What must be ensured when a lawyer represents multiple clients?

When a lawyer represents multiple clients, it's essential to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest that could adversely affect the relationship between the clients. This principle is rooted in the duty of loyalty that a lawyer owes to each client. If there are potential conflicts or situations where the interests of one client could harm another's, it can compromise the effectiveness of representation, leading to ethical dilemmas.

Ensuring that there are no adverse effects on the relationship means that the clients' interests should align closely enough for the lawyer to represent them without compromising the integrity of their individual positions. This safeguard helps maintain trust within the attorney-client relationship and ensures that all clients receive fair and competent representation.

The other options do not adequately address the critical ethical requirement of conflict prevention. A family relationship among clients is irrelevant to the lawyer's ethical obligations. Similarly, while clients may have different strategies or interests, they do not need to agree on the same legal strategy or have similar legal representation as a prerequisite for joint representation, as long as their interests do not conflict.