Ethical by Design: How AI-Powered Conflict Detection Protects Your Practice

Every law firm runs conflict checks. But when do those checks happen? In most practices, conflict checking occurs after intake is complete, after the potential client has described their situation in detail, after privileged information has been shared. By then, it may be too late.

ClaireAI's conflict-aware intake identifies potential conflicts during the initial conversation, before sensitive case details are disclosed. This proactive approach protects both your practice and the potential clients you cannot ultimately represent.

The Conflict Risk in Traditional Intake

Standard intake follows a predictable pattern. A potential client calls. They describe their situation. An intake specialist collects detailed information. Hours or days later, someone runs a conflict check. A conflict is discovered.

At this point, the damage is done:

• Privileged information has been shared: The potential client disclosed case details assuming representation was likely. That information cannot be unheard.
• Walls may need to be built: If the matter involves a current client, information barriers become necessary, adding administrative burden and risk.
• The referral is awkward: The potential client now goes to another firm knowing you represent their adversary, potentially impacting your current representation.
• Malpractice exposure exists: Depending on what was disclosed and how it was handled, ethical complaints become possible.

Common Conflict Scenarios

Scenario	Risk Level	Traditional Detection Point
Adverse party is current client	Critical	Post-intake conflict check
Adverse party is former client in related matter	Critical	Post-intake conflict check
Business relationship with adverse party	High	Attorney review
Multiple potential clients with competing interests	High	Attorney review
Prior representation of witness	Moderate	Often discovered late in case

Real-Time Conflict Checking During Calls

ClaireAI checks for potential conflicts during the intake call itself, before detailed case information is collected. The system identifies parties early in the conversation and validates against your conflict database before proceeding with full intake.

The Conflict-Aware Intake Process

Integration with Practice Management Systems

ClaireAI's conflict detection integrates directly with your existing practice management software. The system queries your conflict database in real-time, ensuring decisions are based on current, accurate information.

Supported Integrations

• Clio: Native integration with Clio's contact and matter database for real-time conflict queries
• MyCase: Direct connection to party and matter records for conflict validation
• PracticePanther: Integrated conflict checking against contact database
• Filevine: Connection to Filevine's party and matter system
• Custom Systems: API-based integration for proprietary practice management solutions

Matching Intelligence

Simple name matching misses conflicts. ClaireAI uses intelligent matching that catches:

• Name variations: "William" matches "Bill," "Will," "Billy"
• Spelling variations: "Smith" matches "Smyth," "Smithe"
• Business name variations: "ABC Company" matches "ABC Co.," "A.B.C. Company"
• Maiden/married names: Associated names in your database are checked
• Known aliases: Previously documented name variations are included

Protecting Your Firm and Your Potential Clients

Conflict-aware intake protects multiple parties. Your firm avoids ethical violations and malpractice exposure. Your existing clients receive undivided loyalty. Potential clients with conflicts are spared the discomfort of learning they disclosed information to their adversary's counsel.

Audit Trail and Documentation

Every conflict check is logged and documented. If a conflict is identified after the fact, full records exist showing what was checked, when, and what was disclosed before the check occurred. This documentation supports ethical compliance and provides protection in any subsequent dispute.

FAQs About Conflict-Aware Intake

Does this slow down the intake process?

No. Checks happen in seconds while the conversation continues naturally. Callers don't notice.

What if I use a practice management system you don't list?

We can probably connect to it. If your system has an API (most modern ones do), we can integrate during onboarding. I'd say 90% of custom integrations get done within the standard timeline. For older or proprietary systems, it might take a bit longer—but we've rarely encountered something we couldn't work with.

Can ClaireAI handle nuanced conflict situations?

It catches the obvious ones automatically and flags anything questionable for attorney review. The system doesn't try to make final calls on complex ethical questions—that's your job. What it does is ensure that nothing slips through unnoticed.

What happens to intakes that are paused for conflict review?

Immediate flag to the reviewing attorney. Full documentation of what was said before the conflict was identified. You can make an informed call about next steps with complete context.

How are false positives handled?

They happen—especially with common names like "Smith" or "Johnson." When the attorney clears a false positive, the system logs it. Over time, matching accuracy improves. We'd rather flag ten false positives than miss one real conflict.

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About ClaireAI Conflict-Aware Intake

ClaireAI's conflict-aware intake identifies potential conflicts of interest during initial calls, before sensitive case information is disclosed. The system integrates with your practice management software to check parties in real-time and follows configured protocols when potential conflicts are identified.

ClaireAI, founded in 2024 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, is SOC 2 Type II certified and HIPAA compliant. The platform serves over 50 law firms across 23 states with AI-powered legal intake that adheres to ABA ethics guidelines.

Key Capabilities

• Real-Time Checking: Party names validated against conflict database during the call
• Intelligent Matching: Fuzzy matching catches name variations and misspellings
• Practice Management Integration: Direct connection to Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, and more
• Configurable Protocols: Define how potential conflicts should be handled
• Complete Audit Trail: Full documentation of all conflict checks and outcomes

For more information about ClaireAI, visit our about page or contact our team for a personalized demonstration.