Professional Responsibility

Government Lawyer

Former government lawyers are not bound by Rule 1.9(a).

Rule 1.9(c)'s prohibitions against us[ing] information relating to the representation to the disadvantage of the former client or reveal[ing] information relating to the representation except as these Rules would permit or require with respect to a client. Rule 1.11(a)(1).

A former government lawyer also shall not otherwise represent a client in connection with a matter in which the lawyer participated personally and substantially as a public officer or employee, unless the appropriate government agency gives its informed consent, confirmed in writing, to the representation. Rule 1.11(a)(2).

Matter

Rule 1.11(e)

As used in [Rule 11], the term "matter" includes:

any judicial or other proceeding, application, request for a ruling or other determination, contract, claim, controversy, investigation, charge, accusation, arrest or other particular matter involving a specific party or parties, and

any other matter covered by the conflict of interest rules of the appropriate government agency.

A former government lawyer who gained confidential government information about a person at such time may not represent a private client whose interests are adverse to that person in a matter in which the information could be used to the material disadvantage of that person. Rule 1.11(c).

Confidential Government Information

Confidential government information is information that has been obtained under governmental authority and which, at the time this Rule is applied, the government is prohibited by law from disclosing to the public or has a legal privilege not to disclose and which is not otherwise available to the public. Rule 1.11(c).

Former government lawyers running afoul of Rule 1.11 can still be screened. Rule 1.11(b).

Rule 1.18

[A current government lawyer] shall not:

participate in a matter in which the lawyer participated personally and substantially while in private practice or nongovernmental employment, unless the appropriate government agency gives its informed consent, confirmed in writing; or

negotiate for private employment with any person who is involved as a party or as lawyer for a party in a matter in which the lawyer is participating personally and substantially, except that a lawyer serving as a law clerk to a judge, other adjudicative officer or arbitrator may negotiate for private employment as permitted by Rule 1.12(b) and subject to the conditions stated in Rule 1.12(b).