The 2025 Revised Lawyer’s Oath of the Philippines

A comprehensive guide for law students, Bar candidates, and practitioners

1 | Historical setting

Year	Governing authority	Salient themes in the oath
1901	Code of Civil Procedure (Act No. 190)	Allegiance to the United States; obedience to Philippine laws; “do no falsehood.”
1946	Independence-era revisions	Allegiance shifted to the Republic of the Philippines; emphasis on the Constitution and duly-constituted authorities.
1988	Supreme Court Bar Matter No. 356	Added “promote respect for the law” and an express undertaking not to “wittingly or willingly promote or sue any groundless, false or unlawful suit.”
2023	Bar Matter No. 8505 (“Lawyer’s Oath of 2023”)	Framed the lawyer as guardian of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace; highlighted access to justice, diversity, and human-rights protection.
2025	Bar Matter No. 9230 (en banc, 13 February 2025)	Introduces technological competence, anti-corruption vigilance, environmental stewardship, and mandatory pro-bono tracking.

The 2023 text was only two years old when the Court revisited it. Two converging forces prompted an update:

Technological upheaval – The roll-out of nationwide e-filing, mandatory videoconference hearings, and AI-assisted drafting tools demanded minimum digital literacy from counsel.
Anti-corruption and sustainability agenda – The Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 called on all justice stakeholders to adopt explicit integrity and green-justice commitments.

2 | Full text of the 2025 Revised Lawyer’s Oath

I, __________, do solemnly swear that, as a lawyer of the Republic of the Philippines and an officer of the courts, I will faithfully uphold the Constitution, defend the rule of law, and promote justice for all.

Allegiance and Constitution     I will maintain unwavering allegiance to the Republic and support, obey, and defend the Constitution and the lawful orders of duly constituted authorities.

Truth and Integrity     I will do no falsehood nor consent to its commission; I will not wittingly or willingly promote or sue any groundless or unlawful suit; and I will conduct myself with honor, honesty, and civility at all times.

Access to Justice and Human Rights     I will conscientiously work to secure equal and meaningful access to justice, safeguarding the rights, freedoms, and dignity of every person—regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, ethnicity, disability, social status, or political belief.

Technological Competence     I will acquire and maintain the technological skills reasonably necessary for the competent representation of clients in a digital justice system, and I will use technology responsibly, securely, and ethically.

Anti-Corruption Vigilance     I will at all times oppose corruption, influence-peddling, or any conduct that erodes public trust in the legal profession and the courts, and I will report credible information regarding such conduct to proper authorities.

Environmental Stewardship     Recognizing the constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology, I will, within the scope of my professional duties, advance environmental justice and sustainable development.

Professional Excellence and Pro Bono Service     I will strive for competence, diligence, and lifelong learning, and I will render at least 60 hours of pro bono legal service every three (3) years, faithfully recording such service with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

So help me God.

3 | Doctrinal pillars behind the new language

Clause	Constitutional/Statutory anchor	Notes
Technological competence	Art. VIII, §5(5) (SC rule-making power); Rule 138, §1 (qualifications); Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA 2023) Canon III, §§39-41	Aligns with compulsory e-MCLE on cybersecurity and AI literacy.
Anti-corruption vigilance	Art. XI (Accountability of Public Officers); R.A. 3019 (Anti-Graft); R.A. 6713 (Ethical Standards); CPRA Canon I, §3	Creates a positive duty to report corruption, mirroring the lawyer’s duty in anti-money-laundering jurisprudence (Atty. Rojas v. People, A.M. No. 17-02-05-SC).
Environmental stewardship	Art. II, §16; The Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases (A.M. 09-6-8-SC)	Encourages use of writs of kalikasan and continuing mandamus.
Mandatory pro bono hours	Art. VIII, §5(5); Bar Matter No. 2012-12 (Law Student Practice Rule); CPRA Canon IV, §54	Converts the 10-hour annual IBP Legal Aid guideline into a rule with measurable hours.

4 | Implementation timeline & transition rules

Date	Milestone
13 Feb 2025	En banc promulgation (Bar Matter No. 9230).
01 May 2025	Effectivity. Candidates who pass the 2024 Bar Examinations (released April 2025) are the first cohort to take the new oath.
01 Jan 2026	Cut-off: all existing lawyers must have filed an initial Pro Bono Service Record (PBSR) with local IBP chapters.
MCLE Cycle VIII	Adds “Digital Practice and AI Ethics” (minimum 6 credit units) as a distinct subject.
2027	First compliance audit: Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) randomly selects 10 % of chapters to verify PBSR logs against docket data. Non-compliance = administrative liability under Rule 139-B.

5 | Key practical effects

E-litigation readiness – Counsel who declines to learn e-service protocols or refuses to adopt strong data-protection practices may now be disciplined for incompetence.
Heightened reporting duty – Silence in the face of bribery offers or “token facilitation gifts” can be charged as conduct unbecoming.
Environmental advocacy – Expect more public-interest petitions invoking the intergenerational responsibility doctrine (Oposa v. Factoran, G.R. 101083).
Expanded pro-bono market – IBP chapters must create electronic ledgers; in-house counsel and law professors may credit advisory services for indigents.

6 | Relationship with the CPRA 2023

The Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA)—effective 29 May 2023—remains the primary source of ethical rules. The 2025 Oath incorporates its themes but does not amend it. Instead, the Court issued CPRA Circular No. 03-2025, which:

declares that any violation of the Oath is, ipso facto, a breach of the corresponding CPRA Canon;
harmonizes the 60-hour pro bono rule with CPRA Canon IV, §54 (“Duty to render free legal aid”).

7 | Ceremonial guidelines

Venue – Still the Supreme Court en banc session hall or, for regional roll-signing, the nearest Court of Appeals station.
Accessibility – Sign-language interpreter and real-time captioning now mandatory.
Digital roll-signing – A secure PKI-based system permits lawyers abroad to sign the Roll of Attorneys electronically, subject to notarized identity proof.

8 | Frequently asked questions

Question	Answer (2025 rules)
Are existing lawyers required to retake the oath?	No. But they must comply with new duties (MCLE tech credits; PBSR).
Can pro bono hours be satisfied by teaching?	Yes, lecturing in free legal-aid clinics for marginalized communities counts.
Is “technological competence” defined?	The CPRA Commentary lists baseline skills: e-filing, metadata scrubbing, secure cloud storage, and AI-generated content review.
What if a lawyer refuses to handle environmental matters on conscience grounds?	The duty is contextual—awareness and advocacy within one’s practice area; no lawyer is forced to file environmental suits.
Are sanctions heavier for tech-related negligence?	The penalty matrix mirrors traditional negligence but expressly frames data breaches as an aggravating circumstance.

9 | Comparative note: global trends

Jurisdiction	Year of last oath revision	New emphases
United States (several states)	2020-24	Civility, anti-racism, duty of technological competence (ABA Model Rule 1.1 cmt. 8).
Canada (Ontario)	2023	Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples; truth and reconciliation calls to action.
Singapore	2024	Integrity in AI-assisted practice; pro bono certification.
Philippines	2025	Combines tech literacy, anti-corruption, environmental justice, and quantified pro bono.

The Philippine oath is now one of the most detailed among common-law and hybrid jurisdictions, reflecting the Court’s activist stance in legal ethics.

10 | Concluding observations

The 2025 Revised Lawyer’s Oath is more than a ceremonial recitation. It codifies emerging expectations—digital mastery, public accountability, ecological sensitivity, and measurable service to the marginalized. In doing so, the Supreme Court transforms what was once a static pledge into a living charter of professional duty. For Bar examinees it signals the skills the profession now demands; for veteran practitioners it is a reminder that learning, integrity, and service are life-long commitments.

This article is provided for academic and professional reference. It does not constitute legal advice.