Rule 1.

01- A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct: (UDID)
CANON 7 A lawyer shall at all times uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession and support the activities of the
Integrated Bar. (US)
Rule 7.03- A lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, nor should he, whether in public
or private life, behave in a scandalous manner to the discredit of the legal profession.(NEBS)
Immoral conduct has been described as that conduct which is so willful, flagrant, or shameless as to show indifference to the opinion of good and
respectable members of the community.
A lawyer may be disbarred or suspended for misconduct, whether in his professional or private capacity, which shows him to be wanting in
moral character, honesty, probity and good demeanor or unworthy to continue as an officer of the court (MHPG).
The practice of law is a privilege heavily burdened with conditions.24 The attorney is a vanguard of our legal system, and, as such, is
expected to
maintain not only legal proficiency but also a very high standard of morality, honesty, integrity, and fair dealing in order that the peoples
faith and confidence in the legal system are ensured.25 Thus, he must conduct himself, whether in dealing with his clients or with the public
at large, as to be beyond reproach at all times.26 Any violation of the high moral standards of the legal profession justifies the imposition on
the attorney of the appropriate penalty, including suspension and disbarment.27
gross misconduct, which is "improper or wrong conduct, the transgression of some established and definite rule of action, a forbidden act, a
dereliction of duty, willful in character, and implies a wrongful intent and not mere error of judgment."33 Any gross misconduct of an attorney
in his professional or private capacity shows him unfit to manage the affairs of others, and is a ground for the imposition of the penalty of
suspension or disbarment, because go
First, Atty. Garrido admitted that he left Constancia to pursue his law studies; thereafter and during the marriage, he had romantic
relationships with other women. He had the gall to represent to this Court that the study of law was his reason for leaving his wife; marriage
and the study of law are not mutually exclusive.
Second, he misrepresented himself to Maelotisea as a bachelor, when in truth he was already married to Constancia.26 This was a
misrepresentation given as an excuse to lure a woman into a prohibited relationship.
Third, Atty. Garrido contracted his second marriage with Maelotisea notwithstanding the subsistence of his first marriage. This was an open
admission, not only of an illegal liaison, but of the commission of a crime.
Fourth, Atty. Garrido engaged in an extra-marital affair with Atty. Valencia while his two marriages were in place and without taking into
consideration the moral and emotional implications of his actions on the two women he took as wives and on his six (6) children by his
second marriage.
Fifth, instead of making legal amends to validate his marriage with Maelotisea upon the death of Constancia, Atty. Garrido married Atty.
Valencia who bore him a daughter.
Sixth, Atty. Garrido misused his legal knowledge and convinced Atty. Valencia (who was not then a lawyer) that he was free to marry,
considering that his marriage with Maelotisea was not "valid."
Seventh, as the evidence on record implies, Atty. Garrido married Atty. Valencia in Hongkong in an apparent attempt to accord legitimacy to
a union entered into while another marriage was in place.
Eighth, after admission to the practice of law, Atty. Garrido simultaneously cohabited and had sexual relations with two (2) women who at
one point were both his wedded wives. He also led a double life with two (2) families for a period of more than ten (10) years.
Lastly, Atty. Garrido petitioned for the nullity of his marriage to Maelotisea. Contrary to the position advanced by Atty. Alicia A. Risos-Vidal,
this was not an act of facing up to his responsibility or an act of mending his ways. This was an attempt, using his legal knowledge, to
escape liability for his past actions by having his second marriage declared void after the present complaint was filed against him.
od moral character is an essential qualification for the admission of an attorney and for the continuance of such privilege.34
The requirement of good moral character has four general purposes, namely: (1) to protect the public; (2) to protect the public image of
lawyers; (3) to protect prospective clients; and (4) to protect errant lawyers from themselves.
for a lawyer may be disciplined even for acts not involving any attorney-client relationship.
CANON 8,Respondent ought to have realized that this sort of public behavior can only bring down the legal profession in the public
estimation and erode public respect for it. Whatever moral righteousness respondent had was negated by the way he chose to express his
indignation (anger). An injustice cannot be righted by another injustice.
Canon 8 of the Code of Professional Responsibility admonishes lawyers to conduct themselves with courtesy, fairness and candor toward
their fellow lawyers. Lawyers are duty bound to uphold the dignity of the legal profession. They must act honorably, fairly and candidly
toward each other and otherwise conduct themselves without reproach at all times.
15

Language abounds with countless possibilities for one to be emphatic but respectful, convincing but not derogatory, illuminating but not
offensive.16
"A lawyer should not in any way communicate upon the subject of controversy with a party represented by counsel, much
less should he undertake to negotiate or compromise the matter with him, but should only deal with his counsel. It is

incumbent upon the lawyer most particularly to avoid everything that may tend to mislead a party not represented by
counsel and he should not undertake to advise him as to law." barth
Lawyers are officers of the court who are empowered to appear, prosecute and defend the causes of their clients. The law imposes on them
peculiar duties, responsibilities and liabilities. Membership in the bar imposes on them certain obligations. [7] They are duty bound to uphold the dignity
of the legal profession. They must act honorably, fairly and candidly towards each other and otherwise conduct themselves beyond reproach at all times.
[8]

The term "practice of law" implies customarily or habitually holding oneself out to the public as a lawyer for compensation as a source of
livelihood or in consideration of his services. Holding one's self out as a lawyer may be shown by acts indicative of that purpose like
identifying oneself as attorney, appearing in court in representation of a client, or associating oneself as a partner of a law office for the
general practice of law. Such acts constitute unauthorized practice of law.
For an honest mistake or error, an attorney is not liable. Chief Justice Abbott said that, no attorney is bound to know all the law; God forbid that it
should be imagined that an attorney or a counsel, or even a judge, is bound to know all the law
Disbarment is the only recourse to remove a rotten apple if only to instill and maintain the respect and confidence of all and sundry to the
noble profession
MARIVELES VS.MALLARI- It is true that the failure of counsel to file brief for the appellant which led to
the dismissal of the appeal does not necessarily warrant the reinstatement thereof. However, where
the negligence of counsel is so great that the rights of accused are prejudiced and he is prevented
from presenting his defense, especially where the appellant raises issues which place in serious doubt
the correctness of the trial court's judgment of conviction, the aforesaid rule must not be rigidly applied
to avoid a miscarriage of justice. These teachings of jurisprudence are present in the case at bar.
All members of the legal profession made a solemn oath to, inter alia, do no falsehood and conduct [themselves] as [lawyers]
according to the best of [their] knowledge and discretion with all good fidelity as well to the courts as to [their] clients. These particular
fundamental principles are reflected in the Code of Professional Responsibility, specifically:
Canon 10 A lawyer owes candor, fairness and good faith to the court.
Rule 10.01 A lawyer shall not do any falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in Court, nor shall he mislead, or allow the Court to be misled by an
artifice.
Candor towards the courts is a cardinal requirement of the practicing lawyer.[5] In fact, this obligation to
the bench for candor and honesty takes precedence.[6]
if respect for the courts and for judicial process is gone or steadily weakened, no law can save us as a society.[7]
It is essential that lawyers bear in mind at all times that their first duty is not to their clients but rather to the courts, that they are above all
court officers sworn to assist the courts in rendering justice to all and sundry, and only secondarily are they advocates of the exclusive
interests of their clients
Indeed, lawyers are expected to maintain at all times a high standard of legal proficiency and morality, including honesty, integrity and fair
dealing. They must perform their four-fold duty to society, the legal profession, the courts and their clients, in accordance with the values
and norms of the legal profession as embodied in the Code of Professional Responsibility.8
He should know that once a case is decided with finality, the controversy is settled and the matter is laid to rest. The prevailing party is entitled
to enjoy the fruits of his victory, while the other party is obliged to respect the courts verdict and to comply with it. [22]
The essence of forum shopping is the filing of multiple suits involving the same parties for the same cause of action, either simultaneously or
successively, for the purpose of obtaining a favorable judgment.
A lawyer owes fidelity to the cause of his client, but not at the expense of truth and the administration of justice. The filing of multiple petitions
constitutes abuse of the courts processes and improper conduct that tends to impede, obstruct and degrade the administration of justice and will be
punished as contempt of court.
A lawyer owes fidelity to the cause of his client, but not at the expense of truth and the administration of justice. The filing of multiple petitions
constitutes abuse of the courts processes and improper conduct that tends to impede, obstruct and degrade the administration of justice and will be
punished as contempt of court.
A lawyer may not, without being guilty of professional misconduct, act as counsel for a person whose interest conflicts with that of his
present or former client. 15 He may not also undertake to discharge conflicting duties any more than he may represent antagonistic
interests. This stern rule is founded on the principles of public policy and good taste. 16 It springs from the relation of attorney and client
which is one of trust and confidence. Lawyers are expected not only to keep inviolate the client's confidence, but also to avoid the
appearance of treachery and double-dealing for only then can litigants be encouraged to entrust their secrets to their lawyers, which is of
paramount importance in the administration of justice. 17