What is the principle regarding personal animosity between clients or lawyers?

• A. Personal animosity between clients or lawyers is encouraged.
• B. There should be no personal animosity between clients or lawyers.
• C. Lawyers may mislead opponents to win.
• D. Clients must always be in conflict.

Answer: (B)

No personal animosity between clients or lawyers is allowed and expected. In legal practice, disputes are fought on the merits, with civility and professional conduct guiding how advocates interact. Maintaining a respectful, non-hostile demeanor protects the fairness of proceedings, preserves the integrity of the profession, and helps ensure the duty to the client and the court isn’t compromised by personal grudges. If hostility would threaten these duties, steps such as separate representation or withdrawal may be appropriate. Options suggesting encouraging hostility, allowing deceit, or insisting clients must always be in conflict run contrary to ethical obligations and the purpose of the adversarial process.