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Rule138
ATTORNEYSANDADMISSIONTOBAR

RULE138

AttorneysandAdmissiontoBar

Section1.Whomaypracticelaw.Anypersonheretoforedulyadmittedasamemberofthebar,orhereafteradmittedassuchin
accordancewiththeprovisionsofthisrule,andwhoisingoodandregularstanding,isentitledtopracticelaw.

Section2.Requirementsforallapplicantsforadmissiontothebar.Everyapplicantforadmissionasamemberofthebarmustbea
citizenofthePhilippines,atleasttwentyoneyearsofage,ofgoodmoralcharacter,andresidentofthePhilippinesandmustproduce
beforetheSupremeCourtsatisfactoryevidenceofgoodmoralcharacter,andthatnochargesagainsthim,involvingmoralturpitude,
havebeenfiledorarependinginanycourtinthePhilippines.

Section3.RequirementsforlawyerswhoarecitizensoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.CitizensoftheUnitedStatesofAmericawho,
beforeJuly4,1946,weredulylicensedmembersofthePhilippineBar,inactivepracticeinthecourtsofthePhilippinesandingood
and regular standing as such may, upon satisfactory proof of those facts before the Supreme Court, be allowed to continue such
practiceaftertakingthefollowingoathofoffice:

I...........................,havingbeenpermittedtocontinueinthepracticeoflawinthePhilippines,dosolemnlyswear
thatIrecognizethesupremeauthorityoftheRepublicofthePhilippinesIwillsupportitsConstitutionandobeythelawsas
wellasthelegalordersofthedulyconstitutedauthoritiesthereinIwilldonofalsehood,norconsenttothedoingofanyin
courtIwillnotwittinglyorwillinglypromoteorsueanygroundless,falseorunlawfulsuit,norgiveaidnorconsenttothesame
Iwilldelaynomanformoneyormalice,andwillconductmyselfasalawyeraccordingtothebestofmayknowledgeand
discretionwithallgoodfidelityaswellastothecourtsastomyclientsandIimposeuponmyselfthisvoluntaryobligation
withoutanymentalreservationorpurposeofevasion.SohelpmeGod.

Section4.Requirementsforapplicantsfromotherjurisdictions.Applicantsforadmissionwho,beingFilipinocitizens,areenrolled
attorneysingoodstandingintheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesorinanycircuitcourtofappealsordistrictcourttherein,orinthe
highestcourtofanyStateorTerritoryoftheUnitedStates,andwhocanshowbysatisfactorycertificatesthattheyhavepracticedat
least five years in any of said courts, that such practice began before July 4, 1946, and that they have never been suspended or
disbarred,may,inthediscretionoftheCourt,beadmittedwithoutexamination.

Section 5. Additional requirements for other applicants. All applicants for admission other than those referred to in the two
preceding section shall, before being admitted to the examination, satisfactorily show that they have regularly studied law for four
years, and successfully completed all prescribed courses, in a law school or university, officially approved and recognized by the
SecretaryofEducation.Theaffidavitofthecandidate,accompaniedbyacertificatefromtheuniversityorschooloflaw,shallbefiled
asevidenceofsuchfacts,andfurtherevidencemayberequiredbythecourt.

Noapplicantshallbeadmittedtothebarexaminationsunlesshehassatisfactorilycompletedthefollowingcoursesinalawschoolor
universitydulyrecognizedbythegovernment:civillaw,commerciallaw,remediallaw,criminallaw,publicandprivateinternational
law,politicallaw,laborandsociallegislation,medicaljurisprudence,taxationandlegalethics.

Section6.PreLaw.Noapplicantforadmissiontothebarexaminationshallbeadmittedunlesshepresentsacertificatethathe
hassatisfiedtheSecretaryofEducationthat,beforehebeganthestudyoflaw,hehadpursuedandsatisfactorilycompletedinan
authorizedandrecognizeduniversityorcollege,requiringforadmissiontheretothecompletionofafouryearhighschoolcourse,the
courseofstudyprescribedthereinforabachelor'sdegreeinartsorscienceswithanyofthefollowingsubjectsasmajororfieldof
concentration:politicalscience,logic,english,spanish,historyandeconomics.

Section7.Time for filing proof of qualifications. All applicants for admission shall file with the clerk of the Supreme Court the
evidencerequiredbysection2ofthisruleatleastfifteen(15)daysbeforethebeginningoftheexamination.Ifnotembracedwithin
section3and4ofthisruletheyshallalsofilewithinthesameperiodtheaffidavitandcertificaterequiredbysection5,andifembraced
withinsections3and4theyshallexhibitalicenseevidencingthefactoftheiradmissiontopractice,satisfactoryevidencethatthe
samehasnotbeenrevoked,andcertificatesastotheirprofessionalstanding.Applicantsshallalsofileatthesametimetheirown
affidavitsastotheirage,residence,andcitizenship.

Section8.NoticeofApplications. Notice of applications for admission shall be published by the clerk of the Supreme Court in
newspaperspublishedinPilipino,EnglishandSpanish,foratleastten(10)daysbeforethebeginningoftheexamination.

Section9.Examinationsubjects. Applicants, not otherwise provided for in sections 3 and 4 of this rule, shall be subjected to
examinations in the following subjects: Civil Law Labor and Social Legislation Mercantile Law Criminal Law Political Law
(ConstitutionalLaw,PublicCorporations,andPublicOfficers)InternationalLaw(PrivateandPublic)TaxationRemedialLaw(Civil
Procedure,CriminalProcedure,andEvidence)LegalEthicsandPracticalExercises(inPleadingsandConveyancing).

Section10.Barexamination,byquestionsandanswers,andinwriting.Personstakingtheexaminationshallnotbringpapers,
books or notes into the examination rooms. The questions shall be the same for all examinees and a copy thereof, in English or
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Spanish,shallbegiventoeachexaminee.Examineesshallanswerthequestionspersonallywithouthelpfromanyone.

Upon verified application made by an examinee stating that his penmanship is so poor that it will be difficult to read his answers
without much loss of time., the Supreme Court may allow such examinee to use a typewriter in answering the questions. Only
noiselesstypewritersshallbeallowedtobeused.

Thecommitteeofbarexaminershalltakesuchprecautionsasarenecessarytopreventthesubstitutionofpapersorcommissionof
otherfrauds.Examineesshallnotplacetheirnamesontheexaminationpapers.Nooralexaminationshallbegiven.

Section11.Annualexamination.ExaminationsforadmissiontothebarofthePhilippinesshalltakeplaceannuallyintheCityof
Manila.Theyshallbeheldinfourdaystobedisignatedbythechairmanofthecommitteeonbarexaminers.Thesubjectsshallbe
distributedasfollows:Firstday:PoliticalandInternationalLaw(morning)andLaborandSocialLegislation(afternoon)Secondday:
Civil Law (morning) and Taxation (afternoon) Third day: Mercantile Law (morning) and Criminal Law (afternoon) Fourth day:
RemedialLaw(morning)andlegalEthicsandPracticalExercises(afternoon).

Section12.Committeeofexaminers.Examinationsshallbeconductedbyacommitteeofbarexaminerstobeappointedbythe
SupremeCourt.ThiscommitteeshallbecomposedofaJusticeoftheSupremeCourt,whoshallactaschairman,andwhoshallbe
designatedbythecourttoserveforoneyear,andeightmembersofthebarofthePhilippines,whoshallholdofficeforaperiodofone
year.Thenamesofthemembersofthiscommitteeshallbepublishedineachvolumeoftheofficialreports.

Section 13. Disciplinary measures. No candidate shall endeavor to influence any member of the committee, and during
examinationthecandidatesshallnotcommunicatewitheachothernorshalltheygiveorreceiveanyassistance.Thecandidatewho
violatesthisprovisions,oranyotherprovisionofthisrule,shallbebarredfromtheexamination,andthesametocountasafailure
againsthim,andfurtherdisciplinaryaction,includingpermanentdisqualification,maybetakeninthediscretionofthecourt.

Section14.Passingaverage.Inorderthatacandidatemaybedeemedtohavepassedhisexaminationssuccessfully,hemust
haveobtainedageneralaverageof75percentinallsubjects,withoutfallingbelow50percentinanysubjects.Indeterminingthe
average, the subjects in the examination shall be given the following relative weights: Civil Law, 15 per cent Labor and Social
Legislation,10percentMercantileLaw,15percentCriminalLaw10percent:PoliticalandInternationalLaw,15percentTaxation,
10percentRemedialLaw,20percentLegalEthicsandPracticalExercises,5percent.

Section15.Reportofthecommitteefilingofexaminationpapers.NotlaterthanFebruary15thaftertheexamination,orassoon
thereafterasmaybepracticable,thecommitteeshallfileitsreportontheresultofsuchexamination.Theexaminationpapersand
notesofthecommitteeshallbefiledwiththeclerkandmaytherebeexaminedbythepartiesininterest,afterthecourthasapproved
thereport.

Section16.Failingcandidatestotakereviewcourse.Candidateswhohavefailedthebarexaminationsforthreetimesshallbe
disqualified from taking another examination unless they show the satisfaction of the court that they have enrolled in and passed
regularfourthyearreviewclassesaswellasattendedaprebarreviewcourseinarecognizedlawschool.

Theprofessorsoftheindividualreviewsubjectsattendedbythecandidatesunderthisruleshallcertifyunderoaththatthecandidates
haveregularlyattendedclassesandpassedthesubjectsunderthesameconditionsasordinarystudentsandtheratingsobtainedby
themintheparticularsubject.

Section17.Admissionandoathofsuccessfulapplicants.Anapplicantwhohaspassedtherequiredexamination,orhasbeen
otherwisefoundtobeentitledtoadmissiontothebar,shalltakeandsubscribebeforetheSupremeCourtthecorrespondingoathof
office.

Section18.Certificate.ThesupremeCourtshallthereuponadmittheapplicantasamemberofthebarforallthecourtsofthe
Philippines,andshalldirectanordertobeenteredtothateffectuponitsrecords,andthatacertificateofsuchrecordbegiventohim
bytheclerkofcourt,whichcertificateshallbehisauthoritytopractice.

Section19.Attorney'sroll.TheclerkoftheSupremeCourtshallkeptarollofallattorneysadmittedtopractice,whichrollshallbe
signedbythepersonadmittedwhenhereceiveshiscertificate.

Section20.Dutiesofattorneys.Itisthedutyofanattorney:

(a) To maintain allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and to support the Constitution and obey the laws of the
Philippines.

(b)Toobserveandmaintaintherespectduetothecourtsofjusticeandjudicialofficers

(c) To counsel or maintain such actions or proceedings only as appear to him to be just, and such defenses only as he
believestobehonestlydebatableunderthelaw.

(d)Toemploy,forthepurposeofmaintainingthecausesconfidedtohim,suchmeansonlyasareconsistentwithtruthand
honor,andneverseektomisleadthejudgeoranyjudicialofficerbyanartificeorfalsestatementoffactorlaw

(e)Tomaintaininviolatetheconfidence,andateveryperiltohimself,topreservethesecretsofhisclient,andtoacceptno
compensationinconnectionwithhisclient'sbusinessexceptfromhimorwithhisknowledgeandapproval

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(f)Toabstainfromalloffensivepersonalityandtoadvancenofactprejudicialtothehonororreputationofapartyorwitness,
unlessrequiredbythejusticeofthecausewithwhichheischarged

(g)Nottoencourageeitherthecommencementorthecontinuanceofanactionorproceeding,ordelayanyman'scause,from
anycorruptmotiveorinterest

(h)Nevertoreject,foranyconsiderationpersonaltohimself,thecauseofthedefenselessoroppressed

(i)Inthedefenseofapersonaccusedofcrime,byallfairandhonorablemeans,regardlessofhispersonalopinionastothe
guiltoftheaccused,topresenteverydefensethatthelawpermits,totheendthatnopersonmaybedeprivedoflifeorliberty,
butbydueprocessoflaw.
Section 21. Authority of attorney to appear. an attorney is presumed to be properly authorized to represent any cause in which he appears, and no
written power of attorney is required to authorize him to appear in court for his client, but the presiding judge may, on motion of either party and on
reasonablegroundsthereforbeingshown,requireanyattorneywhoassumestherighttoappearinacasetoproduceorprovetheauthorityunderwhichhe
appears, and to disclose, whenever pertinent to any issue, the name of the person who employed him, and may thereupon make such order as justice
requires.Anattorneyswilfullyappearincourtforapersonwithoutbeingemployed,unlessbyleaveofthecourt,maybepunishedforcontemptasanofficer
ofthecourtwhohasmisbehavedinhisofficialtransactions.

Section22.Attorney who appears in lower court presumed to represent client on appeal. An attorney who appears de parte in a case before a lower
courtshallbepresumedtocontinuerepresentinghisclientonappeal,unlesshefilesaformalpetitionwithdrawinghisappearanceintheappellatecourt.

Section23.Authorityofattorneystobindclients.Attorneyshaveauthoritytobindtheirclientsinanycasebyanyagreementinrelationtheretomadein
writing,andintakingappeals,andinallmattersofordinaryjudicialprocedure.Buttheycannot,withoutspecialauthority,compromisetheirclient'slitigation,
orreceiveanythingindischargeofaclient'sclaimbutthefullamountincash.

Section 24. Compensation of attorneys agreement as to fees. An attorney shall be entitled to have and recover from his client no more than a
reasonablecompensationforhisservices,withaviewtotheimportanceofthesubjectmatterofthecontroversy,theextentoftheservicesrendered,and
theprofessionalstandingoftheattorney.Nocourtshallbeboundbytheopinionofattorneysasexpertwitnessesastothepropercompensation,butmay
disregard such testimony and base its conclusion on its own professional knowledge. A written contract for services shall control the amount to be paid
thereforunlessfoundbythecourttobeunconscionableorunreasonable.

Section25.Unlawfulretentionofclient'sfundscontempt.Whenanattorneyunjustlyretainsinhishandsmoneyofhisclientafterithasbeendemanded,
hemaybepunishedforcontemptasanofficeroftheCourtwhohasmisbehavedinhisofficialtransactionsbutproceedingsunderthissectionshallnotbe
abartoacriminalprosecution.

Section26.Changeofattorneys. An attorney may retire at any time from any action or special proceeding, by the written consent of his client filed in
court. He may also retire at any time from an action or special proceeding, without the consent of his client, should the court, on notice to the client and
attorney,andonhearing,determinethatheoughttobeallowedtoretire.Incaseofsubstitution,thenameoftheattorneynewlyemployedshallbeentered
onthedocketofthecourtinplaceoftheformerone,andwrittennoticeofthechangeshallbegiventotheadvanceparty.

Aclientmayatanytimedismisshisattorneyorsubstituteanotherinhisplace,butifthecontractbetweenclientandattorneyhasbeenreducedtowriting
andthedismissaloftheattorneywaswithoutjustifiablecause,heshallbeentitledtorecoverfromtheclientthefullcompensationstipulatedinthecontract.
However,theattorneymay,inthediscretionofthecourt,interveneinthecasetoprotecthisrights.Forthepaymentofhiscompensationtheattorneyshall
havealienuponalljudgmentsforthepaymentofmoney,andexecutionsissuedinpursuanceofsuchjudgment,renderedinthecasewhereinhisservices
hadbeenretainedbytheclient.

Section27.AttorneysremovedorsuspendedbySupremeCourtonwhatgrounds.Amemberofthebarmayberemovedorsuspendedfromhisofficeas
attorneybytheSupremeCourtforanydeceit,malpractice,orothergrossmisconductinsuchoffice,grosslyimmoralconduct,orbyreasonofhisconviction
ofacrimeinvolvingmoralturpitude,orforanyviolationoftheoathwhichheisrequiredtotakebeforetheadmissiontopractice,orforawilfulldisobedience
of any lawful order of a superior court, or for corruptly or willful appearing as an attorney for a party to a case without authority so to do. The practice of
solicitingcasesatlawforthepurposeofgain,eitherpersonallyorthroughpaidagentsorbrokers,constitutesmalpractice.

Section28.SuspensionofattorneybytheCourtofAppealsoraCourtofFirstInstance.TheCourtofAppealsoraCourtofFirstInstancemaysuspend
an attorney from practice for any of the causes named in the last preceding section, and after such suspension such attorney shall not practice his
professionuntilfurtheractionoftheSupremeCourtinthepremises.

Section29.UponsuspensionbytheCourtofAppealsorCourtofFirstInstance,furtherproceedingsinSupremeCourt.Uponsuchsuspension,theCourt
ofAppealsortheCourtofFirstInstanceshallforthwithtransmittotheSupremeCourtacertifiedcopyoftheorderofsuspensionandafullstatementofthe
factsuponwhichthesamewasbased.Uponthereceiptofsuchcertifiedcopyandstatement,theSupremeCourtshallmakeafullinvestigationofthefacts
involvedandmakesuchorderrevokingorextendingthesuspension,orremovingtheattorneyfromhisofficeassuch,asthefactswarrant.

Section30.Attorneytobeheardbeforeremovalorsuspension.Noattorneyshallberemovedorsuspendedfromthepracticeofhisprofession,untilhe
hashadfullopportunityuponreasonablenoticetoanswerthechargesagainsthim,toproducewitnessesinhisownbehalf,andtobeheardbyhimselfor
counsel.Butifuponreasonablenoticehefailstoappearandanswertheaccusation,thecourtmayproceedtodeterminethematterexparte.

Section 31. Attorneys for destitute litigants. A court may assign an attorney to render professional aid free of charge to any party in a case, if upon
investigationitappearsthatthepartyisdestituteandunabletoemployanattorney,andthattheservicesofcounselarenecessarytosecuretheendsof
justiceandtoprotecttherightsoftheparty.Itshallbethedutyoftheattorneysoassignedtorendertherequiredservice,unlessheisexcusedtherefrom
bythecourtforsufficientcauseshown.

Section32.Compensationforattorneysdeoficio.Subjecttoavailabilityoffundsasmaybeprovidedbythelawthecourtmay,initsdiscretion,orderan
attorney employed as counsel de oficio to be compensates in such sum as the court may fix in accordance with section 24 of this rule. Whenever such
compensationisallowed,itshallbenotlessthanthirtypesos(P30)inanycase,normorethanthefollowingamounts:(1)Fiftypesos(P50)inlightfelonies
(2)Onehundredpesos(P100)inlessgravefelonies(3)Twohundredpesos(P200)ingravefeloniesotherthancapitaloffenses(4)FiveHundredpesos
(P500)incapitaloffenses.

Section33.StandingincourtofpersonauthorizedtoappearforGovernment.Anyofficialorotherpersonappointedordesignatedinaccordancewith
law to appear for the Government of the Philippines shall have all the rights of a duly authorized member of the bar to appear in any case in which said
governmenthasaninterestdirectorindirect.

Section34.Bywhomlitigationconducted.Inthecourtofajusticeofthepeaceapartymayconducthislitigationinperson,withtheaidofanagentor
friendappointedbyhimforthepurpose,orwiththeaidanattorney.Inanyothercourt,apartymayconducthislitigationpersonallyorbyaidofanattorney,
andhisappearancemustbeeitherpersonalorbyadulyauthorizedmemberofthebar.

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Section35.Certainattorneysnottopractice.NojudgeorotherofficialoremployeeofthesuperiorcourtsoroftheOfficeoftheSolicitorGeneral,shall
engageinprivatepracticeasamemberofthebarorgiveprofessionaladvicetoclients.

Section36.AmicusCuriae.ExperiencedandimpartialattorneysmaybeinvitedbytheCourttoappearasamicicuriaetohelpinthedispositionofissues
submittedtoit.

Section 37. Attorneys' liens. An attorney shall have a lien upon the funds, documents and papers of his client which have lawfully come into his
possessionandmayretainthesameuntilhislawfulfeesanddisbursementshavebeenpaid,andmayapplysuchfundstothesatisfactionthereof.Heshall
alsohavealientothesameextentuponalljudgmentsforthepaymentofmoney,andexecutionsissuedinpursuanceofsuchjudgments,whichhehas
secured in a litigation of his client, from and after the time when he shall have the caused a statement of his claim of such lien to be entered upon the
recordsofthecourtrenderingsuchjudgment,orissuingsuchexecution,andshallhavethecausedwrittennoticethereoftobedeliveredtohisclientandto
theadversepatyandheshallhavethesamerightandpoweroversuchjudgmentsandexecutionsashisclientwouldhavetoenforcehislienandsecure
thepaymentofhisjustfeesanddisbursements.

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