Article 4p. 4

LEGAL AND JUDICIAL ETHICS CODES, CANONS AND RULES

RULE 10.02 A lawyer shall not knowingly misquote or

misrepresent the contents of a paper, the language or

the argument of opposing counsel, or the text of a

decision or authority, or knowingly cite as law a provision

already rendered inoperative by repeal or amendment or

assert as a fact that which has not been proved.

RULE 10.03 A lawyer shall observe the rules of procedure

and shall not misuse them to defeat the ends of justice.

CANON 11 — A lawyer shall observe and maintain the

respect due to the Courts and to judicial officers and

should insist on similar conduct by others.

RULE 11.01 A lawyer shall appear in court properly attired.

RULE 11.02 A lawyer shall punctually appear at court

hearings.

RULE

11.03

A

lawyer

shall

abstain from scandalous,

offensive or menacing language or behavior before the

Courts.

RULE 11.04 A lawyer shall not attribute to a Judge motives

not supported by the record or have no materiality to the

case.

RULE 11.05 A lawyer shall submit grievances against a

Judge to the proper authorities only.

CANON 12 — A lawyer shall exert every effort and consider

it

his

duty

to

assist

in

the

speedy

and

efficient

administration of justice.

RULE 12.01 A lawyer shall not appear for trial unless he has

adequately prepared himself on the law and the facts of

his case, the evidence he will adduce and the order of its

profference. He should also be ready with the original

documents for comparison with the copies.

RULE 12.02 A lawyer shall not file multiple actions arising

from the same cause.

RULE 12.03 A lawyer shall not, after obtaining extensions

of time to file pleadings, memoranda or briefs, let the

period lapse without submitting the same or offering an

explanation for his failure to do so.

RULE 12.04 A lawyer shall not unduly delay a case, impede

the execution of a Judgment or misuse Court processes.

RULE 12.05 A lawyer shall refrain from talking to his

witness during a break or recess in the trial, while the

witness is still under examination.

RULE 12.06 A lawyer shall not knowingly assist a witness

to misrepresent himself or to impersonate another.

RULE 12.07 A lawyer shall not abuse, browbeat or harass a

witness nor needlessly inconvenience him.

RULE 12.08 A lawyer shall avoid testifying in behalf of his

client, except:

a) on formal matters, such as the mailing, authentication

or custody of an instrument, and the like: or

b) on substantial matters, in cases where his testimony is

essential to the ends of justice, in which event he must,

during his testimony, entrust the trial of the case to

another counsel.

CANON 13 — A lawyer shall rely upon the merits of his

cause and refrain from any impropriety which tends to

influence, or gives the appearance of influencing the

Court.

RULE

13.01

A

lawyer

shall

not

extend

extraordinary

attention

or

hospitality to, nor seek opportunity for

cultivating familiarity with Judges.

RULE 13.02 A lawyer shall not make public statements in

the media regarding a pending case tending to arouse

public opinion for or against a party.

RULE 13.03 A lawyer shall not brook nor invite interference

by another branch or agency of the government in the

normal course of judicial proceedings.

CHAPTER IV The Lawyer and the Client

CANON 14 — A lawyer shall not refuse his services to the

needy.

RULE 14.01 A lawyer shall not decline to represent a

person solely on account of the latter's race, sex, creed or

status of life, or because of his own opinion regarding the

guilt of said person.

RULE 14.02 A lawyer shall not decline, except for serious

and sufficient cause, an appointment as counsel de oficio

or as amicus curiae or a request from the Integrated Bar

of the Philippines or any of its chapters for rendition of

free legal aid.

RULE

14.03

A

lawyer

may

not

refuse

to

accept

representation of an indigent client unless:

a) he is in no position to carry out the work effectively or

competently; or

b) he labors under a conflict of interest between him and

the prospective client, or between a present client and

the prospective client.

RULE 14.04 A lawyer who accepts the cause of a person

unable to pay his professional fees shall observe the same

standard of conduct governing his relations with paying

clients.

CANON 15 — A lawyer shall observe candor, fairness and

loyalty in all his dealings and transactions with his client.

RULE 15.01 A lawyer, in conferring with a prospective

client, shall ascertain as soon as practicable whether the

matter would involve a conflict with another client or his

own

interest,

and

if

so,

shall

forthwith

inform

the

prospective client.

RULE 15.02 A lawyer shall be bound by the rule on

privilege communication in respect of matters disclosed

to him by a prospective client.

RULE

15.03

A

lawyer

shall not represent conflicting

interests except by written consent of all concerned given

after a full disclosure of the facts.

RULE 15.04 A lawyer may, with the written consent of all

concerned, act as mediator, conciliator or arbitrator in

settling disputes.

RULE 15.05 A lawyer, when advising his client, shall give a

candid and honest opinion on the merits and probable

results

of

the

client's

case,

neither

overstating

nor

understating the prospects of the case.

RULE 15.06 A lawyer shall not state or imply that he is able

to influence any public official, tribunal or legislative body.

RULE

15.07

A

lawyer

shall

impress

upon

his client

compliance with the laws and the principles of fairness.

RULE

15.08

A

lawyer

who

is

engaged

in

another

profession or occupation concurrently with the practice

of law shall make clear to his client whether he is acting

as a lawyer or in another capacity.

CANON 16 — A lawyer shall hold in trust all moneys and

properties of his client that may come into his possession.

RULE 16.01 A lawyer shall account for all money or

property collected or received for or from the client.

RULE 16.02 A lawyer shall keep the funds of each client

separate and apart from his own and those of others kept

by him.

RULE 16.03 A lawyer shall deliver the funds and property

of his client when due or upon demand. However, he shall

have a lien over the funds and may apply so much thereof

as may be necessary to satisfy his lawful fees and

disbursements, giving notice promptly thereafter to his

client. He shall also have a lien to the same extent on all

judgments and executions he has secured for his client as

provided for in the Rules of Court.

RULE 16.04 A lawyer shall not borrow money from his

client unless the client's interests are fully protected by

the nature of the case or by independent advice. Neither

© Compiled By RGL

4 of 41