Conflict of Interest Freeholder's Partner Assistant County Counsel

99 N.J.L.J. 1017
November 18, 1976

OPINION 355

Conflict of Interest
Freeholder's Partner
Assistant County Counsel

The inquirer's law partner is an elected member of the county board of chosen freeholders. A position of assistant county counsel is available and the appointment will be made by the board. This Committee's opinion is asked as to whether the inquirer would be "placed in conflict of interest or violate the Disciplinary Rules regarding appearance of impropriety" if he were appointed to the position.
We believe that N.J. Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics, Opinion 189, 93 N.J.L.J. 789 (1970), answers the question. That opinion reviewed in detail the principles which should guide attorneys in their relationship with governmental agencies. See also N.J. Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics, Opinion 192, 94 N.J.L.J. 44 (1971).
In our opinion the inquirer's acceptance of the appointment as an assistant county counsel by the board of chosen freeholders, of which his law partner is a member, would be improper.