1725
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| Lawyers who serve as guardians ad litem must follow the ethics rules "whether or not an attorney-client relationship exists" with the children, and therefore must obtain consent if they will simultaneously be representing the Department for Social Services on some matters and acting as guardians ad litem on other unrelated matters. The lawyers need consent because "even where the legal matters are dissimilar, the simultaneous representation of adverse clients is improper unless the clients consent and waive the conflict." Because the children are incapable of giving consent, a court must grant the consent. |