These summaries were prepared by McGuireWoods LLP lawyer Thomas E. Spahn. They are based on the letter opinions issued by the Virginia State Bar. Any editorial comments reflect Mr. Spahn's current personal views, and not the opinions of the Virginia State Bar, McGuireWoods or its clients. 
 
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1460

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1-Adversity to Current Clients

31-Protecting and Disclosing Confidences and Secrets

44-Conflicts - Miscellaneous

73-Family Law Lawyers

A lawyer helping a legal services agency as part of a pro bono program represents a domestic relations client. The lawyer is approached by a client in a divorce matter, and learns that the client's spouse is being represented by the legal services agency. The lawyer may continue to represent the pro bono client and the paying divorce client because the matters are unrelated and therefore there will be no adversity between the clients. The fact that the same agency represents the spouse of the divorce client and also provides assistance to the lawyer in the representation of the domestic relations client does not create a conflict. However, the lawyer must be careful to avoid the sharing of any confidences.

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn