A conflict check confirms that ME Law does not already represent — or hold confidential information from — a party on the other side of your matter. It is required before the firm can act for you or discuss the substance of your case, and it protects both confidentiality and the lawyer’s ability to advise you independently.
Before a consultation proceeds, ME Law checks the names of the parties involved against its records. This helps determine whether the firm has a current or prior professional relationship, or confidential information, that could prevent it from acting for you.
The Law Society of Ontario requires lawyers to address conflicts before acting where divided loyalty or confidentiality may be an issue. A lawyer cannot provide meaningful, candid advice if there is uncertainty about professional obligations owed to another party.
The conflict check is therefore a preliminary professional safeguard, not the substantive legal assessment itself. Once it has been completed and no conflict prevents ME Law from proceeding, the matter can move toward the consultation described in What happens during a consultation?.
In practice:
- Party information: you will usually be asked to identify the relevant parties before the consultation is confirmed.
- Conflict review: ME Law checks those names against its records.
- Timing: a conflict check typically takes a few hours to one business day, depending on the number of parties involved and the complexity of the matter.
- If a conflict is identified: ME Law will tell you directly and, where possible, help point you toward alternative counsel. The firm will not proceed with a consultation where a conflict prevents it from acting.
This process protects the confidentiality of the information you provide and the integrity of the lawyer-client relationship. It also ensures that the lawyer who ultimately advises you can do so without divided loyalty.
If you want to understand the broader purpose of the substantive meeting once the conflict check is cleared, see What is a consultation at ME Law?.
Once the conflict check is completed, the next step is scheduling the consultation. See How quickly can you schedule an initial consultation? for how ME Law handles timing, lawyer availability, and urgent matters.
Contact ME Law with the names of the parties involved so the conflict-check process can begin.