The applicant must show that they have primarily engaged in the active practice of law for at least 1,000 hours per year for five out of the last seven years. Questions: I am a newly-elected public official.What are my obligations under the Public Records Act? A financial power of attorney (POA) is a legal document an individual (the "principal") can use to appoint someone (the "agent") to act on his or her behalf. A lawyer's acceptance or continuation of representation of a client creates a conflict of interest if either of the following applies.