MPRE Practice Exam 2026 – 190 Legal Ethics Questions with
Answers & Detailed Rationales, Conflicts of Interest, Client-Lawyer
Relationships, Confidentiality, Litigation Conduct & ABA Model Rules
Question;
1.
A lawyer represents a client in a commercial lease dispute. The client insists on testifying
falsely about the date a repair notice was sent. The lawyer knows the testimony is false.
What is the lawyer's most appropriate course of action?
A. Allow the client to testify and argue the date is a matter of credibility for the jury.
B. Withdraw from representation immediately without explaining why to the court.
C. Refuse to offer the evidence, and if the client insists, seek to withdraw if the
misrepresentation is material.
D. Inform the judge in chambers of the client's intent to commit perjury without the client's
consent.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Under Rule 3.3, a lawyer must not offer false evidence and must take
reasonable remedial measures, including withdrawal if necessary.
2.
A defense attorney is appointed to represent an indigent client. The client demands that the
attorney file a frivolous motion to suppress evidence solely to delay the trial. The attorney
believes the motion has no basis in law or fact. How should the attorney proceed?
A. File the motion to preserve the client's right to effective assistance of counsel.
B. Refuse to file the motion, as Rule 3.1 prohibits claims without a nonfrivolous basis.
C. File the motion but inform the court that it is frivolous.
D. Withdraw from the case because the client is being uncooperative.
,Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Rule 3.1 bars a lawyer from bringing a proceeding unless there is a basis in law
and fact for doing so that is not frivolous.
3.
A lawyer serves as outside general counsel for a corporation. The CEO asks the lawyer for
personal legal advice regarding a divorce. The lawyer is not competent in family law. What is
the best response?
A. Provide the advice because the CEO is the client's agent.
B. Decline the representation but offer to refer the CEO to a competent family lawyer.
C. Provide general advice but disclaim any expertise.
D. Accept the representation and learn family law as the case progresses.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Rule 1.1 requires competence; a lawyer must decline or refer when lacking the
necessary knowledge and skill.
4.
A prosecutor receives a credible report that the police withheld exculpatory evidence from
the defense. The prosecutor is certain the defendant is guilty. What is the prosecutor's
obligation?
A. Disclose the evidence to the defense because Rule 3.8 requires timely disclosure of
evidence that negates guilt or mitigates the offense.
B. Ignore the report because the trial is already underway and the verdict is likely correct.
C. Disclose the evidence only if the judge specifically asks about it.
D. Keep the evidence confidential to protect the police investigation.
,Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Rule 3.8(d) mandates prosecutors to make timely disclosure of all evidence
known to them that tends to negate guilt or mitigate the offense.
5.
A lawyer is negotiating a settlement on behalf of a client. Opposing counsel asks, "Does your
client have any other pending lawsuits?" The lawyer knows the client has one unrelated
lawsuit. What is the lawyer's most ethical response?
A. Answer truthfully because Rule 4.1 prohibits false statements of material fact.
B. Refuse to answer, as the information is confidential.
C. Answer "No" because the unrelated lawsuit is not relevant to this negotiation.
D. Ignore the question and change the subject.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Rule 4.1(a) prohibits a lawyer from knowingly making a false statement of
material fact to a third person; the existence of litigation may be material.
6.
A client pays a lawyer a $5,000 flat fee for a bankruptcy filing. Before the lawyer performs
any work, the client fires the lawyer. The lawyer claims the entire fee is earned. How should
the lawyer handle the funds?
A. Keep the entire fee because the flat fee agreement stated it was earned upon receipt.
B. Refund the unearned portion of the fee to the client.
C. Keep the fee but bill the client for the time spent on the initial consultation.
D. Place the fee in the firm's operating account because it was paid upfront.
Correct Answer: B
, Explanation: Under Rule 1.15(c), advanced fees must be held in trust and withdrawn only as
earned; unearned portions must be refunded.
7.
A lawyer is a member of a small firm. The lawyer learns that a partner in the firm is
representing a client in a matter that is directly adverse to a client the lawyer personally
represents in an unrelated matter. What must the lawyer do?
A. Nothing, because the matters are unrelated.
B. Inform the partner, and if the conflict is not cured, the firm may be disqualified unless
both clients consent.
C. Resign from the firm immediately.
D. Continue representation but screen themselves from the partner's case.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Rule 1.10 imputes conflicts to all lawyers in a firm; if a conflict exists, the firm
must decline or withdraw unless consent is obtained.
8.
An attorney is asked to serve as a director of a local charity. The charity's board is
considering a legal matter that the attorney's law firm might handle. What is the attorney's
primary ethical consideration?
A. The attorney may vote on the matter if they abstain from the actual legal work.
B. The attorney must not serve on the board if the firm does any pro bono work for the
charity.
C. The attorney should ensure that the charity understands they are not acting as its lawyer
in board matters.
D. The attorney must resign from the firm to serve on the board.
Correct Answer: C
Answers & Detailed Rationales, Conflicts of Interest, Client-Lawyer
Relationships, Confidentiality, Litigation Conduct & ABA Model Rules
Question;
1.
A lawyer represents a client in a commercial lease dispute. The client insists on testifying
falsely about the date a repair notice was sent. The lawyer knows the testimony is false.
What is the lawyer's most appropriate course of action?
A. Allow the client to testify and argue the date is a matter of credibility for the jury.
B. Withdraw from representation immediately without explaining why to the court.
C. Refuse to offer the evidence, and if the client insists, seek to withdraw if the
misrepresentation is material.
D. Inform the judge in chambers of the client's intent to commit perjury without the client's
consent.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Under Rule 3.3, a lawyer must not offer false evidence and must take
reasonable remedial measures, including withdrawal if necessary.
2.
A defense attorney is appointed to represent an indigent client. The client demands that the
attorney file a frivolous motion to suppress evidence solely to delay the trial. The attorney
believes the motion has no basis in law or fact. How should the attorney proceed?
A. File the motion to preserve the client's right to effective assistance of counsel.
B. Refuse to file the motion, as Rule 3.1 prohibits claims without a nonfrivolous basis.
C. File the motion but inform the court that it is frivolous.
D. Withdraw from the case because the client is being uncooperative.
,Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Rule 3.1 bars a lawyer from bringing a proceeding unless there is a basis in law
and fact for doing so that is not frivolous.
3.
A lawyer serves as outside general counsel for a corporation. The CEO asks the lawyer for
personal legal advice regarding a divorce. The lawyer is not competent in family law. What is
the best response?
A. Provide the advice because the CEO is the client's agent.
B. Decline the representation but offer to refer the CEO to a competent family lawyer.
C. Provide general advice but disclaim any expertise.
D. Accept the representation and learn family law as the case progresses.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Rule 1.1 requires competence; a lawyer must decline or refer when lacking the
necessary knowledge and skill.
4.
A prosecutor receives a credible report that the police withheld exculpatory evidence from
the defense. The prosecutor is certain the defendant is guilty. What is the prosecutor's
obligation?
A. Disclose the evidence to the defense because Rule 3.8 requires timely disclosure of
evidence that negates guilt or mitigates the offense.
B. Ignore the report because the trial is already underway and the verdict is likely correct.
C. Disclose the evidence only if the judge specifically asks about it.
D. Keep the evidence confidential to protect the police investigation.
,Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Rule 3.8(d) mandates prosecutors to make timely disclosure of all evidence
known to them that tends to negate guilt or mitigate the offense.
5.
A lawyer is negotiating a settlement on behalf of a client. Opposing counsel asks, "Does your
client have any other pending lawsuits?" The lawyer knows the client has one unrelated
lawsuit. What is the lawyer's most ethical response?
A. Answer truthfully because Rule 4.1 prohibits false statements of material fact.
B. Refuse to answer, as the information is confidential.
C. Answer "No" because the unrelated lawsuit is not relevant to this negotiation.
D. Ignore the question and change the subject.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Rule 4.1(a) prohibits a lawyer from knowingly making a false statement of
material fact to a third person; the existence of litigation may be material.
6.
A client pays a lawyer a $5,000 flat fee for a bankruptcy filing. Before the lawyer performs
any work, the client fires the lawyer. The lawyer claims the entire fee is earned. How should
the lawyer handle the funds?
A. Keep the entire fee because the flat fee agreement stated it was earned upon receipt.
B. Refund the unearned portion of the fee to the client.
C. Keep the fee but bill the client for the time spent on the initial consultation.
D. Place the fee in the firm's operating account because it was paid upfront.
Correct Answer: B
, Explanation: Under Rule 1.15(c), advanced fees must be held in trust and withdrawn only as
earned; unearned portions must be refunded.
7.
A lawyer is a member of a small firm. The lawyer learns that a partner in the firm is
representing a client in a matter that is directly adverse to a client the lawyer personally
represents in an unrelated matter. What must the lawyer do?
A. Nothing, because the matters are unrelated.
B. Inform the partner, and if the conflict is not cured, the firm may be disqualified unless
both clients consent.
C. Resign from the firm immediately.
D. Continue representation but screen themselves from the partner's case.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Rule 1.10 imputes conflicts to all lawyers in a firm; if a conflict exists, the firm
must decline or withdraw unless consent is obtained.
8.
An attorney is asked to serve as a director of a local charity. The charity's board is
considering a legal matter that the attorney's law firm might handle. What is the attorney's
primary ethical consideration?
A. The attorney may vote on the matter if they abstain from the actual legal work.
B. The attorney must not serve on the board if the firm does any pro bono work for the
charity.
C. The attorney should ensure that the charity understands they are not acting as its lawyer
in board matters.
D. The attorney must resign from the firm to serve on the board.
Correct Answer: C
