Conflict check
The pre-engagement search for conflicts of interest under Rules 1.7 and 1.9.
A conflict check is the search performed before accepting new representation to identify conflicts under Rules 1.7 (current-client conflicts) and 1.9 (former-client conflicts). Best practice is to search every party name — client, opposing, related — against the firm's complete matter history.
Defensible conflict checks are documented: who searched, what was searched, what the system returned, and what was decided.
Build one that survives a malpractice review with the defensible conflict-check workflow.