Which of the following best describes a "screening" process?

The correct answer accurately identifies the purpose of a "screening" process as a method to mitigate potential conflicts of interest. Screening is a practice used in legal ethics to prevent conflicts of interest from affecting a law firm when a new matter involves a client that a lawyer in the firm previously represented or when a lawyer joins a firm and brings knowledge of a former client's sensitive information. In such cases, the firm can implement screening measures, such as isolating the lawyer from the matter and ensuring that they do not share any information regarding the case with other members of the firm. This process helps preserve client confidentiality and maintains the integrity of the lawyer-client relationship while allowing the firm to take on new clients without risking a conflict.

Other options do not accurately capture the specific intent and context of the screening process in relation to ethics. Evaluating attorney competence pertains to assessing a lawyer's qualifications and skills, client retention focuses on keeping existing clients, and assessing case complexity relates to understanding the nature and demands of legal cases—all of which are important but do not directly relate to the purpose of screening in the context of conflict of interest management.