What is true regarding a lawyer who has served as a public officer or employee?

A lawyer who has served as a public officer or employee is bound by specific ethical restrictions to ensure that the integrity of the legal profession and public trust is maintained. One of the fundamental principles in the Model Rules of Professional Conduct is that a lawyer who has participated in a matter as a public officer or employee may not represent clients regarding that same matter if they were involved personally and substantially.

This restriction exists to prevent conflicts of interest and to protect confidential information gained during public service. It ensures that a lawyer does not exploit their previous position for personal gain or to the detriment of the public interest. The rationale is that a lawyer's knowledge and perspective from their time in government can affect their judgment and actions when representing private clients on related matters.

The other options suggest scenarios that would undermine the ethical guidelines set forth for lawyers transitioning from public service to private practice. For instance, representing clients in any government-related matters without restriction could lead to ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest. Similarly, obtaining verbal consent from the government does not mitigate the concerns of bias or the appearance of impropriety necessitated by the ethical framework in place.