950041 | Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri

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Informal Opinion Number: 950041

Rules: 1.7

Client-Lawyer Relationship

Conflict of Interest: General Rule

QUESTION: Attorney is mayor of a municipality. (1) May members of Attorney´s firm represent defendants in municipal court? (2) May members of Attorney´s firm represent clients who are suing the city? (3) May members of Attorney´s firm represent the city? ANSWER: (1) No. (2) No. (3) Yes, if Attorney takes no part in the determination of whether and when to use the services of another member of the firm and Attorney does not share in fees generated from this representation.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

To request an Informal Opinion, please visit: http://mo-legal-ethics.org/for lawyers/requesting-an-informal-advisory-opinion/.