THE LAWYER AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION

CANON 7: UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY OF THE PROFESSION AND SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF
THE IBP 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 7.01) A lawyer shall not, whether in public or private life, behave in a scandalous manner to the
discredit of the legal profession. (Rule 7.03) 

CASE: Counsel’s act of filing multiple complaints against herein complainant’s reflects on his fitness to be
a member of the legal profession. His act evinces vindictiveness, a decidedly undesirable trait whether in
a lawyer or another individual, as complainants were instrumental in respondent’s dismissal from the
judiciary. (Saburnido vs. Madrono, 366 SCRA 1, September 26, 2001)

CANON 8: COURTESY, FAIRNESS AND CANDOR TOWARD HIS COLLEAGUES AND AVOID HARASSING
TACTICS A lawyer shall not, in his professional dealings, use language which is abusive, offensive or
otherwise improper. (Rule 8.01) 

CASE: Although aware that the plaintiff students were represented by counsel, respondent attorney,
counsel for the defendants proceeded, nonetheless, to negotiate with them and their parents without at
the very least communicating the matter to their lawyer. This failure of respondent is an inexcusable
violation of the canons of professional ethics and in utter disregard of a duty owing to a colleague.
(Camacho vs. Pangulayan, 328 SCRA 631, March 22, 2000)

CANON 9: PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW Public policy requires that the practice of law
be limited to those individuals found duly qualified in education and character.

Purpose: To protect the public, the court, the client and the bar from the incompetence or dishonesty of
those unlicensed to practice law and not subject to the disciplinary control of the court. 1. A lawyer is
prohibited from allowing an intermediary to intervene in the performance of his professional obligation.
2. A lawyer cannot 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. 3. A lawyer cannot divide or stipulate a fee
for legal services with a person not licensed to practice law. Exceptions: 1. 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; 2. Where a lawyer
undertakes to complete unfinished legal business of a deceased lawyer; 3. 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