CEU SCHOOL OF LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

LEGAL ETHICS

PART I. MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The minimum age of qualification for an applicant to be admitted to the Bar.
a. 18
b. 15
c. 21
d. 20
2. Mr. A is applying for admission to the Bar examination. Because of his intelligence, he
was able to finish law school without attending high school. Is Mr. A allowed to take the
Bar examination?
a. YES, if he is able to satisfactorily show that he studied law for four years.
b. NO, he is required to be admitted and complete a four-year high school course.
c. YES, if he is able to complete all prescribed courses in law school.
d. NO, since he failed to establish that he is of good moral character.
3. Atty. B, an American and practicing lawyer from the United States, was admitted to the
Philippine Bar. Which law should he abide to follow?
a.
b.
c.
d.

First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States

The Philippine Constitution
Rules of Court
Code of Judicial Ethics

4. When should a Bar applicant file the required evidence for him to be admitted to the
Bar?
a.
b.
c.
d.

At least 15 days before the beginning of the examination

15 days after publication in the Official Gazette
15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation
10 days before the beginning of the examination

5. Atty. Napoles client confided to her that he received P10 million worth of PDAF which
he spent in living a lavish lifestyle in New York. Atty. Napoles shared this information to
her Tumblr (social networking site) which is read by many. Is she liable for violation of
the rule of Attorney-Client Privilege Communication?
a. NO, her clients actions are a matter of public interest.

b. YES, Atty. Napoles is subjecting her client to a trial by publicity.

c. NO, her clients actions are contrary to public morals.
d. YES, Atty. Napoles is bound by the rule on matters disclosed to her by the client.
6. Atty. Maya was asked to represent Mr. Lim in a labor case against Time Airways
Union- which represents the employees of his company. Unknown to Mr. Lim, Atty.
Maya was the former counsel of retrenched employee of Time Airways. Should Maya
accept Mr. Lim as a client?
a. YES, she should not decline to represent Mr. Lim based on her opinion regarding Mr.
Lims guilt.
b. NO, because there exists an intimate relationship between the issues of his previous
and prospective client.
c. YES, Atty. Maya shall not refuse her services to the needy.
d. NO, because Mr. Lim pursued an illegal or immoral course of conduct with his
employer-employee relationship.
7. The IBP is divided into how many regions?
a.
b.
c.
d.

11
10
9
8

8. The Integrated Bar shall be governed by who?

a.
b.
c.
d.

Board of Governors
House of Delegates
IBP President
Supreme Court

9. Who shall investigate all complaints against members of the Integrated Bar as
referred to them by the IBP Board of Governors?
a.
b.
c.
d.

The National Grievance Committee

Supreme Court
Office of the Court Administrator
House of Delegates

10. Which of the following is an inherent power of the Court?

a. To compel the attendance of persons to testify in a case pending therein;
b. To have speedy, impartial and public trial

c. Appoint counsel de oficio

d. Institute criminal and civil actions
11. In case of absence of the judge who performs all the duties in behalf of the judge?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Fiscal
Prosecutor
Clerk of Court
Secretary

12. This book contains all the judgment rendered by the court in order of its date and
containing at length in chronological order entries of all final judgment or orders of the
Court.
a.
b.
c.
d.

SCRA
Philippine Reports
Docket
Judgment and Entries Book

13. When should legal fees be paid?

a.
b.
c.
d.

At anytime before entering plea

Within 10 days from the receipt of the subpoena
Before the filing of a complaint or information
Upon filing of the pleading

14. How many hours is a practicing lawyer required to render free legal aid services to
indigent litigants in a year?
a.
b.
c.
d.

24 hours
48 hours
60 hours
120 hours

15. Which of the following trait is essential to the proper discharge of the judicial office for
it applies not only to the decision itself but also to the process by which decision is made.
a.
b.
c.
d.

INDEPENDENCE
INTEGRITY
COMPETENCE AND DILIGENCE
IMPARTIALITY

16. Which of the following requisites is not rquired for commissioning as a Notary Public.
a. Natural- born Filipino citizen
b. At least 21 years of age
c. Member of the Bar in good standing.
d. Regular place of work or business
17. He is a lawyer who haunts hospitals, and visits homes of the afflicted, offciously
intruding their presence and persistently offering his service on the basis of contingent
fee.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Medico Legal
Ambulance Chaser
Forensic Lawyer
Contingent Fee Lawyer

18.Which of the following does not constitute a mandatory ground for inhibition of a
judge?
a.
b.
c.
d.

The Judge married a counsel of party after the trial was terminated.
A former associate of the Judge is a material witness in the case.
One of the parties has filed an administrative case against the judge.
A son of the judge is a member of the union which has a pending case for a sum of
money before him.

19. It is a pleading that while it is good in form is false in fact?

a.
b.
c.
d.

Negative pleading
Scam pleading
False pleading
Sham pleading

20. It is an answer that does not present a defense to the action or one which tenders no
material issue
a.
b.
c.
d.

False answer
Frivolous answer
Negative Pregnant Answer
Sham answer

21.Canon 1 of the Code of Professional Responsibility provides that a lawyer shall uphold
the Constitution, obey the laws of the land and promote respect for law and for legal
processes. The rules under Canon 1 include which of the following?
a. A lawyer shall not counsel or abet activities aimed at the defiance of the law or at
lessening confidence in the legal system.

b. A lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely affects on his fitness to practice
law, nor shall he, whether in public or private life, behave in a scandalous manner
to the discredit of the legal profession.
c. A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral, or decitful conduct.
d. A and B
e. A and C
22. Who among the following persons may be commissioned as a notary public.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Members of the IBP in good standing

Those who finished third year law and currently enrolled in fourth year.
Law graduate with degree if either LlB or JD
Anybody of the above.

23. A petition for notarial commission shall be filed with

a.
b.
c.
d.

The Executive Judge of the place where petitioner will perform notarial acts
Any RTC Judge within the province or city
Any MTC Judge within the city or municipality
The Supreme Court

24. The period of validity of a notarial commission is

a. Two years commencing on the first day of January of the year in which the
commission is made.
b. Two years commencing on the date of issuance of the commission.
c. One year commencing on the first day of January of the year in which the
commission is made.
d. One year commencing on the date of issuance of the commission.
25. It is an offense of exciting or stirring unnecessary suits and quarrels
a.
b.
c.
d.

Amicus Curiae
Barratry
Ambulance Chasing
Forum Shopping

26. There is conflict of interest when

a. The acceptance of a new professional relationship will prevent an attorney from the
full discharge of his duty of undivided fidelity and loyalty to the client.
b. The acceptance of a new professional relationship will invite suspicion of unfaithful
or double-dealing in the performance of his duties.
c. The acceptance of a new professional relationship will run contrary to the norms of
full disclosure and satisfaction of public taste.

d. Both a and b
27. A retainer fee agreement in which it is provided that the lawyer shall advance all
stenographers fee subject to reinbursement at the end of the trial, is
a.
b.
c.
d.

A
A
A
A

contingent fee agreement

champertous agreement
progress billing
valid agreement

28. A notary should NEVER under any circumstance, notarize

a.
b.
c.
d.

The signature of his business asscoiate

His/her own signature
A unilateral contract
The signature of a close relative

29. A notary public should apply for the renewal of the commission
a.
b.
c.
d.

Within
Within
Within
Within

45
30
30
45

days
days
days
days

before expiration thereof.

before the expiration thereof.
after expiration thereof
after expiration thereof.

30. Which of the following judicial qualities is a pre-requisite to the Rule of Law and a
fundamental guarantee of a fair trial.
a.
b.
c.
d.

INDEPENDENCE
INTEGRITY
PROPRIETY
COMPETENCE and DILIGENCE

PART II. ESSAY

1. Explain what is a charging lien and its difference with retaining lien.
2. May a party appear as his own counsel in a criminal or in a civil case? Explain.

3. What is the student practice rule?

4. Atty. Abigail filed administrative cases before the Supreme Court against Judge Luis.
Thereafter, Atty. Abigail filed a Motion for Inhibition praying that Judge Luis inhibit
himself from trying, hearing or in any manner acting on all cases, civil and criminal,
in which Atty. Abigail is involved and handling.Should Judge Luis inhibit himself as
prayed for by Atty. Abigail? Explain fully.

5. What is the object of the bar examinations? Explain.

6. Write the complete text of the attorneys oath.

7. Atty. Hyde, a bachelor, practices law in the Philippines. On long weekends, he dates
beautiful actresses in Hong Kong. Kristine, a neighbor in the Philippines, filed with
the Supreme Court an administrative complaint against the lawyer because of sex
videos uploaded through the internet showing Atty. Hydes sordid dalliance with the
actresses in Hong Kong.

In his answer, Atty. Hyde (1) questions the legal personality and interest of Kristine
to institute the complaint and (2) insists that he is a bachelor and the sex videos
relate to his private life which is outside public scrutiny and have nothing to do with
his law practice.

Rule on the validity of Atty. Hydes defenses

8. Enumerate the instances when a Notary Public may authenticate documents without
requiring the physical presence of the signatories.

9. Atty. Candido commented in a newspaper that the decision of the Court of Appeals
was influenced by a powerful relative of the prevailing party. The appellate court
found him guilty of indirect contempt. Does this involve moral turpitude? Explain.

10. Atty. Monica Santos-Cruz registered the firm name Santos- Cruz Law Office with
the Department of Trade and Industry as a single Proprietorship. In her stationery, she
printed the names of her husband and a friend who are both non-lawyers as her senior
partners in light of their investments in the firm. She ed her husband to give out calling
cards bearing his name as senior partner of the firm and to appear in courts to move
for postponements. Did Atty. Santos-Cruz violate the Code of Professional
Responsibility? Why?