Legal Ethics Bar Qs 2014

8/18/2019 Legal Ethics Bar Qs 2014

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SUGGESTED ANSWER TO THE 2014 BAR EXAMINATIONS QUESTIONS IN

LEGAL ETHICS

Question No 1 !2014"

Judge A is a close friend of Governor G. On several occasions Judge A would

borrow the vehicles from the Oce of the Governor to travel to his judicial station.

Judge’s A actuation: (1!

(A! "iolates the canon on #ro#riet$(%! &reates an a##earance of an im#ro#er connection with the e'ecutive branch(&! s downright unethical

ANSWER #

!A" $io%&tes t'e (&non on )*o+*iet,

ALTERNATI$E ANSWER #

!B" C*e&tes &n &++e&*&n(e o- &n i.+*o+e* (onne(tion /it' t'e ee(utie

*&n('

Question No 2 !2014" C)R

) is retained the counsel of A%& %an* +rmita %ranch. One da$, his %ali*ba$an

com#adre %, consulted him about his unclaimed de#osits with the said branch of

A%& %an*, which the %an* had refused to give to him claiming that the account hadbecome dormant. ) agreed to -le a case against the ban* with the )egional rial

&ourt ()&! of /anila, % lost the case, but u#on the advice of ), he no longer

a##ealed the the decision. % later discovered that ) was retained counsel of A%&

%an*0 +rmita %ranch. oes % have an$ remed$2 iscuss the legal and ethical

im#lications of the #roblem. (3!

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

Att, R (%e&*%, io%&te3 t'e *u%e &&inst *e+*esentin t'e (on5i(tin

inte*est !Ru%e 16078 Co3e o- )*o-ession&% Res+onsii%it," B .&, 9%e &n

&(tion to set &si3e t'e :u3.ent on t'e t'eo*, t'&t i- t'e %&/,e* is

3is;u&%i9e3 -*o. &++e&*in &s (ounse% -o* & +&*t, on &((ount o- (on5i(t o-

inte*ests8 'e is +*esu.e3 to '&e i.+*o+e*%, &n3 +*e:u3i(i&%%, &3ise3 &n3

*e+*esente3 t'e +&*t, in t'e (on3u(t o- t'e %iti&tion -*o. t'e einnin

to t'e en3 He .&, &%so 9%e &n &(tion -o* 3&.&es &&inst Att, R8 &si3e

-*o. &n &3.inist*&tie (o.+%&int 3ue to 'is .is(on3u(t He /&s


2/15

+*e:u3i(e3 , t'e &3e*se 3e(ision &&inst 'i.8 /'i(' 'e no %one*

&++e&%e3 u+on t'e &3i(e o- Att, R

III

he &ode of 4rofessional )es#onsibilit$ is the code of conduct for: (1!

(A! /embers of the %ench(%! /embers of the %ar(&!/embers of the %ench and the %ar

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!B" Me.e*s o- t'e B&*

ALTERNATI$E ANSWER#

!C" Me.e*s o- t'e Ben(' &n3 B&*

Question No 4 !2014" C)R

A is the accused of robber$ in a com#laint -led b$ %. A sought free legal

assistance from the 4ublic Attorne$s Oce (4AO! and Att$. & was assigned to

handle his case. After reviewing the facts as stated in the com#laint as narrated b$

A, Att$. & is convinced that A is guilt$. (3!

(A!/a$ Att$. & refuse to handle the defense of A and as*ed to be relieved 2 +'#lain5ull$.

(%! n the #roblem (A!, if the law$er is counsel de #arte for the accused and he learns

later after acce#ting the case and while trial is ongoing that his client was indeed

the #er#etrator of the crime, ma$ the law$er withdraw his a##earance from the

case2 6h$ or wh$ not 2

SUGGESTED ANSWER #

!A" RULE 1401 o- t'e Co3e o- )*o-ession&% Res+onsii%it, t'&t &

%&/,e* s'&%% not 3e(%ine to *e+*esent & +e*son so%e%, in t'e &((ount o- 'is

o/n o+inion *e&*3in t'e ui%t o- t'e s&i3 +e*son It is not t'e 3ut, o- t'e%&/,e* to 3ete*.ine /'et'e* t'e &((use3 is ui%t, o* not8 ut t'e :u3e


3/15

1?02 o- t'e Co3e o- )*o-ession&% Res+onsii%it, +*oi3es t'&t @ & %&/,e*

/'o '&s *e(eie3 in-o*.&tion t'&t 'is (%ient '&s8 t'&t in t'e (ou*se o-

*e+*esent&tion8 +e*+etu&te3 & -*&u3 u+on & +e*son o* t*iun&%8 s'&%%

+*o.+t%, (&%% u+on t'e (%ient to *e(ti-, t'e s&.e8 &n3 -&i%in /'i('8 'e

s'&%% te*.in&te t'e *e%&tions'i+ /'i(' su(' (%ient in &((o*3&n(e /it' t'e

Ru%es o- Cou*t

$

he )endition of free legal service is a law$er’s: (1!

(A!/oral dut$(%! 7ocial obligation(&!8egal mandate

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!B" So(i&% o%i&tion

ALTERNTI$E ANSWER#

!A" Mo*&% 3ut,

Question No = !2014" Ru%e 17> o- t'e Ru%es o- Cou*t

Att$. was re9uired b$ Judge of the )egional rial &ourt ()&! of /anila to

show cause wh$ he should not be #unished of contem#t of court for shouting

invectives at the o##osing counsel and harassing his witness. Assuming that there

was sucient cause or ground, ma$ Judge sus#end Att$. from the #ractice of

law2 f Judge -nds that the actuations of Att$. are grossl$ unethical and

unbecoming of a member of the bar, ma$ judge disbar Att$. instead2 +'#lain

$our answer. (;!

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

Un3e* Se(tion 2>8 Ru%e 17> o- t'e Ru%es o- Cou*t8 & Reion&% T*i&%

Cou*t .&, sus+en3 & %&/,e* -*o. t'e +*&(ti(e o- %&/ -o* &n, o- t'e (&uses

+*oi3e3 in Se(tion 28 unti% -u*t'e* &(tion o- t'e Su+*e.e Cou*t8 ut it

.&, not 3is&* 'i.8 -o* &n, o- t'e Su+*e.e Cou*t (&n 3is&* & %&/,e*

+u*su&nt to its (onstitution&% +o/e* to &3.it +e*sons to t'e +*&(ti(e o-

%&/


4/15

$I

he court ordered Att$. < to testif$ as a witness for his client in the ver$ case

he is handling, but he refused on the ground that it would violate the rule on

#rivilege communication. Att$. < is guilt$ of: (1!

(A! irect contem#t(%! ndirect contem#t(&!"iolation of his dut$ to the court

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!C" In3i*e(t (onte.+t

ALTERNATI$E ANSWER#

!A" Di*e(t (onte.+t

Question No !2014" C&non No ?

& and are the law #artners using the -rm name & and = Attorne$s0at08aw.

n an administrative case -led against &, the 7u#reme &ourt (7&! -nd out that & is

not entitled to admission to the #ractice of law in the 4hili##ines and ordered his

name stric*en0 o> from the rolls of Attorne$s. As a result, & and changed their

-rm name to 8aw Oce of , while is the #ractitioner. Are & and liable for

contem#t of court2 +'#lain $our answer. (;!

SUGGESTED ANSWER #

In &3o+tin t'e 9*. n&.e o- @L&/ O(e o- DAtto*ne, &t L&/8 C

Counse%%o*8 C &n3 D io%&te3 t'e -o%%o/in +*oisions o- t'e Co3e o-

)*o-ession&% Res+onsii%it,#

Ru%e 702 @In t'e ('oi(e o- & 9*. n&.e8 no -&%se8 .is%e&3in o*

&ssu.e3 n&.e s'&%% e use3 In(%u3in t'e n&.e D in t'e 9*. n&.e8

een t'ou' 'e is *e-e**e3 to &s & @Counse%%o*8 t'e i.+*ession is ient'&t 'e (&n +*&(ti(e %&/

C&non No ? @A %&/,e* s'&%% not8 3i*e(t%, o* in3i*e(t%,8 &ssist t'e

un&ut'o*iFe3 +*&(ti(e o- %&/

Atto*ne, D .&, e sus+en3e3 -o* su(' (on3u(t C8 ein & non

%&/,e*8 .&, e 'e%3 %i&%e -o* in3i*e(t (onte.+t o- (ou*t


5/15

Question No ? !2014" Ne/ Co3e o- Con3u(t -o* t'e )'i%i++ine u3i(i&*,

Judge A acce#ted a gift consisting of assorted canned goods and other

grocer$ items from his com#adre whose friend has a #ending case with him. e

acce#ted the gift just so as not to embarrass his com#adre. 6hen his com#adre left

his chambers, he as*ed his secretar$ to donate the gift he received to the victims of

$#hoon ?olanda.

id the Judge cross the ethical line2 +'#lain $our answer.

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

In &((e+tin & i-t -*o. 'is (o.+&3*e8 /'i(' 'e .ust '&e

sus+e(te3 /&s (onne(te3 /it' t'e (&se o- 'is (o.+&3*e


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t'e %&/ 9*. is oun3 to +*oi3e & sustitute Hen(e8 Att, ) .&, 9%e t'e

*e;ui*e3 *ie- -o* C

On t'e ot'e* '&n38 i- Att, M /&s *et&ine3 &%one8 /it'out no/%e3e

t'&t 'e e%one3 to & %&/ 9*.8 ) .&, not 9%e t'e *e;ui*e3 *ie- -o* C

/it'out t'e (onsent o- t'e %&tte* T'e*e is no st&te.ent in t'e +*o%e.t'&t C ne/ M to e & .e.e* o- t'e %&/ 9*. OM) Asso(i&tes &t t'e

ti.e t'&t C en&e3 'is se*i(es

B

A judge who insults counsel and shouts invectives at a litigant is guilt$ of:

(A! serious misconduct(%! committing acts unbecoming of a judge

(&!manifest bias and #artialit$

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!B" (o..ittin &(ts une(o.in o- & :u3e

B

Question No 12 !2014" Atto*ne,


7/15

&tto*ne,


8/15

/ engaged the services of Att$. to #rosecute his annulment of marriage case in

the )egional rial &ourt ()&!. After a long0drawn trial, Att$. was able to secure a

favorable judgment from the court. Enfortunatel$, / failed to #a$ in full the

sti#ulated attorne$’s fees of Att$. . ow can Att$. collect his fees from /2 iscuss

full$.

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

HE (&n (o%%e(t 'is -ees eit'e* , 9%in & .otion in t'e &nnu%.ent o-

.&**i&e (&se t'&t 'e '&n3%e38 &n3 to o*3e* M to +&, t'e s&.e8 o* 'e (&n

9%e & se+&*&te &(tion -o* t'e *e(oe*, o- 'is &tto*ne,


9/15

Question No 1 !2014" C&non 7 o- t'e Ne/ Co3e o- u3i(i&% Con3u(t

Judge &lint %raso is hearing a case between /r. imoth$ and Fhristo#her &om#an$,

a com#an$ where his wife used to wor* as one of its Junior +'ecutives for several

$ears. oubting the im#artialit$ of the Judge, /r. imoth$ -led a motion to inhibit

Judge &lint %raso. Judge &lint %raso refused on the ground that his wife has long

resigned from the com#an$. ecide

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

T'e -&(t t'&t u3e B*&so


10/15

After the #re0trial of a civil case for re#levin, Judge advised %’s counsel to settle

the case because according to Judge , his initial assessment of the case shows that

%’s evidence is wea*.

(A! id Judge commit an act of im#ro#riet$2 +'#lain.

(%! 6hat remed$ or remedies ma$ be ta*en b$ %’s law$er against Judge 2 iscuss

full$.

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!A" es8 u3e D &(te3 i.+*o+e*%, Se( 48 C&non 7 o- t'e Ne/ Co3e o-

u3i(i&% Con3u(t -o* t'e )'i%i++ine u3i(i&*, +*oi3es t'&t @:u3es s'&%% not

no/in%,8 /'i%e & +*o(ee3in is e-o*e o* (ou%3 (o.e e-o*e t'e.8 .&e

&n, (o..ent t'&t .i't e *e&son&%, e+e(te3 to &e(t t'e out(o.e o-

su(' +*o(ee3in o* i.+&i* t'e .&ni-est -&i*ness o- t'e +*o(ess No* s'&%%

:u3es .&e &n, (o..ent in +u%i( o* ot'e*/ise t'&t .i't &e(t t'e -&i*

t*i&% o- &n, +e*son o* issue In t'e (&se o- C&sti%%o u&n8 =2 SCRA 1248 &

:u3e s+oe to t'e (o.+%&in&nts in t/o *&+e (&ses in 'is ('&.e* e-o*e

t*i&%8 &n3 &3ise3 t'e. to sett%e t'ei* (&ses /it' t'e &((use3 e(&use

t'ei* ei3en(e /&s /e& T'e Su+*e.e Cou*t -oun3 t'e (on3u(t o- t'e

:u3e to e io%&tie o- 3ut, o- i.+&*ti&%it, T'e (ou*t st&te3 t'&t t'e

:u3e s'ou%3 &oi3 &n, (on3u(t t'&t (&sts 3out on 'is i.+&*ti&%it, It is

not .e*e%, & .&tte* o- :u3i(i&% et'i(s It is i.+*esse3 /it' (onstitution&%

sini9(&n(e!B" B


11/15

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

Att, P is entit%e3 to t'e enti*e &.ount o- t'e &tto*ne,


12/15

in '&n3%in t'e (&se8 Se( 278 Ru%e 17> o- t'e Ru%es o- Cou*t +*oi3est'&t %&/,e*s '&e t'e -u%% &ut'o*it, to in3 t'ei* (%ients in &%% .&tte*s o- o*3in&*, :u3i(i&% +*o(e3u*e

Question No 26 !2014" Judge A has an illicit relationshi# with B, his %ranch &ler* of &ourt.C, the wife of

Judge A, discovered the illicit a>air and consulted a law$er tovindicate her violated

marital rights. f $ou were that law$er, what would$ou advice C, and if she agrees

and as*s $ou to #roceed to ta*e action, whatis the legal #rocedure that $ou should

follow2 iscuss full$. !4"

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

I /i%% &3ise 'e* to 9%e &n &3.inist*&tie (&se &&inst u3e A /it'

t'e Su+*e.e Cou*t I (&n te%% 'e* t'&t s'e (&n &%so 9%e (ii% o* (*i.in&%

&(tions &&inst 'i. But &n &3.inist*&tie (&se is (on93enti&% in n&tu*e

&n3 /i%% not unne(ess&*i%, 3*& t'e n&.e &n3 *e+ut&tion o- t'e (ou*t intot'e +i(tu*e

Question No 2= !2014"!="

!A" f an attorne$ has been granted b$ his client full authorit$ toenter into an amicable settlement with the other #art$, ma$ the client later onrefuse to honor the amicable settlement forged b$ his attorne$2 +'#lain.!B" n such instance as in !A" above, can the law$er withdraw fromthe case and collect in full his contracted attorne$’s fees2 6h$ or wh$ not2

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!A" A (o.+*o.ise &*ee.ent ee(te3 , & (%ient o* , 'is &tto*ne, /it'

s+e(i&% &ut'o*it, -*o. 'i. '&s u+on t'e +&*ties t'e ee(t o- *es :u3i(&t&

T'e (%ient (&nnot *e-use to 'ono* t'e &.i(&%e sett%e.ent -o*e3 ,

%&/,e* un%ess i- t'e %&/,e* '&s one e,on3 t'e %i.its o- t'e &ut'o*it,

*&nte3 'i. , 'is (%ient!B" T'e %&/,e* (&n /it'3*&/ -*o. t'e (&se on t'e *oun3 t'&t t'e

(%ient is +u*suin &n &(t o* i..o*&% i%%e&% (ou*se o- &(tion , not


13/15

'ono*in & (o.+*o.ise &*ee.ent &%i3%, ente*e3 into He .&, *e(oe*

'is (ont*&(te3 &tto*ne,


14/15

XXIXf a law$er volunteers his free legal service to a #oor client, !1"!A" a law$er0client relationshi# is established between them

!B" he is bound to serve his #oor client with the same degree of com#etence, -delit$, and diligence as his #a$ing client

!C" he is not justi-ed to neglect the cause of his client for the

client’s inabilit$ to defra$ the costs of court litigation

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!B" 'e is oun3 to se*e 'is +oo* (%ient /it' t'e s&.e 3e*ee o- (o.+eten(e8 93e%it,8 &n3 3i%ien(e &s 'is +&,in (%ient

Question No 70 !2014" MCLE!A" &an a law$er who lac*s the number of units re9uired b$ the /andator$

&ontinuing 8egal +ducation (MCLE! %oard continue to #ractice his #rofession2!B" /a$ a law$er be held liable for damages b$ his client for the law$er’s failure to-le the necessar$ #leadings to #rosecute the client’s case and as a result of whichthe client su>ered damages2!C" &an a law$er still #ractice his #rofession des#ite having arrears in his ntegrated%ar of the 4hili##ines (IBP! dues2

SUGGESTED ANSWER#

!A" He (&n8 ut t'e, /i%% e un&%e to (o.+%, /it' B&* M&tte* No 1?22

/'i(' *e;ui*es t'&t ee*, +%e&3in 9%e3 in (ou*t o* & ;u&si:u3i(i&% o3,

s'&%% (ont&in &n &nnot&tion o- t'e nu.e* &n3 3&te o- t'ei* MCLE(o.+%i&n(e8 ot'e*/ise8 t'ei* +%e&3ins /i%% e e+une3 &n3 t'ei* (&ses

3is.isse3 T'e, /i%% &%so e %iste3 &s 3e%in;uent .e.e*s o- t'e

Inte*&te3 B&* o- t'e )'i%i++ines8 &n3 t'e IB) Bo&*3 o- Goe*no*s (&n

*e(o..en3 t'ei* sus+ension o* 3is&*.ent to t'e Su+*e.e Cou*t Unti%

t'en8 t'e, (&n (ontinue to +*&(ti(e %&/ ut (&nnot 9%e +%e&3ins in (ou*t

o* ;u&si:u3i(i&% o3ies!B" es8 'e .&, e 'e%3 %i&%e8 Ru%e 1>07 o- t'e Co3e o- )*o-ession&%

Res+onsii%it, +*oi3es t'&t @& %&/,e* s'&%% not ne%e(t & %e&% .&tte*

ent*uste3 to 'i.8 &n3 'is ne%ien(e in (onne(tion t'e*e/it' s'&%% *en3e*

'i. %i&%e But &tto*ne,(%ient *e%&tions'i+8 /&nt o- *e&son&%e (&*e &n3

3i%ien(e8 &n3 in:u*, sust&ine3 , t'e (%ient &s t'e +*oi.&te *esu%t

t'e*eo-8 &*e t'e +*e*e;uisites to t'e .&inten&n(e o- &n &(tion -o*

3&.&es &&inst & %&/,e*!C" Se( 108 Ru%e 17?A o- t'e Ru%es o- Cou*t +*oi3es t'&t @3e-&u%t in

t'e +&,.ent o- &nnu&% 3ues -o* si .ont's s'&%% /&**&nt sus+ension o-

.e.e*s in t'e Inte*&te3 B&*8 &n3 3e-&u%t in su(' +&,.ent -o* one ,e&*

s'&%% e & *oun3 -o* t'e *e.o&% o- t'e n&.e o- 3e%in;uent .e.e* -*o.

t'e Ro%% o- Atto*ne,s


15/15

Hen(e8 & %&/,e* /'o is in &**e&*s in t'e +&,.ent o- 'is IB) 3ues .&, sti%%

+*&(ti(e 'is +*o-ession unti% 'e is sus+en3e3 &n3o* 3is&**e3

Documents

Legal Ethics Bar Qs 2014