Solicitor says Conflict of interest.

[GreyCloud81]

I’ve just split with my ex. We have a business together.

I’m trying to sort this out, but he has blocked all communication with me. I’ve tried speaking to his mum, and she has passed on my message and his. Which would be that money would be transferred today (that was Monday) and that he would contact me to speak about the business in the next 2 days.

Well today is Thursday, and I’ve had NC. I’ve not got much finances as he allowed me to pay for everything a few weeks up until he left, including car insurance etc.

I’ve contacted a citizens advice, who advised me that as I am a recent graduate that I could use the “free law clinic” at my university. I contacted them, set up a case, they replied saying that everything is ok, and that they would be in touch to arrange an appointment. They then followed this up, asking for further details of my ex, which I gave. They have now said they can’t represent the case, or discuss this with me due to conflict which would impact on the case. And can’t provide any further clarification due to SRA regulations.

What does this mean?

I was a student for 7 years at the university, and my ex has never been a student there, and none of his family’s are students there.

I keep hitting brick walls with it all.

Does he know anyone who works at the uni, or could your business have contact with someone who is?

It usually means that the firm has already given him legal advice, so they cannot now represent you. My understanding of it is that it might not mean that they are currently working with him; but that they have communicated about the business, but that could be wrong.

They can’t provide any further details due to client confidentiality. A client conflict means that they are either currently acting for him or the business, or have talked to him about the current live issues. But they can’t tell you he’s a client because that would breach his confidentiality and be a breach of the SRA rules.

Some firms however will say it’s a conflict of interest when it isn’t - there’s actually nothing stopping a firm from acting against a former client, but many firms don’t understand this and are overly cautious!

The firm that operates the university advice service probably does other work as well so it's probably nothing to do with the university per se. Ask them if they can suggest any other sources of advice for you?

Thanks for the replies.
I am pretty certain he doesn’t know anyone at the uni. It’s only a small business, which our secondary income. So I doubt he has contacted them previous.

@pythonesque I’m hoping it’s an outside source, supporting the university. Hopefully they can find an alternative, as it’s a kick to the teeth that a service which they provide to graduates isn’t available.

It’s all made me wonder if he has gone to a solicitor though.

The free law clinic may well be supervised by a law firm and they have acted for him either in the past or recently?

@NeverTwerkNaked
I think it sounds like it much be. Just typical that, as at present I can’t afford a solicitor and this was my only option, as he’s left me a in a financial mess.
Seems everything I am doing to try and solve and sort things out, so I can get him out of my life, is hit by a brick wall.
The thought that he is getting legal advice has sent my anxiety through the roof. I’ve been burnt before my an ex, and it left me with years of misery.

Wasn't there a plot point in "Mad Men" (????) where the guy called every lawyer in town to inquire about becoming a client in his divorce case. Then when his wife tried to retain a lawyer they were all forced to decline having had contact with the husband ? It was amusing if not true ....

The law clinic will be supervised by a firm who is acting for your ex.

I didn’t think he was the type to get a solicitor, nor the type to do this.

Huge mess, and I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall.