The first thing to emerge from my conversations with representatives of law firms was that conflicts do indeed pose a significant problem. Although solicitors have developed complex procedures for identifying potential conflicts, merely trying to secure work, or an approach from a potential new client, can create seemingly irreconcilable problems.
The way in which many solicitors cope with the increasing number of conflicts is, in effect, by breaching Law Society rules. Only 30% of the firms questioned appeared, by their own account, to comply with Law Society regulations when faced with a conflict of interest.
