Search the firm's records against Queensland conduct rules before the injury file opens
MaintainedLast reviewed
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- From the names the lawyer supplies, search the firm's records and list possible matches against current and former clients. Do not decide whether a conflict exists, or whether consent or an information barrier is available.
- What the lawyer must review
- Read rules 10 and 11 before the file is opened
- Informed consent and any information barrier are the lawyer's decision
- Rule 11A does not replace rules 10 and 11
- Confirm the Queensland text, including the 25 September 2026 amendments
Rules that apply
The document starts from the task name. Change it if this piece of work is different.
The work product
Forum. Queensland, before a plaintiff personal injury file is opened
Produce. A list of possible name matches from the firm's records, for the lawyer to test against rules 10 and 11.
Have ready. The names the lawyer supplies; The firm's current-client and former-client records.
Example of the limit. Illustrative example: The search lists a former client with a similar name. The lawyer checks whether the firm holds confidential information that is material to this matter before the file is opened.
Stop and hand it back when
- A match is a current client on a related matter.
- The list does not show whether confidential information is held.
Sources for this task were checked on 2026-10-23.
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | From the names the lawyer supplies, search the firm's records and list possible matches against current and former clients. Do not decide whether a conflict exists, or whether consent or an information barrier is available. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- Rule 10.2: if the firm holds confidential information of a former client that might reasonably be concluded to be material to this matter and detrimental to the former client if disclosed, the firm must not act unless the former client has given informed consent to the disclosure and use, or an effective information barrier has been established.
- Rules 11.2 to 11.4: the firm must not act for two or more clients in the same or related matters where the interests are adverse and there is a conflict or a potential conflict, except where each client is aware and has given informed consent. Where one client's confidential information meets the material and detrimental test, that consent must permit the disclosure and use, or an effective information barrier is required.
- Rule 11.5: if an actual conflict arises during the matter, the solicitor may continue for one client, or for clients between whom there is no conflict, only if the client for whom the solicitor ceases to act has given informed consent and the duty of confidentiality is not put at risk.
- Rule 11A is about short-term legal assistance where screening is not reasonably practicable. It does not replace rules 10 and 11. The tool does not decide that screening was impracticable.
Sources
- Queensland Law Society: Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules · 2026-10-23
- Queensland Law Society: Relations with clients · 2026-10-23
The Queensland Law Society page says the Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules 2023 came into force in Queensland on 27 September 2024 and were amended again on 25 September 2026. The tracked changes were not read rule by rule. The lawyer reads the current Queensland instrument.
The same page says Queensland kept the 2012 wording for rules 23.2, 29.7 and 29.12.5 and for the definitions of Principal and Serious Criminal Offence, and slightly modified rule 11A. Those points are not the conflict test used here.
The relations page as scraped doubled the words 'an effective' in one sentence. The checkpoint uses a single effective information barrier.