Conflict Check Tool
This is a free structured conflict-of-interest checker aligned to the Australian Solicitors Conduct Rules (ASCR) 10-12 and the equivalent Barristers' Conduct Rules. Enter prospective party names and matter context, and the tool walks you through current-client, former-client, related-party, and personal-interest checks.
What this tool does
Conflict checks get missed most often not from laziness but from missing categories — the related-party conflict no one searched, the former client the firm represented six years ago, or the personal financial interest a solicitor did not think to declare. This checklist is designed to catch all four categories systematically.
How to use it
- Enter the prospective client name and any known associated entities (trusts, companies, relatives)
- Enter the opposing party and their associated entities
- Describe the matter in one or two sentences for context-based conflict checking
- Work through the four conflict categories: current, former, related-party, and personal interest
- Document the result — the tool produces a dated record of the conflict clearance for your file
What you'll learn
- The four categories of conflict under the ASCR and how they differ
- How to handle informed consent for "consentable" conflicts under ASCR 11
- Which related parties routinely get missed and why
- How to document conflict clearance so it holds up under audit
Interactive tool coming soon
The interactive Conflict Check Tool is currently in development. In the meantime, start a free Quillio trial — the time savings are real and measurable on your own matters within the first week.
Start free trialTool FAQs
Does this replace our practice management conflict search?
No. Your PMS holds the actual client and matter database — this tool is a structured checklist that sits alongside it to make sure the categories not covered by a name search (related parties, personal interests) are also considered.
Which rules does it align to?
Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules 10 (former clients), 11 (concurrent clients), and 12 (personal interest). For barristers, the equivalent Barristers' Conduct Rules provisions are cited. The tool covers the substantive categories; state-specific regulators may have additional guidance notes.
What counts as a "former client"?
ASCR 10 applies to former clients — the duty is to preserve confidential information acquired in the former engagement. The tool prompts you to check how recent the former matter was, what confidential information you hold, and whether it is relevant to the prospective matter.
Can informed consent cure every conflict?
No. ASCR 11 allows a concurrent client conflict to be handled by informed consent where the solicitor reasonably believes each client can be represented effectively. Some conflicts — for example, directly adverse interests in the same litigation — generally cannot be cured by consent.
How should I document the conflict check?
Produce a dated record that names who ran the check, what was searched, and what the conclusion was. If the conflict was cleared by informed consent, keep a signed consent letter on file. This tool generates a file memo in the right format.
Does it handle conflicts between two different offices of the firm?
Information barriers ("Chinese walls") are recognised by ASCR 11A but only in specific circumstances. The tool flags multi-office situations for escalation to the conflict partner rather than attempting a formal barrier assessment.
What about Barristers Direct or referrals from another firm?
Referral and direct access scenarios get their own branch in the tool — the conflict position depends on whether you are briefed as counsel (looser rules) or taking the matter as solicitor (full ASCR 10-12 analysis).
Test the savings on your own work
Quillio runs the structured conflict workflow automatically on new matter open, including related-party resolution across entity registers and historical matters. Start the free trial to see conflict checking inside the matter open pipeline.
This tool is a structured aid to conflict analysis. The final conflict clearance is a matter for the supervising solicitor (or conflict partner) under the relevant conduct rules. Nothing in this tool constitutes legal advice or a substitute for the ASCR itself.
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