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Glossary

Conflicts check

For every new matter and every new party added to an existing matter, before you say yes.

A conflicts check is the process of comparing a prospective client and matter against your firm's existing and former clients to catch any relationship — adverse party, co-party, related entity — that would create a conflict of interest.

Why it matters for a solo or small firm

A solo without a formal client database is running this check from memory. That works until it doesn't — representing one spouse in a divorce after having represented the other on an unrelated matter years earlier is a classic, entirely avoidable, bar complaint.

Example

A new intake names 'Riverside Holdings LLC' as the opposing party. Your conflicts check needs to catch that Riverside Holdings is the parent company of a client you represented on a lease dispute two years ago.