87 N.J.L.J. 285
May 7, 1964
OPINION 43
Conflict of Interests - Employment
An attorney makes the following inquiry:
I am an individual practitioner. I recently employed
a young attorney who had been employed previous thereto
by another attorney. While he was so employed by the
other attorney, my office and the other attorney's office
were involved in two matrimonial contested cases which
are still pending. I have left strict instructions with
my office and with the young attorney who is employed by
me that he is not to handle any phase of or be involved
in any way while in my employ with the two cases which
were pending and involve his previous employment. I am
desirous of ascertaining whether, in view of the above
facts, it would be a breach of ethics for me to continue
to represent the clients in those two matters.
Canons of Professional Ethics, Canon 6 provides that the
obligation to represent the client with undivided fidelity and not
to divulge secrets or confidence forbids the subsequent acceptance
of employment from others in matters adversely affecting any
interest of the client.
Canon 37 extends this duty to the employees of an attorney and
further provides that neither of them should accept employment
which involves or may involve the disclosure or use of those
confidences to the disadvantage of the client.
The injunction not to represent conflicting interest
applies equally to law partners representing different
clients who have interests conflicting with one another;
also to lawyers, not partners, having offices together;
and to one formerly a clerk;... . Drinker, Legal Ethics
106 (1953).