LEGAL ETHICS This is a branch of moral science which treats of the

duties which an attorney owes to the court, to his client, to his colleague
in the profession and to the public as embodied in the constitution, code
of professional responsibility, canon of judicial ethics, jurisprudence, moral
law and special laws.
Importance of legal ethics
1. Legal ethics will guard against the abuses and ill of the legal
profession such as dishonesty, deceit, immorality, negligence,
slothness , lack of diligence and many other malpractice of the
members of the Bar.
2. In the positive one, it will raise the standard of the legal profession,
encourage and enhance the respect for the law, assure the effective
and efficient administration of justice and assist in the keeping and
maintenance of law and order in coordination with different
departments of the government.
3. It will also become a basis of weeping-out the unfit and misfit in the
legal profession for the protection of the public.
Bases of Legal ethics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Canon of professional ethics

Statute
Supreme court decisions
Constitution
Treaties and Publications
Present basis of the Phil legal ethics Code of Professional
Responsibility
- June 21, 1988

Importance of the new code

1. Impression of identity

2. Independence attunes to the local traditions, practices and

customs in the country
Definition of Terms:
1. Bar refers to the whole body of attorney and counselors;
collectively, the members of the legal profession
2. Bench denotes the whole body of judges
3. Practising Lawyer One engage in the practice of law.
4. Practice Law refers to any activity in or out of court which requires
the application of law, legal procedure, knowledge, training and
experience.
5. Attorneys at Law- that class of person who are license, officers of
the court, empowered to appear, prosecute and defend and upon
whose duties, responsibilities and liabilities are developed as a
consequence.
6. Attorney in fact agent whose authority is limited by the instrument
appointing him.
7. Counsel de officio a lawyer or attorney appointed by the court to
represent a party, usually an indigent defendant.
8. Attorney at Hoc a person appointed by the court to defend an
absentee defendant in the suit by which the appointment is made.
9. Attorney of record Attorney whose name must appear somewhere
in permanent records or files of case.
10.Lead Counsel counsel on either side of a litigated action who is
charged with the principal management and direction of partys
case.
11.House Counsel Lawyer who acts as attorney for business though
carried as an employee of that business.
12. Amicus Curiae a friend of the court.
13.Advocate lawyer who pleads on behalf