INTRO TO LAW: LEGAL ETHICS

Legal Ethics
1. Branch of moral science which treats of the duties which an attorney owes to the
court, to his client, to his colleagues in the profession and to the public.
2. It is the embodiment of all principles of morality and refinement that should
govern the conduct of every member of the bar
3. Living spirit of the profession.
Sources of Legal Ethics:
1. The 1987 Constitution.
2. Applicable Jurisprudence.
3. Code of Professional Responsibility.
4. New Civil Code.
5. Rules of Court.
6. Revised Penal Code.
7. Local Government Code.
PRIMARY CHARACTERISTICS WHICH
DISTINGUISH THE LEGAL PROFESSION
FROM BUSINESS (I think this is the features)
1. A duty of public service.
2. A relation, as an officer of the court, to the administration of justice involving
thorough sincerity, integrity and reliability.
3. A relation to clients with the highest degree of fiduciary
4. A relation to the 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 directly with their clients.
PRACTICE OF LAW means any activity, in our out of court, which requires the
application of law, legal procedure, knowledge, training, and experience.
*Cayetano v. Monsod 201 SCRA 210 (citing 111 ALR 23)
To engage in the practice of law is to perform those acts which are characteristics of
the profession.
Generally, to practice law is to give notice or render any kind of service, which
device or service requires the use in any degree of legal knowledge or skill.
*In Re: Argosino (1997)
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.
Attorneys-At-Law that class of persons who are licensed officers of the courts
empowered to appear, prosecute and defend, and upon whom peculiar duties,
responsibilities and liabilities are developed by law as a consequence.
Lawyer this is the general term for a person trained in the law and authorized to
advice and represent others in legal matters
-a person learned in law who is licensed to act as a represent for another in a
legal matter or proceeding.

Attorney The titles given to those who, after having obtained the necessary
degree in the study the law and successfully hurdled the bar examinations, have
been admitted to practice law.
Counsel An officer of the court who is associated in the management of a
particular case, or who acts as a legal adviser in reference to any matter requiring
legal knowledge and judgment.
Advocate The general and popular name for a lawyer who pleads on behalf of
someone else or elses cause. He is a person learned in the law and duly admitted
to practice.
Barrister A person entitled to practice law as an advocate or counsel in superior
courts.
Counsel de oficio:
o Attorney appointed by the court.
o To defend an indigent defendant in a criminal action.
o To represent a destitute party.
Attorney of record:
o Attorney whose name, together with his address, is entered in the record of the
case as the designated counsel of the party litigant.
o To whom judicial notices are sent.
Attorney ad hoc He is the person, a lawyer in that sense, named and appointed
by the court to defend an absentee defendant in the suit in which the appointment
is made.
Amicus Curiae is:
o An experienced and impartial attorney invited by the court to appear and help in
the disposition of issues submitted to it.
o It implies friendly intervention of counsel to call the attention of the court to some
matters of law or facts which might otherwise escape its notice and in regard to
which it might go wrong.
o Appears in court not to represent any particular party but only to assist the court.
Bar refers to the legal profession.
Bench refers to the judiciary.
Attorneys-At-Law that class of persons who are licensed officers of the courts
empowered to appear, prosecute and defend, and upon whom peculiar duties,
responsibilities and liabilities are developed by law as a consequence.
Attorney in fact- simply an agent whose authority is strictly limited by the
instrument appointing him. His authority is provided in a special power of attorney
or general power of attorney or letter of attorney. He is not necessarily a lawyer.

A lawyer of counsel is an experienced lawyer, who is usually a retired member

of judiciary employed by law firms as consultant.
House Counsel one who acts as attorney for business though carried as an
employee of that business and not as an independent lawyer.
Lead Counsel the counsel on either side of a litigated action who is charged with
the principal management and direction of a partys case, as distinguished from his
juniors or subordinates.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR:
1. Citizen of the Philippines
2. Resident of the Philippines
3. At least 21 years old
4. must successfully complete all prescribed courses
5. Production before the Supreme Court satisfactory evidence of:
a. Good moral character
b. No charges against him, involving moral turpitude, have been filed or are pending
in any court in the Philippines.
A lawyer is one who:
1. passed the bar exams,
2. taken an oath ,
3. registered in the roll of attorneys,
4. received a certificate of license to practice law from the Clerk of Court of the
Supreme Court.
After Admission he or she must:
1. remain an IBP member in good standing by regularly paying IBP dues and other
assessments
2. pay annual privilege tax
3. observe the rules on proper ethics
CAN NON-LAWYERS PRACTICE LAW?
Yes, provided the appearance is not habitual, without compensation but subject to
the following:
Non-lawyers authorized to appear in court:
1. Cases before the MTC Party to the litigation, in person OR through an agent or
friend or appointed by him for that purpose (Sec. 34, Rule 138, RRC)
2. Before any other court Party to the litigation, in person (Ibid.)
3. Criminal case before the MTC in a locality where a duly licensed member of the
Bar is not available the judge may appoint a nonlawyer who is:
a. Resident of the province
b. Of good repute for probity and ability to aid the accused in his defense
(Rule 116, Sec. 7, RRC).
4. Legal Aid Program A senior law student, who is enrolled in a recognized law
schools clinical education program approved by the Supreme Court may appear
before any court without compensation, to represent indigent clients, accepted by

the Legal Clinic of the law school. The student shall be under the direct supervision
and control of an IBP member duly accredited by the law school.
5. Before the NLRC or any Labor Arbiter, if:
a. They represent themselves, or if
b. They represent their organization or members thereof (Art 222 of the Labor
Code, PO 442, as amended).
6. Before the Cadastral Court under the Cadastral Act, a non-lawyer can represent
a claimant (Act 2259, Sec. 9).
PUBLIC OFFICIALS NOT ALLOWED TO ENGAGE IN 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.) The OSG is not authorized to represent
a public official at any stage of a criminal case.
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
PUBLIC OFFICIALS WITH RESTRICTIONS IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW
1. Art. VI, Sec. 14, 1987 Constitution No Senator as member of the House of
Representative may personally appear as counsel before any court of justice as
before the Electoral Tribunals, as quasi-judicial and other administration bodies.
2. Local Government Code (RA 7160, Sec. 91) Sanggunian members may practice
their professions provided that if they are members of the Bar, they shall not:
a. Appear as counsel before any court in any civil case wherein a local
government unit or any office, agency, or instrumentality of the government
is theadverse party;
b. Appear as counsel in any criminal case wherein an officer or employee of
the national or local government is accused of an offense committed in
relation to his office;
c. Collect any fee for their appearance in administrative proceedings
involving the local government unit of which he is an official;
d. Use property and personnel of the government except when the
Sanggunian member concerned is defending the interest of the government.
3. RA 910, Sec. 1 (as amended) A retired justice or judge receiving pension from the
government, cannot act as counsel in any civil case in which the Government, or
any of its subdivision or agencies is the adverse party or in a criminal case wherein
an officer or employee of the Government is accused of an offense in relation to his
office.
Misconduct in office as a public official may be a ground for disciplinary action (if it
is of such character as to affect his qualification as lawyer or to show moral
delinquency).

ATTORNEYS 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.