“The Accidental Client,” Los Angeles County Bar Association Update

In an article for the Los Angeles County Bar Association Update, Partner Kirsten Hicks Spira and Associate Rebekah Lee discuss how attorney-client relationships are formed and provide tips for lawyers to avoid being accused of picking up or maintaining a client, when that was not what was intended by the lawyer.

“While the California’s Rules of Professional Conduct impose several broad duties on a lawyer—such as truthfulness to a tribunal and third parties—it almost goes without saying that a lawyer’s duty of care, including their duty to be conflict-free, is owed only to the lawyer’s client. Therefore, knowing who your clients are is paramount to discharging your responsibilities. Sound easy? It should be, but beware: lawyers sometimes find themselves picking up clients, or maintaining clients, without expressly meaning to do so,” the authors write.

“While an attorney-client relationship cannot be established unilaterally, potential pitfalls abound unless the lawyer communicates clearly. These best practices, consisting of clear and specific communications regarding the start and end of such a relationship, may help lawyers avoid some of those pitfalls,” the authors also write.

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© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

“The Accidental Client,” Los Angeles County Bar Association Update

In an article for the Los Angeles County Bar Association Update, Partner Kirsten Hicks Spira and Associate Rebekah Lee discuss how attorney-client relationships are formed and provide tips for lawyers to avoid being accused of picking up or maintaining a client, when that was not what was intended by the lawyer.

“While the California’s Rules of Professional Conduct impose several broad duties on a lawyer—such as truthfulness to a tribunal and third parties—it almost goes without saying that a lawyer’s duty of care, including their duty to be conflict-free, is owed only to the lawyer’s client. Therefore, knowing who your clients are is paramount to discharging your responsibilities. Sound easy? It should be, but beware: lawyers sometimes find themselves picking up clients, or maintaining clients, without expressly meaning to do so,” the authors write.

“While an attorney-client relationship cannot be established unilaterally, potential pitfalls abound unless the lawyer communicates clearly. These best practices, consisting of clear and specific communications regarding the start and end of such a relationship, may help lawyers avoid some of those pitfalls,” the authors also write.

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

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