Management of conflicts of interest present one of the greatest challenges to the efficient and ethical operation of a law firm and accordingly, a good understanding of the rules, and knowledge of important cases and opinions interpreting the rules, is essential.

While all states in the US have adopted some form of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, there are variations within the conflict rules. Further, there are differences in how each state applies the rules, including the determination of the choice of rules.

Each year there are a plethora of cases, both through motions practice as well as appellate decisions, that interpret one or more of the conflict rules and add to the body of law establishing the basis for when there is and isn’t a conflict of interest for a lawyer and/or his/her firm. There are also ethics opinions which from time to time give guidance on hypotheticals posed by members of the bar or are of some current significant interest.

This course presents an overview of the rules as well as discusses some of the cases and opinions which establish guidance for practitioners in order to avoid what could be a costly error for their case, matter and practice.