Basic Legal Ethics

Law 115
Course Syllabus

Module Two – LAWYER’S RESONSIBILITIES to the PROFESSION and SOCIETY

A. To the PROFESSION
a. Duty to uphold integrity and dignity of the profession
i. In general
1. CPR, Canon 7
2. CPR, Rule 7.03
3. Guevarra v. Atty Eala, A.C. 7136, 1 August 2007
ii. No false statement in application for admission to the Bar
1. CPR, Rule 7.01
2. In re Diao, A.C. 244, 29 March 1963
iii. Duty not to support unqualified Bar applicant
1. CPR, Rule 7.02
iv. Integration of the Bar
1. R.A. 6937 – IBP
2. ROC, Rule 139-A, Sec 9-10
v. IBP Elections
1. In re 1989 Elections of the IBP, 178 SCR 398
2. 2009 IBP Elections, 638 SCRA 1 (2010)
3. Velez v. De Vera, 496 SCRA 345 (2006)
vi. IBP Dues
1. Santos Jr v. Llamas, 322 SCRA 529 (2000)
2. Letter of Atty Cecilio Arevalo, 458 SCRA 209 (2005)
3. Arnado v. Atty Homobono Adaza, A.C. 9834, 26 August 2015
b. Civility
i. In general
1. CPR, Canon 8
2. Bugarin v. Espanol, 349 SCRA 687 (2001)
3. Reyes v. Chiong, 405 SCRA 212 (2003)
4. Barandon v. Ferrer, 616 SCRA 529 (2010)
5. Espina v. Chavez, A.C. 7250, 20 April 2015
ii. Use of proper language
1. CPR, Rule 8.01
2. Alcantara v. Pefianco, 393 SCRA 247 (2002)
3. Dallong-Galicinao v. Castro, 474 SCRA 1 (2005)
4. Noble v. Ailes, A.C. 10628, 1 July 2015
5. Rodriguez-Manahan v. Flores, A.C. 8954, 12 November 2013
6. Gimeno v. Zaide, A.C. 10303, 22 April 2015
iii. Not to encroach on professional employment
1. CPR, Rule 8.02
2. Camacho v. Pangulayan, 328 SCRA 631 (2000)
3. Binay-an v. Addog, A.C. 10449, 28 July 2014
c. Solicitation and Advertising
i. Advertising
1. CPR, Canon 3
2. CPR, Rule 3.01
3. Khan v. Simbillo, A.C. 5299, 19 August 2003
ii. Firm Name
1. CPR, Rule 3.02
2. Dacanay v. Baker & McKenzie, A.C. 2131, 10 May 1985
3. In re Petition of Sycip, GR X92-1, 30 July 1979
4. Nebreja v. Reonel, A.C. 9896, 19 March 2014
5. CPR, Rule 3.03
6. Samonte v. Gatdula, A.M. P-99-1292, 20 February 1999
7. Constitution, Art VI, Sec 14; Art VII, Sec 13; Art IX, Sec 2
 iii. Solicitation
1. CPR, Rule 2.03
2. ROC, Rule 138, Sec 27
3. CPR, Rule 2.04
4. In re Tagorda, 53 Phil 37 (1929)
5. Ulep v. Legal Clinic, B.M. 553, 17 June 1993
6. Linsangan v. Tolentino, A.C. 6672, 4 September 2009
7. Villatuya v. Tabalingcos, A.C. 6622, 10 July 2012
iv. Use of Media
1. CPR, Rule 3.04
2. Cruz v. Salva, 105 Phil 1151 (1959)

B. To the SOCIETY
a. Rule of Law
i. Duty to respect the law and legal processes
1. CPR, Canon 1
2. CPR, Rules 1.01 to 1.04
3. In re Gutierrez, 5 SCRA 661 (1962)
4. Zaldivar v. Gonzales, 166 SCRA 316 (1988)
5. In re Terrell, 2 Phil 266 (1903)
6. Estrada v. Sandiganbayan, 416 SCRA 465 (2003)
7. Areola v. Mendoza, A.C. 10135, 15 January 2014
8. Jimenez v. Verano, A.C. 8108 & 10299, 15 July 2014
9. Tan v. Diamante, A.C. 7766, 5 August 2014
10. Guarin v. Limpin, A.C. 10576, 14 January 2015
ii. Duty to impress upon client the duty to comply with laws
1. CPR, Rule 15.07
2. CPR, Rule 1.02
3. CPR, Rule 19.02
iii. Duty to uphold the Constitution and the national interest
1. Kuper v. Hontanosas, 587 SCRA 325 (2009)
2. Stemmerik v. Mas, 589 SCRA 114 (2009)
iv. Duty to uphold the integrity of the legal system
1. 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC, 6 July 2004
(Read, understand, and be familiar)
a. Rule IV, Sec 1-6
b. Rule VII, Sec 1-2
c. Rule XI, Sec 1
d. Spouses Santuyo v. Hidalgo, 448 SCRA 282 (2005)
e. Sicat v. Ariola, 456 SCRA 93 (2005)
f. Mondejar v. Rubia, 496 SCRA 1 (2006)
g. Lee v. Tambago, 544 SCRA 393 (2008)
2. Notarial Duties (note the various ways by which the Notarial Rules are
violated
a. Crisostomo v. Nazareno, A.C. 6677, 10 June 2014
b. De Jesus v. Sanchez-Malit, A.C. 6470, 8 July 2014
c. Almazan v. Suerte-Felipe, A.C. 7184. 17 September 2014
d. In re: Order of Judge Madamba, A.C. 10119, 11 November 2014
e. Angeles v. Bagay, A.C. 8103, 3 December 2014
f. Re: Violation of Rules on Notarial Practice, A.M. 09-6-1-SC, 21
January 2015
g. Relampagis v. Lagunay, A.C. 10703, 9 February 2015
h. Pitogo v. Suello, A.C. 10695, 18 March 2015
i. Heirs of Alilano v. Examen, A.C. 10132, 24 March 2015
j. Gimeno v. Zaide, A.C. 10303, 22 April 2015
b. Service to the Needy, Defenseless and Oppressed
i. Duty to not reject oppressed and defenseless
1. CPR, Canon 2 including Rules 2.01-2.02
2. R.A. 10389, Recognizance Act of 2012
 ii. Duty not to decline representation on account of status
1. CPR, Canon 14
2. CPR, Rule 14.01
3. Mandatory Legal Aid Service for Practicing Lawyers, B.M. 2012, 10
February 2009
iii. Duty to serve as counsel de oficio
1. CPR, Rule 14.02
2. ROC, Rule 138, Sec 31
3. ROC, Rule 138, Sec 20 (h)
4. ROC, Rule 116, Sec 6-8
5. ROC, Rule 124, Sec 2
6. P.D. 543
iv. Valid ground for refusal
1. CPR, Rule 14.03
v. Same standard of conduct for paying and non-paying clients
1. CPR, Rule 14.04
2. A.M. 08-11-7-SC, 10 September 2009
3. R.A. 6033
4. R.A. 6034
5. R.A. 6035
6. R.A. 6036
7. R.A. 9406, Sec 16-D (2007)
c. Peaceful Settlement of Dispute
i. To discourage litigation
1. CPR, Rule 1.03
2. Saburnido v. Madrono, GR A.C. 4497, 26 September 2001
ii. To settle controversies outside of the court whenever possible
1. CPR, Rule 1.04
2. CPR, Rule 15.04
3. Castaneda v. Ago, 65 SCRA 505 (1975)
4. R.A. 9285, Chapters 1 & 2, ADR Act of 2004
d. Improvement of the Legal System
i. CPR, Canon 4
e. Participation in Continuing Legal Education
i. B.M. 850, amended by SC Resolution dated 17 February 2015, and
amendment of Rule 7, Sec 2 (a), effective 24 June 2015 (Read, understand,
and be familiar)
ii. B.M. 1922, 3 June 2008
iii. Letter of Atty. Rodrigo Cruz Lim to Justice R. Abad, GR 191837, 20 July 2013
iv. SC Resolution dated 14 January 2014
v. Rodriguez Manahan v. Flores, A.C. 8974, 13 November 2013
vi. Rivera-Pascual v. Spouses Lim, GR 191837
f. Lawyers in Government Service
i. In general
1. RA 6713, Sec 4 (1989)
2. Collantes v. Romeron, 200 SCRA 584 (1991)
3. Office of Court Administrator v. Ladaga, 350 SCRA 326 (2001)
4. Pimentel v. Fabros, 501 SCRA 346 (2006)
5. Lahn v. Mayor, 666 SCRA 1 (2012)
ii. Duty of prosecutors
1. CPR, Rule 6.01
2. People v. Pineda, 20 SCRA 748 (1967)
iii. Duty not to use public position for private interest
1. CPR, Rule 6.02
2. Misamin v. San Juan, 72 SCRA 491 (1976)
3. Vitriolo v. Dasig, 400 SCRA 172 (2003)
4. Huyssen v Gutierrez, 485 SCRA 244 (2006)
5. Ramos v. Imbang, 530 SCRA 759 (2007)
6. In re Avecilla, A.C. 6683, 21 June 2011
iv. Duty not to accept employment after government service
1. CPR, Rule 6.03
2. RA 6713, Sec 7 (b)
3. Query of Atty. Karen M. Silverio, 596 SCRA 378 (2009)
4. R.A. 3019, Sec 3 (d)
5. PNB v. Cedo, 243 SCRA 1 (1995)
6. PCGG v. Sandiganbayan, 455 SCRA 526 (2005)