LECTURE NOTES FOR LEGAL COUNSELING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Angeles University
School of Law

I. LEGAL COUNSELING

A. Introduction

1. What is Legal Counseling?

2. What is the Importance of Legal Counseling? (Reference: Legal Counseling, Author

Recaredo P. Barte, p. 3)

B. Key Elements of Legal Counseling

1. The Counsel

a. The Role of a Counsel (Reference: Legal Counseling, Author Recaredo P.

Barte, pp. 8-9)

b. The Extent of a Counsel’s Responsibility (Reference: Legal Counseling,

Author Recaredo P. Barte, pp. 9-10)

c. The Character of the Counsel (Remember, more often than not, the client
chose you because he trusts you. And that is why you have to keep that trust.)

d. Important Traits of a Counsel

2. The Client

a. The Needs of a Client

b. How to Obtain and Keep Clients (Reference: Legal Counseling, Author

Recaredo P. Barte, pp. 29-39)

A. How to Obtain Clients

B. How to Keep Clients

1. Going the Extra Mile

2. Focused Attention
3. Confidentiality
4. Be thorough but not too detailed.
5. Value your time with your client.
6. Keep your clients informed.
7. The Parting Shot
 3. The Case

a. Accepting or Rejecting a Case (Reference: Legal Counseling, Author

Recaredo P. Barte, pp. 7-9)

1. When should you say “no” to accepting a case?

2. To what extent can a lawyer accept a case?

b. Interviewing your Client (Reference: Legal Counseling, Author Recaredo

P. Barte, pp. 62-75)

1. Establish a lawyer-client relationship

2. Determine Facts of the Case
3. Be honest with your client.
4. As much as possible, avoid interruptions.
5. Speak his language.
6. Reduce to writing the narration of client
7. Interview all available witnesses
8. Know the client’s priorities.

c. The Memorandum of Law

 Statement of Facts
 Relevant Laws and Jurisprudence
 Issue/s
 Options:

f. Possible Courses of Action (Reference: Legal Counseling, Author

Recaredo P. Barte, pp. 40-59)

 Advice
 Drafting
 Collaboration
 Litigation
 Conflict Management (Negotiation and Conciliation)

II. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF LAWYERS

A. Do We Need More Lawyers in the Philippine Society?

B. Why does the Philippine society need lawyers? (Partially taken from the Essay written by
Kathleen Sullivan entitled “The Good that Lawyers Do” from Washington University of
Law Journal and Policy)

1. We are a democracy.
 2. We have diversity.
3. We need leaders to reach our destiny.

D. 5 Common Reasons why Filipinos dislike Filipino lawyers?

1. We can sometimes lie and get away with it.

2. Win or lose, we earn.
3. Many perceived to be corrupt politicians and public servants are lawyers.
4. We can sometimes make something so wrong look so right.
5. The good that lawyers do are usually invisible from the public eye.

E. 20 Ways for Lawyers to be Socially Responsible

1. Leave a legacy not just an inheritance.

2. Avoid compromising situations.
3. Work for the government.
4. Yield to your conscience.
5. Extend beyond what’s required.
6. Review our present laws diligently and make suggestions to improve them.
7. Seek justice at all times and in all things.
8. Find an advocacy.
9. Obey the law.
10. Resist the temptation to take short-cuts.
11. Take the high ground.
12. Hold your tongue and listen more.
13. Encourage the young. (Mentoring)
14. Change what’s within your control.
15. Offer your legal core competency to bless the country.
16. Use the law to help people not so much to live “The good life” but a good life.
17. Never rant about our country to foreigners.
18. Turn away from bad habits.
19. “Rest on Sundays”
20. Yearn to grow in faith.