Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Imputed disqualification refers to the principle that the ethical breach or conflict of interest of one attorney can affect the entire law firm, resulting in disqualification of the firm from representing a client. This concept is important in legal ethics and is designed to uphold the integrity of the legal profession by preventing attorneys from circumventing disqualification rules through the use of other lawyers within the same firm.

In this context, when one lawyer in a firm has an ethical issue that would disqualify them from a case—like a conflict of interest—this disqualification can extend to the entire firm. This is meant to protect clients and ensure that confidential information is not improperly shared among lawyers within a firm. Therefore, the correct choice aligns with the established rules governing professional responsibility, emphasizing the collective nature of a firm's representation and the ethical standards that apply to all its members.