No undue advantage of ignorance of the law, C2S22 CPRA

Section 22, Canon II SECTION 22. No undue advantage of ignorance of the law. - A lawyer shall not take advantage of a non-lawyer's lack of education or knowledge of the law. (2023 Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability or CPRA) 1. No undue advantage of ignorance of the law Lawyers are prohibited from taking advantage of a non-lawyer's lack of education or knowledge of the law. Thus, when the situation may call for it, lawyers should ensure that non-lawyers be apprised of any relevant law or regulation to assist in their decision-making or actions. Non-lawyers who lack education or knowledge of the law should have a good understanding of the effects, ramifications, or consequences, particularly on the legal aspects of whatever they may be doing. For example, many a non-lawyer would probably not know that pactum commissorium is prohibited, i.e., creditors cannot automatically appropriate a security for a debt as their own to satisfy payment of a debt as a public auction is required by law. Hence, lawyers should not take advantage of such knowledge by tricking a non-lawyer debtor into giving up his/her property used as security for a debt. References • Canon II, 2023 Code of Professional Responsibility...