Legal & Judicial Ethics, M.P.Lacsie, 2015 pg.

The practice of law is a privilege given to lawyers who meet the high standards of legal proficiency and morality,
including honesty, integrity and fair dealing. They must perform their fourfold duty to society, the legal profession, the
courts and their clients, in accordance with the values and norms of the legal profession as embodied in the Code of
Professional Responsibility (Floran Vs. Ediza, A.C. No. 5325, October 19, 2011)
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.
The maintenance of high standard is necessary and indispensable to properly administer justice which is the principal
purpose of the profession. Such can only be performed by consistently upholding the integrity and dignity of this
privilege we hold. In words employed in the case of Rivera Vs. Angeles: Respect is inexorably diminished when bar
betrays trust and confidence reposed to him. In simplest interpretation, every member must act accordingly in a
manner that only promote confidence and trust.
Moreover, members in this profession must support the organization which is the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, so
as to realize its very purpose. Remember, the organization is appraised by eminence or reputation of the members.
Thus, a respectable members of the profession forms a solidly upright IBP, the organization emanates and springs its
spirit thru them.
Cited in Francia Vs. Abdon, A.C. No. 10031, July 23, 2014: Canon 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility
mandates that a "lawyer shall at all times uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession." For, the strength of
the legal profession lies in the dignity and integrity of its members. It is every lawyers duty to maintain the high regard
to the profession by staying true to his oath and keeping his actions beyond reproach.
Also, the respondent, as a member of the legal profession, has a further responsibility to safeguard the dignity of the
courts which the public perceives as the bastion of justice. Hemust at all times keep its good name untarnished and
not be instrumental to its disrepute. In Berbano v. Atty. Barcelona, the Court reiterated the bounden duty of lawyers to
keep the reputation of the courts unscathed, thus:
A lawyer is an officer of the courts; he is, "like the court itself, an instrument or agency to advance the ends of
justice.["] [x x x] His duty is to uphold the dignity and authority of the courts to which he owes fidelity, ["]not to
promote distrust inthe administration of justice." [x x x] Faith in the courts a lawyer should seek to preserve. For,
to undermine the judicial edifice "is disastrous to the continuity of the government and to the attainment of the
liberties of the people." [x x x] Thus has it been said of a lawyer that "[a]s an officer of the court, it is his sworn
and moral duty to help build and not destroy unnecessarily that high esteem and regard towards the courts so
essential to the proper administration of justice."
In Concepcion Vs. Dela Rosa, A.C. No. 10681, February 3, 2015, the Court finds that respondent also violated
Canon 7 of the CPR xxx In unduly borrowing money from the complainants and by blatantly refusing to pay the same,
respondent abused the trust and confidence reposed in him by his clients, and, in so doing, failed to uphold the
integrity and dignity of the legal profession.Thus, he should be equally held administratively liable on this score.
In Maligsa Vs. Cabanting, A.C. No. 4539, May 14, 1997, as a lawyer commissioned as notary public, respondent is
mandated to subscribe to the sacred duties appertaining to his office, such duties being dictated by public policy and
impressed with public interest. Faithful observance and utmost respect of the legal solemnity of an oath in an
acknowledgment or jurat is sacrosanct. Simply put, such responsibility is incumbent upon respondent and failing
therein, he must now accept the commensurate consequences of his professional indiscretion. By his effrontery of
notarizing a fictitious or spurious document, he has made a mockery of the legal solemnity of the oath in
an Acknowledgment.
A lawyer may be disbarred or suspended for any misconduct, whether in his professional or private capacity, which
shows him to be wanting in moral character, in honesty, probity and good demeanor or unworthy to continue as an
officer of the court.
In Rivera Vs. Angeles, A.C. No. 2519, August 29, 2000, the Court finds merit in the recommendation of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Respondents act of deceit and malpractice indubitably demonstrated his failure to
live up to his sworn duties as a lawyer. The Supreme Court repeatedly stressed the importance of integrity and good
moral character as part of a lawyers equipment in the practice of his profession. For it cannot be denied that the
respect of litigants for the profession is inexorably diminished whenever a member of the Bar betrays their trust and
confidence.
The Court is not oblivious of the right of a lawyer to be paid for the legal services he has extended to his client but such
right should not be exercised whimsically by appropriating to himself the money intended for his clients. There should
never be an instance where the victor in litigation loses everything he won to the fees of his own lawyer.
Continuing condition, Court said - We reiterate and remind petitioner that the practice of law is a privilege burdened
with conditions. Adherence to the rigid standards of mental fitness, maintenance of the highest degree of morality and
faithful compliance with the rules of the legal profession are the continuing requirements for enjoying the privilege to
practice law.