Informal Opinion Number: 990021

QUESTION: May Attorney represent juveniles as a guardian ad litem while Attorney´s firm represents adult criminal defendants? ANSWER: As a general rule, it will not create a conflict of interest for Attorney to represent juveniles as guardian ad litem, on a contract basis, while Attorney or other members of Attorney´s firm are representing criminal defendants. Particular circumstances could lead to a different result.

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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