ABA targets love bug in review of conflicts of interest.The American Bar Association (ABA) has proposed a series of measures to improve handling of conflicts of interest, including a ban on lawyers having sex with their clients.Following a review of its model rules of professional conduct - widely adopted across the US - the ABA's Ethics 2000 commission has proposed prohibiting lawyers from engaging in sex with clients, unless a consensual sexual relationship predated the client-lawyer relationship.

Even then, the lawyer would need to be alive to the risks of conflict.

There is no such ban in England and Wales.It also plans to introduce 'screening' to make it possible for a law firm to represent a client whose interests conflict with those of a former client of the screened lawyer.

Screening means the lawyer would be isolated from any participation in the matter.The ABA should vote on the proposals in August 2001.Neil Rose