COVERAGE
COVERAGELEGAL AND JUDICIAL ETHICS
2015 BAR EXAMINATIONS
I. LEGAL ETHICS
A. Practice of law (Rule 138)1. Concepta) Privilegeb)
Profession, not business2. Qualifications3. Appearance of
non-lawyersa) Law student practice (Rule 138-A)b) Non-lawyers in
courtsc) Non-lawyers in administrative tribunalsd) Proceedings
where lawyers are prohibited from appearing4. Sanctions for
practice or appearance without authoritya) Lawyers without
authorityb) Persons not lawyers5. Public officials and practice of
lawa) Prohibition or disqualification of former government
attorneysb) Public officials who cannot practice law or with
restrictions6. Lawyers authorized to represent the government7.
Lawyers oathB. Duties and responsibilities of a lawyer1. To
societya) Respect for law and legal processesb) Efficient and
convenient legal servicesc) True, honest, fair, dignified and
objective information on legal servicesd) Participation in the
improvement and reforms in the legal systeme) Participation in
legal education program2. To the legal professiona) Integrated Bar
of the Philippines (Rule 139-A)(i) Membership and duesb) Upholding
the dignity and integrity of the professionc) Courtesy, fairness
and candor towards professional colleaguesd) No assistance in
unauthorized practice of law3. To the courtsa) Candor, fairness and
good faith towards the courtsb) Respect for courts and judicial
officersc) Assistance in the speedy and efficient administration of
justiced) Reliance on merits of his cause and avoidance of any
impropriety which tends to influence or gives the appearance of
influence upon the courts4. To the clientsa) Availability of
service without discrimination(i) Services regardless of a persons
status(ii) Services as counsel de officio(iii) Valid grounds for
refusalb) Candor, fairness and loyalty to clients(i)
Confidentiality rule(ii) Privileged communications(iii) Conflict of
interest(iv) Candid and honest advice to clients(v) Compliance with
laws(vi) Concurrent practice of another professionc) Clients moneys
and properties(i) Fiduciary relationship(ii) Commingling of
funds(iii) Delivery of funds(iv) Borrowing or lendingd) Fidelity to
clients causee) Competence and diligence(i) Adequate protection(ii)
Negligence(iii) Collaborating counsel(iv) Duty to apprise clientf)
Representation with zeal within legal bounds(i) Use of fair and
honest means(ii) Clients fraud(iii) Procedure in handling the
caseg) Attorneys fees(i) Acceptance fees(ii) Contingency fee
arrangements(iii) Attorneys liens(iv) Fees and controversies with
clients(v) Concepts of attorneys fees(a) Ordinary concept(b)
Extraordinary concepth) Preservation of clients confidences(i)
Prohibited disclosures and use(ii) Disclosure, when allowedi)
Withdrawal of servicesC. Suspension, disbarment and discipline of
lawyers (Rule 139-B, Rules of Court)1. Nature and characteristics
of disciplinary actions against lawyersa) Sui generisb)
Prescription2. Grounds3. Proceedings4. Discipline of Filipino
lawyers practicing abroadD. Readmission to the Bar1. Lawyers who
have been suspended2. Lawyers who have been disbarred3. Lawyers who
have been repatriatedE. Mandatory Continuing Legal Education1.
Purpose2. Requirements3. Compliance4. Exemptions5. Sanctions6. Bar
Matter 2012, Rule on Mandatory Legal Aid ServiceF. Notarial
Practice (A. M. No. 02-8-13-SC, as amended)1. Qualifications of
notary public2.Term of office of notary public3. Powers and
limitations4. Notarial register5. Jurisdiction of notary public and
place of notarization 6. Revocation of commission7. Competent
evidence of identity8. SanctionsG. Canons of Professional EthicsII.
JUDICIAL ETHICS
A. Sources1. New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine
Judiciary (Bangalore Draft)2. Code of Judicial ConductB.
Qualities1. Independence2. Integrity3. Impartiality4. Propriety5.
Equality6. Competence and diligenceC. Discipline of members of the
Judiciary1. Members of the Supreme Courta) Impeachmentb) Ethical
Lessons from Former Chief Justice Coronas Impeachment2. Lower court
judges and justices of the Court of Appeals and Sandiganbayan (Rule
140)3. Grounds4. Impeachment (ethical aspects)5. Sanctions imposed
by the Supreme Court on erring members of the JudiciaryD.
Disqualification of Justices and Judges (Rule 137)1. Compulsory2.
VoluntaryE. Powers and Duties of Courts and Judicial Officers (Rule
135)F. Court Records and General Duties of Clerks and Stenographer
(Rule 136)G. Legal Fees (Rule 141)1. Manner of payment2. Fees in
lien3. Persons authorized to collect legal feesH. Costs1. Recovery
of costs (Rule 142)a) Prevailing partyb) Dismissed appeal or
actionc) Frivolous appeald) False allegationse) Non-appearance of
witnessIMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not
be used by the law schools as a course outline. This was drawn up
for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are guided
on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions pertinent to a given Bar subject
and its listed topics, and promulgated up to March 31, 2015 are
examinable materials within the coverage of the 2015 Bar
Examinations.
