Professional Documents
Culture Documents
YES. A request for a legal opinion and a response done through the
internet give rise to a lawyer-client relationship.
A request of a legal opinion and a response done for it give rise to a lawyer–
client relationship. This type of relationship can occur in different ways which
are as follows: 1) a formal letter of engagement or contract for legal service is
signed by the attorney and client; 2) a client pays a retainer or makes a payment
to an attorney in exchange for legal services; and a person asks an attorney for
legal advice and the attorney provides it (even if no payment has been made and
no contract for legal services has been signed).1
1
Solo in Colo <http://www.soloincolo.com/when-does-an-attorney-client-relationship-exist> accessed in February
19, 2019
2
Canon 14, Chapter IV. The Lawyer and the Client. Code of Professional Responsibility, 1988
3
Canon 15, Chapter IV. The Lawyer and the Client. Code of Professional Responsibility, 1988
2
Republic of the Philippines
TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF LAW
xxx
In the case at bar, Manuel asking for legal advice from Louis through an
e-mail has already form a lawyer-client relationship even though there is no
formal letter or an exchange of payment. In the message of Manuel to Louis, he
asked him to give a legal advice as his friend. In a mere conversation with a
‘friend’ and as a ‘friend’ about a legal matter, Louis had already established a
lawyer-client relationship even without realizing it. It is also important to
understand that in this kind of relationship, the lawyer has responsibility over
his client. In addition, Louis shall not refuse in giving his legal services to
Manuel even though Manuel had already committed an adulterous act and his
plan about the birth simulation.