What constitutes a conflict of interest for a lawyer?

The situation in which a lawyer's representation of one client is adverse to another client's interests clearly constitutes a conflict of interest. In legal practice, a conflict of interest arises when a lawyer has a duty to one client that conflicts with their duties to another client, or when the lawyer's own interests or relationships could adversely affect their representation of a client.

In contexts such as litigation or negotiation, if a lawyer is representing clients with opposing goals, their ability to advocate zealously for each client may be compromised. This distinct concern ensures that lawyers maintain their ethical obligations to act in the best interests of their clients. The necessity for protecting client confidentiality and loyalty dictates that lawyers cannot simultaneously represent parties with conflicting interests without obtaining informed consent from the affected clients, which often is not feasible.

Other options touch upon scenarios that may give rise to potential ethical concerns but do not inherently define a conflict of interest as clearly as representation that is adverse to another client's interests. For instance, while representing multiple clients can lead to conflicts, it does not automatically result in a conflict unless their interests oppose each other. Similarly, a personal relationship with a client might raise ethical considerations, but it is not necessarily a conflict unless it directly affects the lawyer's representation of that client in an adverse manner