Article 3p. 3

LEGAL AND JUDICIAL ETHICS CODES, CANONS AND RULES

June 21, 1988

Code Of Professional

Responsibility

CHAPTER I The Lawyer and Society

CANON 1 — A lawyer shall uphold the constitution, obey

the laws of the land and promote respect for law and for

legal processes.

RULE

1.01

A

lawyer

shall

not

engage

in

unlawful,

dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct.

RULE 1.02 A lawyer shall not counsel or abet activities

aimed at defiance of the law or at lessening confidence in

the legal system.

RULE 1.03 A lawyer shall not, for any corrupt motive or

interest, encourage any suit or proceeding or delay any

man's cause.

RULE 1.04 A lawyer shall encourage his clients to avoid,

end or settle the controversy if it will admit of a fair

settlement.

CANON 2 — A lawyer shall make his legal services

available

in

an

efficient

and

convenient

manner

compatible

with

the

independence,

integrity

and

effectiveness of the profession.

RULE 2.01 A lawyer shall not reject, except for valid

reasons, the cause of the defenseless or the oppressed.

RULE 2.02 In such cases, even if the lawyer does not

accept a case, he shall not refuse to render legal advice to

the person concerned if only to the extent necessary to

safeguard the latter's rights.

RULE 2.03 A lawyer shall not do or permit to be done any

act designed primarily to solicit legal business.

RULE 2.04 A lawyer shall not charge rates lower than

those customarily prescribed unless the circumstances so

warrant.

CANON 3 — A lawyer in making known his legal services

shall use only true, honest, fair, dignified and objective

information or statements of facts.

RULE 3.01 A lawyer shall not use or permit the use of any

false,

fraudulent,

misleading,

deceptive,

undignified,

self-laudatory or unfair statement or claim regarding his

qualifications or legal services.

RULE 3.02 In the choice of a firm name, no false,

misleading

or

assumed

name

shall

be

used.

The

continued use of the name of a deceased partner is

permissible provided that the firm indicates in all its

communications that said partner is deceased.

RULE 3.03 Where a partner accepts public office, he shall

withdraw from the firm and his name shall be dropped

from the firm name unless the law allows him to practice

law concurrently.

RULE 3.04 A lawyer shall not pay or give anything of value

to representatives of the mass media in anticipation of, or

in return for, publicity to attract legal business.

CANON 4 — A lawyer shall participate in the development

of the legal system by initiating or supporting efforts in

law reform and in the improvement of the administration

of justice.

CANON

5

—

A

lawyer

shall

keep

abreast

of

legal

developments, participate in continuing legal education

programs, support efforts to achieve high standards in

law schools as well as in the practical training of law

students

and

assist

in

disseminating

information

regarding the law and jurisprudence.

CANON 6 — These canons shall apply to lawyers in

government service in the discharge of their official tasks.

RULE 6.01 The primary duty of a lawyer engaged in public

prosecution is not to convict but to see that justice is

done. The suppression of facts or the concealment of

witnesses capable of establishing the innocence of the

accused

is

highly

reprehensible

and

is

cause

for

disciplinary action.

RULE 6.02 A lawyer in the government service shall not

use his public position to promote or advance his private

interests nor allow the latter to interfere with his public

duties.

RULE 6.03 A lawyer shall not, after leaving a government

service,

accept

engagement

or

employment

in

connection with any matter in which he had intervened

while in said service.

CHAPTER II The Lawyer and the Legal Profession

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.

RULE 7.01 A lawyer shall be answerable for knowingly

making a false statement or suppressing a material fact,

in connection with his application for admission to the

bar.

RULE 7.02 A lawyer shall not support the application for

admission to the bar of any person known by him to be

unqualified in respect to character, education, or other

relevant attribute.

RULE 7.03 A lawyer shall not engage in conduct that

adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, nor shall

he,

whether

in

public

or

private

life,

behave

in

a

scandalous

manner

to

the

discredit

of

the

legal

profession.

CANON 8 — A lawyer shall conduct himself with courtesy,

fairness and candor toward his professional colleagues,

and

shall

avoid

harassing

tactics

against

opposing

counsel.

RULE 8.01 A lawyer shall not, in his professional dealings,

use language which is abusive, offensive or otherwise

improper.

RULE

8.02

A

lawyer shall not, directly or indirectly,

encroach upon the professional employment of another

lawyer; however, it is the right of any lawyer, without fear

or favor, to give proper advice and assistance to those

seeking relief against unfaithful or neglectful counsel.

CANON 9 — A lawyer shall not, directly or indirectly, assist

in the unauthorized practice of law.

RULE 9.01 A lawyer shall not delegate to any unqualified

person the performance of any task which by law may

only be performed by a member of the Bar in good

standing.

RULE 9.02 A lawyer shall not divide or stipulate to divide a

fee for legal services with persons not licensed to practice

law, except:

a) Where there is a pre-existing agreement with a partner

or associate that, upon the latter's death, money shall be

paid over a reasonable period of time to his estate or to

persons specified in the agreement; or

b) Where a lawyer undertakes to complete unfinished

legal business of a deceased lawyer; or

c) Where a lawyer or law firm includes non-lawyer

employees in a retirement plan, even if the plan is based

in whole or in part, on a profit-sharing arrangement.

CHAPTER III The Lawyer and the Courts

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 any artifice.

© Compiled By RGL

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