Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, You have been telling us for years that we have to check the version of the Model Rules in effect wherever we are admitted, or where a case or transaction is, where we are proposing to do various things, or where our client is, i.e., that the rules are often different in different states. I’ve got that.

But how do we know, when the rules are different between two states, which state’s law applies? If they are inconsistent in a way that means we can’t comply with both, are we simply up the proverbial creek without an ethical paddle? Is there any guidance out there?