eve r y per il to h imse lf, to p rese r ve t he secrets of his client,
and to accept no compensation in connection with hisclients business except from him or with his knowledge and
approval;
f. to ab st ain f ro m all off ens ive perso nality an d to advan ce no fac t prejud icial to t he honor or reputation
of a party or witness, unless required by the justice of thecause with which he is charged;
g.not to enc ourage eit he r in t h e co mmence men t or t he con tinuance of an ac tion or proceeding, or delay
any mans cause for any corrupt motive or interest;
h. never to reject, fo r any consideration pers onal to h imse lf, t he cause of t h edefenseless or oppressed;
i. in t he defense of a pe rson ac cused of a cr ime, by all fair and hon orab le means, regardless of his
personal opinion as to the guilt of the accused, to present every