What happens to lawyers who continue practicing while suspended?
In Feliciano v. Bautista-Lozada, [1] the Supreme Court held the standard for discipline upon erring lawyers who continue practicing despite being suspended by the Court, viz:
Under Section 27, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, willful disobedience to any lawful order of a superior court is a ground for disbarment or suspension from the practice of law:SEC. 27. Disbarment or suspension of attorneys by Supreme Court; grounds therefor. — A member of the bar may be disbarred or suspended from his office as attorney by the Supreme Court for any deceit, malpractice, or other gross misconduct in such office, grossly immoral conduct, or by reason of his conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or for any violation of the oath which he is required to take before admission to practice, or for a willful disobedience of any lawful order of a superior court, or for corruptly or willfully appearing as an attorney for a party to a case without authority so to do. The practice of soliciting cases at law for the purpose of gain, either personally or through paid agents or brokers, constitutes malpractice.
In Molina v. Atty. Magat, the Supreme Court suspended further Atty. Ceferino R. Magat from the practice of law for six months for practicing his profession despite the Supreme Court's previous order of suspension.
We [Supreme Court] impose the same penalty on Atty. Baliga for holding his position as Regional Director despite lack of authority to practice law.
[1] A.C. No. 7593, 11 March 2015.
