What is a primary characteristic of an attorney-client conflict of interest?

A primary characteristic of an attorney-client conflict of interest is that consent is required when an attorney is related to a client. This is critical due to the potential for bias or divided loyalties that could arise from a familial relationship. The attorney's ability to provide independent advice and advocacy could be compromised if they have a personal interest in the outcome of a case involving a relative.

To prevent any ethical dilemmas or perceptions of favoritism that could affect the integrity of legal representation, the attorney must obtain informed consent from the client before proceeding. This requirement protects both the client and the attorney by ensuring transparency about potential conflicts and allowing the client to make an informed decision on whether to continue with the representation.

In contrast, the other options present scenarios that do not align with the concept of a conflict of interest. The notion that an attorney must represent clients with adverse interests overlooks the ethical obligation to avoid conflicts, while implying that shared representation is acceptable contradicts the principles of loyalty and confidentiality inherent in the attorney-client relationship. Furthermore, the requirement for clients to pay a fixed fee is not inherently related to conflicts of interest but rather to the business aspect of attorney-client agreements, which does not address the ethical implications of such conflicts.