Episode 375 (Duration 23:20) – Former prosecutors who leave their office face uniques circumstances when they represent individuals charged by the same prosecutor’s office.

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In This Episode

“If there can be any possible conflict you get it in writing…” — Illinois Attorney Nrupa Patel.

Attorney Nrupa Patel

Attorney Nrupa Patel is a former Assistant State’s Attorney from Macon County, Illinois.

Since June 2017, she has been a partner at the firm of Bolen Robinson & Ellis in Decatur, Illinois where she represents individuals in criminal court.

“Can’t Miss” Moments:

✓ Do you know the 3 per se conflicts of interest defense attorneys have to worry about? Relax. Here they are: (1) Where defense counsel has a prior or contemporaneous association with the victim, the prosecution, or an entity assisting the prosecution (2) Where defense counsel contemporaneously represents a prosecution witness; and (3) Where defense counsel was a former prosecutor who had been personally involved in the prosecution of defendant.

✓ In Nrupa’s real life scenario a prospective client was charged while she was still at the prosecutor’s office. However, she did not prosecute the case, had no involvement and was pretty sure she didn’t discuss the case with anyone. Should she or shouldn’t she take the case? What other factors would you like to know about?

✓ There’s one thing most attorneys aren’t doing that Nrupa is doing to avoid finding herself in sticky conflict of interest situations. Listen in to discover what she’s doing different.

✓ In this area of the law the case law says one thing and the professional rules of responsibility say something else. Listen in to see how the cases and the rules relate to each other.

✓ Nrupa divulges her ultimate decision in an actual case. She also lets us know what details would have changed her decision. And she explains why she resolved an almost identical scenario quite differently. 

Links & Resources

• Learn More About Illinois Professional Responsibility Rules
• See More Illinois Conflict of Interest Cases
• Bolen Robinson & Ellis LLP
• Contacting Nrupa Patel
• People v. Fields, 2012 IL 112438
• Rule 1.11(a)(2) – Special Conflicts Of Interest For Former And Current Government Officers And Employee
• People v. Schutz, 2017 IL App (4th) 140956 (July)

See Also

You may also want to check out…

• Episode 039 Is It A Per Se Conflict of Interest When Trial Attorney Raises Ineffective Assistance on Himself?
• Episode 106 Did Drew Peterson’s Attorney Have A Conflict Of Interest When He Signed a Publicity Contract?
• Episode 176 Prosecutor Probably Had A Conflict of Interest (People v. Kibbons, 2016 IL App (3d) 150090 (April)
• Episode 056 Ethical Violation After Meeting With Prosecutor

Before You Go…

Case law mastery is crucial too zealous and effective advocacy.

I’ve come to believe that steady, persistent attention to the cases can increase any attorney’s litigation skills.

If you’re looking for the easiest way to keep up with the cases and ready to begin having a litigation advantage over your opponents then hit the link below.