What must an attorney do to maintain ethical standards when screened?

For an attorney to maintain ethical standards when screened, remaining completely uninformed about the case is crucial. This approach is essential in situations where a conflict of interest exists—typically when a lawyer has previously represented a client whose interests are adverse to the new client's case.

Screening is meant to prevent the exchange of sensitive information between attorneys. By being completely uninformed, the screened attorney ensures that they do not inadvertently learn any details that could compromise the interests of the client being represented and violate confidentiality obligations. This lack of information helps to maintain the integrity of the legal process and reassures clients that their privileged information remains protected.

In contrast, communication with clients is important for a lawyer's overall ethical obligations but would not pertain specifically to the concept of screening. Accepting assignments related to the case would directly conflict with the purpose of screening, as it could involve the attorney in the matter inappropriately. Lastly, participating in discussions with legal counsel could lead to the sharing of confidential information and undermine the protective measures that screening is designed to uphold. Therefore, complete separation and ignorance of the matter in question are the foundation for effective ethical screening.