Informal Opinion Number: 960001

QUESTION: Is there an ethical or legal conflict for an attorney representing the juvenile office or its agents to also be a commissioned deputy juvenile officer? ANSWER: It would not generally be a conflict under Supreme Court Rule 4, the Rules of Professional Conduct, for an attorney representing the juvenile office to also be a commissioned deputy juvenile officer. Of course, it is possible that a conflict could arise under a specific set of facts. I cannot address Attorney´s question regarding the possibility of legal conflicts. My authority to provide informal advisory opinions on conflicts only extends to the Rules of Professional Conduct. An opinion may be available regarding the legal issues from the Attorney General´s Office, the State Ethics Commission, or both.

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/.

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