What is a joint retainer?

• A. A retainer shared by two or more parties with no conflict issues.
• B. A single lawyer handling multiple unrelated matters for a client.
• C. A client who pays fees in advance.
• D. Recognizes and fulfills duties related to joint retainers (e.g., disclosure prior to accepting retainer, obligations if a conflict develops that cannot be resolved).

Answer: (D)

A joint retainer means two or more clients hire the same lawyer for a common matter, which creates heightened ethical duties to manage conflicts. The best choice captures that it involves recognizing and fulfilling duties specific to joint retainers, such as disclosing potential conflicts before accepting the retainer and outlining obligations if a conflict develops that cannot be resolved. These disclosures and conflict-management steps protect the clients’ interests and keep the lawyer aligned with professional standards when multiple clients are represented together. The other options don’t fit: sharing a retainer with no conflicts ignores the possibility and management of conflicts; a single lawyer handling multiple unrelated matters isn’t a joint retainer; and a client paying fees in advance describes a general retainer, not the multi-client joint scenario that triggers specific duties and disclosures.