Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
*
Bar Matter No. 553. June 17, 1993.
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* EN BANC.
379
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R E S O L UT I O N
REGALADO, J.:
Annex A
SECRET MARRIAGE?
P560.00 for a valid marriage.
Info on DIVORCE.
ABSENCE.
ANNULMENT. VISA.
THE Please call: 521-0767,
LEGAL 5217232, 5222041
CLINIC, INC. 8:30 am-6:00 pm
7-Flr. Victoria Bldg., UN Ave.,
Mla.
Annex B
GUAM DIVORCE
DON PARKINSON
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382
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383
The main issues posed for resolution before the Court are
whether or not the services offered by respondent, The
Legal Clinic, Inc., as advertised by it constitutes practice of
law and, in either case, whether the same can properly be
the subject of the advertisements herein complained of.
Before proceeding with an in-depth analysis of the
merits of this case, we deem it proper and enlightening to
present hereunder excerpts from the respective position
papers adopted by the aforementioned bar associations and
the memoranda submitted by them on the issues involved
in this bar matter.
xxx
Notwithstanding the subtle manner by which respondent
endeavored to distinguish the two terms, i.e., “legal support
services” vis-a-vis “legal services”, common sense would readily
dictate that the same are essentially without substantial
distinction. For who could deny that document search, evidence
gathering, assistance to layman in need of basic institutional
services from government or non-government agencies like birth,
marriage, property, or business registration, obtaining documents
like clearance, passports, local or foreign visas, constitute practice
of law?
xxx
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) does not wish to
make issue with respondent’s foreign citations. Suffice it to state
that the IBP has made its position manifest, to wit, that it
strongly opposes the view espoused by respondent (to the effect
that today it is alright to advertise one’s legal services).
The IBP accordingly declares in no uncertain terms its
opposition to respondent’s act of establishing a “legal clinic” and of
concomitantly advertising the same through newspaper
publications.
The IBP would therefore invoke the administrative supervision
of this Honorable Court to perpetually restrain respondent from
undertaking highly 4
unethical activities in the field of law practice
as aforedescribed.
xxx
A. The use of the name “The Legal Clinic, Inc.” gives the
impression that respondent corporation is being operated by
lawyers
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4 Position Paper prepared by Atty. Basilio H. Alo, IBP Director for Legal
Affairs, 1, 10; Rollo, 209, 218.
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384
Article 26. x x x.
Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly
celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien
spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have
capacity to remarry
385
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VOL. 223, JUNE 17, 1993 385
Ulep vs. Legal Clinic, Inc.
386
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Ulep vs. Legal Clinic, Inc.
387
xxx
Respondent asserts that it “is not engaged in the practice of
law but engaged in giving legal support services to lawyers and
laymen, through experienced paralegals, with the use of modern
computers and electronic machines” (pars. 2 and 3, Comment).
This is absurd. Unquestionably, respondent’s acts of holding out
itself to the public under the trade name “The Legal Clinic, Inc.,”
and soliciting employment for its enumerated services fall within
the realm of a practice which thus yields itself to the regulatory
powers of the Supreme Court. For respondent to say that it is
merely engaged in paralegal work is to stretch credulity.
Respondent’s own commercial advertisement which
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xxx
_______________
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390
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8 Position Paper prepared by Atty. Victoria C. de los Reyes, 1-2; Rollo; 105-106.
9 Memorandum prepared by Atty. Victoria C. de los Reyes, 10-11; Rollo, 370-
371.
391
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xxx
1.7 That entities admittedly not engaged in the practice of law,
such as management consultancy firms or travel agencies,
whether run by lawyers or not, perform the services rendered by
Respondent does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that
Respondent is not unlawfully practicing law. In the same vein,
however, the fact that the business of respondent (assuming it can
be engaged in independently of the practice of law) involves
knowledge of the law does not necessarily make respondent guilty
of unlawful practice of law.
_______________
392
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conduct which the law forbids. It seems x x x clear that (the consultant’s)
knowledge of the law, and his use of that knowledge of the law, and his
use of that knowledge as a factor in determining what measures he shall
recommend, do not constitute the practice of law x x x. It is not only
presumed that all men know the law, but it is a fact that most men have
considerable acquaintance with the broad features of the law x x x. Our
knowledge of the law—accurate or inaccurate—moulds our conduct not
only when we are acting for ourselves, but when we are serving others.
Bankers, liquor dealers and laymen generally possess rather precise
knowledge of the laws touching their particular business or profession. A
good example is the architect, who must be familiar with zoning, building
and fire prevention codes, factory and tenement house statutes, and who
draws plans and specifications in harmony with the law. This is not
practicing law.
“But suppose the architect, asked by his client to omit a fire tower,
replies that it is required by the statute. Or the industrial relations
expert cites, in support of some measure that he recommends, a decision
of the National Labor Relations Board. Are they practicing law? In my
opinion, they are not, provided no separate fee is charged for the legal
advice or information, and the legal question is subordinate and
incidental to a major non-legal problem.
“It is largely a matter of degree and of custom.
“If it were usual for one intending to erect a building on his land to
engage a lawyer to advise him and the architect in respect to the building
code and the like, then an architect who performed this function would
probably be considered to be trespassing on territory reserved for licensed
attorneys. Likewise, if the industrial relations field had been pre-empted
by lawyers, or custom placed a lawyer always at the elbow of the lay
personnel man. But this is not the case. The most important body of
industrial relations experts are the officers and business agents of the
labor unions and few of them are lawyers. Among the larger corporate
employers, it has been the practice for some years to delegate special
responsibility in employee matters to a management group chosen for
their practical knowledge and skill in such matters, and without regard
to legal training or lack of it. More recently, consultants like the
defendant have tendered to the smaller employers the same service that
the larger employers get from their own specialized staff.
“The handling of industrial relations is growing into a recognized
profession for which appropriate courses are offered by our leading
universities. The court should be very cautious
393
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395
396
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services” or
11
“legal support services”, and not legal services are
available.”
________________
397
_______________
398
399
400
________________
401
402
21
support the case.”
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21 Rollo, 130-131.
22 Memorandum of U.P. WILOCI, 12-13; Rollo, 372-373.
23 Sec. 1, Rule 138, Rules of Court.
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24 Phil. Ass’n. of Free Labor Unions, et al. vs. Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar
Co., et al., 42 SCRA 302 (1971).
403
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28 Comment of Respondent, 2; Rollo, 14.
404
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405
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31 7 C.J.S., Attorney & Client, 866; Johnstown Coal & Coke Co. of New
York vs. U.S., 102 Ct. Cl. 285.
32 Florida Bar vs. Brumbaugth, 355 So. 2d 1186.
33 Canon 3, Code of Professional Responsibility.
34 Rule 3.01, id.
35 Rule 3.04, id.
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43 Op cit., 80, 81, citing A.B.A. Op. 69 (Mar. 19, 1932); A.B.A. Op. 133
(Mar. 13, 1935); A.B.A. Op. 24 (Jan. 24, 1930); and Canon 43, Canons of
Professional Ethics.
44 Op cit., 81, citing A.B.A. Op. 11 (May 11, 1927); A.B.A. Op. 24 (Jan.
24, 1930); A.B.A. Ops. 53 (Dec. 14, 1931), 123 (Dec. 14, 1934), (July 12,
1941), 241 (Feb. 21, 1942), 284 (Aug. 1951); and 286 (Sept. 25, 1952).
45 Supra, Fn. 2.
409
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Trustworthy................................................................... from
71%
to
14%
Professional.................................................................. from
71%
to
14%
Honest........................................................................... from
65%
to
14%
Dignified....................................................................... from
45%
to
14%
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410
48
except in allowable instances or to aid a layman in the
49
unauthorized practice of law. Considering that Atty.
Rogelio P. Nogales, who is the prime incorporator, major
stockholder and proprietor of The Legal Clinic, Inc. is a
member of the Philippine Bar, he is hereby reprimanded,
with a warning that a repetition of the same or similar acts
which are involved in this proceeding will be dealt with
more severely.
While we deem it necessary that the question as to the
legality or illegality of the purpose/s for which the Legal
Clinic, Inc. was created should be passed upon and
determined, we are constrained to refrain from lapsing into
an obiter on that aspect since it is clearly not within the
adjudicative parameters of the present proceeding which is
merely administrative in nature. It is, of course, imperative
that this matter be promptly determined, albeit in a
different proceeding and forum, since, under the present
state of our law and jurisprudence, a corporation cannot be
organized for or engage in the practice of law in this
country. This interdiction, just like the rule against
unethical advertising, cannot be subverted by employing
some so-called paralegals supposedly rendering the alleged
support services.
The remedy for the apparent breach of this prohibition
by respondent is the concern and province of the Solicitor
General who can institute the corresponding quo warranto
50
action, after due ascertainment of the factual background
and basis for the grant of respondent’s corporate charter, in
light of the putative misuse thereof. That spin-off from the
instant bar matter is referred to the Solicitor General for
such action as may be necessary under the circumstances.
ACCORDINGLY, the Court Resolved to RESTRAIN and
ENJOIN herein respondent, The Legal Clinic, Inc., from
issuing or causing the publication or dissemination of any
advertisement in any form which is of the same or similar
tenor and purpose as
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