BLJE MIDTERMS Flashcards
Where can you find the rules on Law Student Practitioners
- Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court
- Revised Law Student Practice Rule 2019
Five goals of the limited practice of law by law students
- Immersion re: law
- Access to justice of the marginalized sectors
- Enhancement learning opportunities
- Instillation of professional social responsibility
- Preparation for the practice of law
What can you do as an LSP
- Appearances before trial and appellate courts and quasi-judicial and administrative bodies
- Drafting of pleadings and documents
- Assistance in mediation and ADR
- Legal counselling and advice
- Others covered by the legal clinic of law school
Eligibility Requirements for Level 1 Certification
Successfully completed their 1st year law courses
Eligibility Requirements for Level 2 Certification
- Enrolled for the 2nd semester of their 3rd year law courses.
- Should he fail to 3rd year courses, the Level 2 certification shall be revoked
Validity of the certification?
Until the student has completed the required number of courses in CLEP, unless earlier revoked.
Practice area for level 1 LSP
- Negotiate on behalf of client,
- Represent and practice before quasi judicial,
- Provide public legal orientation,
- Assist in public interest advocacies
Practice area for level 2 LSP
- Level 1 actvities
- Assist in deposition and/or preparing judicial affidavits,
- Appear at any stage of the proceedings or trial, before any court, quasi-judicial or administrative bodies,
- Subject to provisions of Section 5, Rule 110 of the ROC, to appear on behalf of a government agency in the prosecution
Application Requirements
- Duly-accomplished application form under oath
- Three copies of the form
- Proof of payment of necessary legal and filing fee
Duties of the LSP
- Observe provisions of Section 24b of ROC (rule on privileged communication)
- Prohibited from using information for personal or commercial gain
- Perform their duties to the best of their abilities
- Observe the Canons of the CPRA
Use of the LSP Name
- May sign pleadings, letters, and other similar documents under the direction of the SL
- Must indicate LSP certificate number
Duties of Law School
- Develop CLEP
- Establish a legal clinic in its school
- Endorse qualified students for certification. Applicant is a student enrolled in CLEP course, good moral character, and met the requirements
- Ensure compliance by LSP and Supervising lawyers of CPR
Duties of SL:
- Supervise a practicable number of LSP
- Appear with the LSP in all cases pending before 2nd level Courts and in all other cases where he deems his presence to be required
- Assume responsibility for any work done
- Advice certified LSP in activities
- Read, approve and personally sign any pleadings
- Provide a level of supervision as required
Sanctions
- Engaging in LSP activities without certification or without consent of supervising lawyer
- False representations/fraud in the application for certification
- Using expired certifications
- Rendering legal services outside the scope of the practice areas allowed under Section 4.
- Asking and receiving payment or compensation.
Legal ethics:
A branch of moral science which deals of the duties an attorney to the court, to his client, to his colleagues
Responsibility vs. Accountability
R: Someone’s duty to carry out a task to completion
A: Refers to what happens after something has happened. To be answerable to the consequences of our action and inaction.
Core of legal ethical values
Integrity: probity + moral uprightness
7 Canons
- Independence
- Propriety
- Fidelity
- Competence
- Diligence
- Equality
- Accountability
Recite Canon I Section 1
Independent, accessible, efficient and effective legal service.
Recite Canon I Section 2
- Solely on the merits of a cause and
- Not exert any influence on the court.
Recite Canon I Section 5
- Not allow the client to dictate the procedure in handling the case
- Respect client’s decision for settlement or compromise
Canon II Section 4
- Use of dignified, gender-fair, and child- and culturally-sensitive language.
- No use of abusive, intemperate, offensive and other improper language