What Is a Conflicts Attorney and How to Become One
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What Does a Conflicts Attorney Do?
Conflicts attorneys help their clients avoid conflicts of interest in their legal cases. This job comes in two primary forms. The first form includes cases that have multiple defendants who do not have personal attorneys; in this case, a public defender would have a conflict of interest because different clients have competing needs. In this instance, the court must assign a different attorney to each of the defendants. In the second form, conflict attorneys help identify and resolve conflicts of interest for other lawyers, especially when it comes to hiring new personnel for the firm. These conflict attorneys often help implement and maintain ethical walls, create a database of potential conflicts, and document any client waivers.
How to Become a Conflicts Attorney
To become a conflicts attorney, you must follow the same educational path as other lawyers. You need to earn a bachelor's degree, then complete law school. Once you have finished schooling, you need to pass your state bar exam to be eligible to practice. Most employers prefer conflicts attorneys who have some experience at a large law firm, so many start their careers as staff lawyers at big law firms. Practice researching client backgrounds to determine areas that may cause a conflict in legal cases and determine ways to resolve these conflicts. After working for several years and learning how to determine what is and what is not considered a conflict, seek conflicts attorney positions.
