attorney client privilege ask when client talks to attorney

by Kattie Walker III 9 min read

The attorney-client privilege generally begins when you ask a lawyer for legal advice. Note that this can be in an initial consultation, not simply when you sign a letter of engagement. Setting matters: if you approach a lawyer in his office and explain your legal matter, it should be confidential. If you’re talking to a lawyer at a picnic?

Generally, the attorney-client privilege applies when: an actual or potential client communicates with a lawyer regarding legal advice. the lawyer is acting in a professional capacity (rather than, for example, as a friend), and. the client intended the communications to be private and acted accordingly.

Full Answer

What does attorney client privilege mean in law?

The attorney-client privilege is a rule that preserves the confidentiality of communications between lawyers and clients. Under that rule, attorneys may not divulge their clients' secrets, nor may others force them to. The purpose of the privilege is to encourage clients to openly share information with their lawyers and to let lawyers provide effective representation.

Can a client forfeit the attorney-client privilege?

Definition Attorney-client privilege refers to a legal privilege that works to keep confidential communications between an attorney and his or her client secret. The privilege is asserted in the face of a legal demand for the communications, such as a discovery request or a demand that the lawyer testify under oath. Attorney-Client Relationship

Is Everything you Tell Your Lawyer privileged?

There are other specific ways that privilege is waived, and you can ask your attorney what they are based on your own circumstances. Privilege is for the benefit of the person being protected. If you’re the client, that’s you. So, while your lawyer can’t communicate your information to others, you’re always free to do so.

Does attorney-client privilege apply to a conversation involving a third person?

Apr 19, 2018 · We always assure them that these initial conversations, even if they don’t result in a formal attorney-client relationship, are subject to the attorney-client privilege, and generally cannot be disclosed except with the potential client’s permission. Therefore, when anyone seeking representation contacts the Firm and talks with a Schaefer Halleen attorney, they can …

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What type of communications are protected by attorney-client privilege?

Virtually all types of communications or exchanges between a client and attorney may be covered by the attorney-client privilege, including oral communications and documentary communications like emails, letters, or even text messages. The communication must be confidential.

What is considered privileged communication?

privileged communication, in law, communication between persons who have a special duty of fidelity and secrecy toward each other. Communications between attorney and client are privileged and do not have to be disclosed to the court.

Are communications between opposing counsel privileged?

The attorney-client privilege protects disclosure of a confidential communication between client and lawyer.

When can privileged communication be broken?

Some relationships that provide the protection of privileged communication include attorney-client, doctor-patient, priest-parishioner, two spouses, and (in some states) reporter-source. If harm—or the threat of harm—to people is involved, the privileged communication protection disappears.

What are the 3 main privileged communications?

The established privileged communications are those between wife and husband, clergy and communicant, psychotherapist and patient, physician and patient, and attorney and client. These relationships are protected for various reasons.

What are the grounds under privileged communication rule?

Communication made by the client to the attorney, or advice given by the latter to the former; 3. Communication or advice must have been made confidentially; 4. Such communication must have been made in the course of professional employment. Absent the existence of all these requisites, the privilege does not apply.

Is asking for legal advice privilege?

In general, as long as the prospective client is seeking legal advice or representation and reasonably believes the communication will be confidential, the consultation is privileged. This is so even if the would-be client never pays or hires the attorney.

What information is not privileged?

Non-Privileged Records . Means documents and records, whether hard copy or electronic, which are not subject to any legal privilege preventing its discovery and/or disclosure in a legal proceeding.

How do I get around attorney-client privilege?

Waiver by communication to a third party -- One of the most common ways to waive the privilege is to have a third party present at the time of the communication. Waiver also occurs when a client or lawyer later discloses privileged information to a third party.Sep 27, 2012

What information is exempt from privileged communications?

List 3 examples of information that is exempt by law and not considered to be privileged communications. births and death, injuries caused by violence =, and drug abuse. Who has ownership of health care records?

What is absolute privilege communication?

An absolutely privileged communication is one for which, by reason of the occasion on which it is made, no remedy is provided for the damages in a civil action for slander or libel.

What is the difference between privileged communication and confidentiality?

Confidentiality can be defined in terms of a counselor's duty not to disclose information about their client, while privileged communication in a counseling context can be defined in terms of a client's privilege not to have their counselor disclose information about them in a legal setting such as a court of law.Mar 25, 2019

The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act

  • Debt collectors are protected from unfair and unethical debt collection practices of third-party debt collectors through the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA is part of the Consumer Credit Care Protection Act, created in 1977. The law details specific behavior that third-party debt collectors are prohibited from doing when attempting to collect on a debt on behalf o…
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What Is Attorney-Client Privilege?

  • Attorney-client privilege covers communication, both written and oral, between a client and lawyer regarding legal advice. The communication does not need to be between an actual client but can cover prospective clients, as well. This coverage means that if a client meets with an attorney for a consultation on an FDCPA issue, this communication is covered. The lawyer must be acting in …
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The Duty of Confidentiality

  • The attorney-client privilege keeps lawyers from testifying about communications with the debtor and revealing anything about their clients’ cases. Further, the duty of confidentiality keeps the lawyer from disclosing information about his or her clients to other individuals not associated with the firm. All information regarding the case must be kept private, even if it did not directly c…
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Actual and Prospective Clients

  • One common misconception is that the attorney-client privilege only covers communication with an attorney who has actually been hired by a client. However, it does cover communication between an attorney and prospective client. Even if the client does not end up representing a client following a consultation, that communication is still kept within the confines of attorney-cl…
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What Is Not Covered?

  • However, this does not mean that anything and everything said to the attorney is protected. Certain discussions are not protected, however. For example, if the client communicates information for the purpose of committing a crime or fraud, the privilege may not apply. If the client is going to commit a crime or hurt someone else and tells the attorney this information, th…
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Contact An Attorney Today

  • If you find yourself dealing in the middle of stressful debt collection proceedings and you have questions about what to expect, it is recommended you talk to an experienced attorney. An attorney can listen to the facts of the case and can best advise you on how to proceed. Contact an attorney experienced in fair debt collections proceedings to schedule a consultation today.
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Additional Resources

What Is Attorney-Client Privilege?

  • Attorney-client privilege refers to a legal privilege that works to keep confidential communications between an attorney and his or her client secret. This is the name given to the common law concept of legal professional privilege in the United States. The privilege is a client’s right to refuse to disclose, and to prevent others from disclosing confidential communications b…
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Purpose of Attorney-Client Privilege

  • The purpose of the attorney-client privilege is to promote open and frank communications between clients and their lawyers. To represent a client effectively, lawyers must have access to all relevant information concerning the representation. If a client knows that certain information will be kept secret, he or she may be more willing to divulge that information to the lawyer. The p…
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What’s Covered Under Attorney Client Privilege?

  • The attorney-client privilege in the United States is often defined by reference to the 5 Cs: (1) a Communication (2) made in Confidence (3) between a Client (4) and Counsel (5) for the purpose of seeking or providing legal Counsel or advice. 1. All types of communications or exchanges between a client and attorney may be covered by the attorney-client privilege. This may include …
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Attorney Client Privilege Exceptions

  • Some of the most common exceptions to the privilege include: 1. Death of a client. The privilege may be breached upon the death of a testator-client if litigation ensues between the decedent’s heirs, legatees or other parties claiming under the deceased client. 2. Fiduciary Duty . A corporation’s right to assert the attorney-client privilege is not absolute. An exception to the privi…
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Examples of Attorney-Client Privilege

  • Following are some examples of attorney-client privilege. 1. A client is seeking advice from a lawyer for a business transactionand discloses confidential information about their business operations. 2. A client disclosing information to his or her attorney about a past crime that he or she committed, and the communication was done in private. 3. A client disclosing to the attorne…
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What Happens When Attorney-Client Privilege Is Broken?

  • Specific sanctions may be imposed on an attorney who reveals confidential communications, but where there is the mere potential for disclosure, disqualification motions are common. These motions typically claim that a lawyer or firm should be disqualified due to the fact that the lawyer or a member of his firm had previously represented the party desiring disqualification. While dis…
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