CorrectQ: In professional responsibility, the duty of a lawyer to avoid conflicts of interest is primarily governed by:

Sun, 03 May 2026 09:27:20 +0000

**What Drives Lawyers’ Commitment to Avoiding Conflicts of Interest?** In today’s fast-evolving legal landscape, questions about professional ethics aren’t just for academia—they’re central to how millions of legal professionals operate daily. One core duty that consistently rises in conversation is the obligation to avoid conflicts of interest. But where exactly does this responsibility land on the rules that guide legal practice across the United States? The duty of lawyers to avoid conflicts of interest is primarily governed by state-specific bars and national standards rooted in core principles of professional responsibility. For U.S.-based legal practitioners, the governing framework stems largely from the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, adopted and adapted by state judicial systems. Central to these rules is Rule 1.7, which defines when a conflict of interest arises and outlines the conditions under which a lawyer must withdraw or obtain informed consent. This framework is reinforced by strict internal policies enforced by law societies and state bar associations, ensuring consistent accountability. Lawyers must constantly evaluate whether personal, financial, or professional interests could undermine client trust or compromise impartial judgment. Far from being abstract, these guidelines directly shape daily decisions—from client intake to case representation and business relationships.