[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-278283-105":53,"doc-detail-278283-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","a-month-in-the-life-of-an-ethics-partner","A Month in the Life of an Ethics Partner","","A practical ethics-focused month-long account explains how an ethics partner supports lawyers facing conflict-of-interest questions under Rule 1.7. It covers requirements for informed consent and written confirmations, the handling of attorney-client privilege and work product when communication occurs with the ethics partner, and the value of written records and conflicts letters. The discussion further addresses conflicts involving organizational affiliates and joint representations, emphasizing waivers, withdrawal rights, and careful planning.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/a-month-in-the-life-of-an-ethics-partner/278283/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/a-month-in-the-life-of-an-ethics-partner/278283.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Olivia Brown","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":8},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What does Rule 1.7 require when an ethics partner helps manage a concurrent conflict?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"It concerns whether competent and diligent representation is possible despite the concurrent conflict, whether the representation is prohibited by law, and whether the matter involves claims between clients in the same litigation. It also requires informed consent confirmed in writing after explaining the relevant facts and ramifications.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"Why are communications with a firm’s ethics partner often treated as privileged?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Many state and federal courts hold that oral and written communications with an ethics partner are privileged under the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How should joint representations and settlements be handled when corporate and individual positions diverge?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"A carefully crafted joint representation letter should clarify in advance that if the corporation and the individual client take different positions, the lawyer may withdraw from representing the individual while continuing the corporation’s representation.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},278283,1789508697,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":8,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":76,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":125,"read_time":9},16904993612988,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","FEATURE:ETHICS  \nA MONTH IN THE LIFE OF ANETHICS PARTNERBy:Richard H.C.Clay  \n# INTRODUCTION         \n\n(or oneself if practicing solo)is critical.Rule  \n1.7(b)provides the circumstances underwhich a lawyer may represent a clientnotwithstanding a concurent conflict.Is thelawyer able to render competent anddiligent representation to each affectedclient?Is the representation not prohibitedby law?Does the representation notinvolve the assertion of a claim by oneclient against another client represented bythe lawyer or the lawyer's firm in the samelitigation?And has each client giveninformed consent,based on an explanationof the facts and ramifications,confirmedin writing?  \nAmajority of state and federal courts holdthat oral and written communications with afirm's ethics partner are privileged underthe attorney client privilege and the workproduct doctrine.Frequently,the ethicspartner should ask the affected lawyers tooutline in writing the facts andcircumstances about which they inquire,even if they've already explained it orally.Often the answers may be given orally inresponse to calls or meetings in the office,many of which arise in the context of realemergency.It is good practice,however,togive a written response or to keep notesand a record of the particular ruling.Theethics partner should get copies of theconflicts letters that go out and the signedreturns.Frequently,the firm will have atemplate,and in some instances the ethicspartner will actually do the first draft if thatis more efficient.As to determinations,many are informal.Some,however,shouldbe codified for future use if there areunusual issues involved,or where theconfiicts arise among firm lawyers practic-ing in different practice areas or offices.  \n# CARPARATF AEEIIIATF CONFLICTS     \n\nWhat happens if one lawyer in the firmrepresents a corporation,while another isasked to represent a constituent oraffiliated organization,such as a subsidiary,when the representation is adverse?Seecomment 34\"Organizational Clients\"toKRCP 1.7.The bottom line is that suchrepresentation is not barred,unless thecircumstances are such that the affiliateshould also be considered a client of thelawyer,or there is an understanding thatthe lawyer won't represent affiliates,or thelawyer's obligations to one other clientcould materially limit her representation ofthe other.This dilemma seems to arise withincreasing frequency.The answer often lies  \nEvery law firm needs a designated ethicspartner.If you are in solo practice,thismeans you,assisted by trustedlawyers/mentors in your community or outin the state.On the other hand,in amid-sized firm,this work is centered on onepartner generally consulting with othermembers of his/her firm,perhaps with anassociate back up.A large multi-office firmmight have an expanded committee as aresource when the ethics partner(s)needsadditional help.Several of the members ofthe expanded committee might beparticularly adroit at running physical andelectronic ethical screens whencircumstances call for one.One partner,generally based in the firm's home office,might serve as the firm's general counseland take on the direct dealings with thefirm's malpractice carrier and the firm'smanagement.Forall of us,it means gettingthose annual ethics credits,payingattention to the Kentucky Rules ofProfessional Conduct and the comments tothem,seeking guidance from KBA Ethicsopinions,and obtaining rulings from theKBA Ethics Hotline when still in doubt.  \nWhat follows are issues fielded over thecourse of a recent one-month period by atypical ethics partner (the author).This willgive you an idea of ethical issues thatconfront allof us regardless of whether onepractices in a large,mid-sized,or small firmor as a solo practitioner.There is no rhymeor reason to the issues covered below.Itisa scattershot rendition,and yet arealistic one.  \n# CONFLICTS          \n\nThe bulk of questions arise from conflictissues for current clients and involvewhether the conflict is indeed a conflict,and i","cbCaiuvagrmlnumB","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuvagrmlnumB","pdf",143722,"English","# INTRODUCTION\n## Attorney-client privilege and work product\n## Written responses and records\n# CONFLICTS\n## Concurrent conflicts for current clients\n## Waiver and materially limited representation\n# JOINT REPRESENTATIONS AND WAIVERS\n## Joint representation letters and withdrawal rights","[{\"question\":\"What does Rule 1.7 require when an ethics partner helps manage a concurrent conflict?\",\"answer\":\"It concerns whether competent and diligent representation is possible despite the concurrent conflict, whether the representation is prohibited by law, and whether the matter involves claims between clients in the same litigation. It also requires informed consent confirmed in writing after explaining the relevant facts and ramifications.\"},{\"question\":\"Why are communications with a firm’s ethics partner often treated as privileged?\",\"answer\":\"Many state and federal courts hold that oral and written communications with an ethics partner are privileged under the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine.\"},{\"question\":\"How should joint representations and settlements be handled when corporate and individual positions diverge?\",\"answer\":\"A carefully crafted joint representation letter should clarify in advance that if the corporation and the individual client take different positions, the lawyer may withdraw from representing the individual while continuing the corporation’s representation.\"}]","A Month in the Life of an Ethics Partner | PDF"]