florida bar when does attorney client privilege begin

by Alan Skiles 8 min read

It begins and remains forever upon the instant there is any private communication with the lawyer, regardless of whether the client ever hires the lawyer or not. The privilege belongs to the client, not the lawyer, and may only be waived by the client.

Questions of confidentiality arise any time a lawyer is asked to disclose information relating to a client's representation. The question of privilege only arises when a lawyer is compelled by a court, i.e. via subpoena, to disclose confidential communications made for the purpose of obtaining legal advice.

Full Answer

Who is entitled to the privilege of attorney-client privilege?

Communications between a client and his attorney are generally privileged under the attorney-client privilege, which is a legal and ethical concept that preserves the confidentiality of communications between a client and his attorney. This means that, in the absence of any exception or waiver, neither an attorney nor a client may be compelled to divulge confidential …

Does privilege apply across the board in Florida?

Dec 01, 2016 · During oral arguments at the Supreme Court, Philip Padovano, representing Worley, said the attorney-client privilege should be interpreted broadly. In response to a question from Justice Charles Canady, Padovano noted that F.S. §90.502 in the evidence code “says a communication between a lawyer and a client — doesn’t say legal advice; it ...

Is Florida’s absolute litigation privilege barring state law claims?

Feb 05, 2022 · F.S. 90.502. 90.502 Lawyer-client privilege.—. (1) For purposes of this section: (a) A “lawyer” is a person authorized, or reasonably believed by the client to be authorized, to practice law in any state or nation. (b) A “client” is any person, public officer, corporation, association, or other organization or entity, either public or private, who consults a lawyer with the purpose of …

Who can claim the privilege under Florida Statutes?

To this extent, the remaining claims must be dismissed with prejudice because of Florida’s litigation privilege, Florida recognizes an absolute litigation privilege that “must be afforded to any act occurring during the course of a judicial proceeding . . . so long as the act has some relation to the proceeding.” Levin, [639 So. 2d at 608]. According to the Florida Supreme Court, this …

How do I use attorney-client privilege?

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.

What factors are necessary for a statement to be covered by the attorney-client privilege?

No matter how the attorney-client privilege is articulated, there are four basic elements necessary to establish its existence: (1) a communication; (2) made between privileged persons; (3) in confidence; (4) for the purpose of seeking, obtaining or providing legal assistance to the client.

What rule involves confidentiality in FL?

Rule 4-1.6The ethical rule of confidentiality can be found in Rule 4-1.6(a) of the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct. This rule prohibits the voluntary disclosure of information relating to the representation of a client without the client's consent.

Who is covered by the attorney-client privilege when a corporation is the client?

Initially, the attorney-client privilege applies to communications made between privileged persons (attorneys, clients, and agents of either) in confidence for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal assistance for the client. Restatement, § 118.

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 is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

Under what circumstances can an attorney reveal information about the client that the attorney obtained during the representation of that client?

(a) A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation or the disclosure is permitted by paragraph (b).

What is the difference between confidentiality and attorney-client privilege?

Attorney-client privilege protects lawyers from being compelled to disclose your information to others. ... Confidentiality rules provide that attorneys are prohibited from disclosing any information for privacy reasons, unless it is generally known to others.Jan 6, 2017

Which of the following may not be protected under the attorney-client privilege?

Which of the following may not be protected under the attorney-client privilege? A client who orally confesses to a crime. Correct!

Under what circumstance may an attorney break attorney-client privilege?

Most often, when courts do ask an attorney to break privilege without a client's consent, it's because of a suspicion a crime or fraud that is being committed.Apr 18, 2018

When an attorney works in-house for an organization who is the client?

Your Client is the Organization Itself Rule 1.13 provides that the client is the organization itself-not the officers, management, or even the board of directors.Jan 16, 2015

Who can waive privilege for a company?

Legal advice privilege protects client/lawyer communications from the time the communication is made until it is waived either by the client or by some other person such as a successor, who is entitled to do so. If there is no one to do so, the privilege, having been established, is absolute and remains in existence.

What is the privilege of a lawyer?

The practice of law is laden with pitfalls that can wake a good litigator up in the middle of the night. Thankfully, there are security blankets that help lawyers sleep soundly. One of those is the litigation privilege — the venerable doctrine that litigants and their counsel are generally immune from liability for statements made during litigation, even when those statements are defamatory or otherwise damaging. 1#N#Unfortunately, some tossing and turning, and perhaps even an occasional nightmare, remains over what “during litigation” means; specifically, caselaw is not entirely settled about how the privilege applies to presuit notices, letters, and even public records, like claims of lien. For the litigator threatened with suit or actually sued over one of these ubiquitous documents, the answers to such questions could mean the difference between immunity and liability or, at the very least, a lawsuit’s early dismissal versus protracted litigation.

What is a contrary rule?

A contrary rule might very well deter counsel from saying or writing anything controversial for fear of antagonizing someone involved in the case and thus courting a lawsuit, a result which would seriously hamper the cause of justice.” 3.

What is attorney client privilege?

Attorney-client privilege is one of the most important principles in our legal system. Without this privilege, clients would not feel comfortable sharing important information to their attorney. Without free flowing communication between an attorney and a client an attorney would not be able to best protect his or her client.

Who can waive confidentiality?

The client is the only person who can waive the privilege of confidentiality. The attorney does not have the option to waive the exception, so you can feel confident knowing that all statements made to an attorney are secure unless you say otherwise.

Can an attorney disclose confidential information?

The attorney that you spoke to when discussing your legal concern cannot voluntarily disclose information disclosed in confidence for the purpose of seeking legal counsel (confidentiality). Nor can the attorney be compelled to disclose those communications (privilege). In addition, the client cannot be forced to testify in court regarding any ...

2 attorney answers

Generally from that first conversation is when the privilege begins and it essentially does not end unless it is waived.

Eliot M. Wolf

Generally from that first conversation is when the privilege begins and it essentially does not end unless it is waived.

What is attorney client privilege?

The attorney-client privilege is one of the oldest and most respected privileges. It was designed to prevent a lawyer from being compelled to testify against his/her client. The purpose underlying this privilege is to ensure that clients receive accurate and competent legal advice by encouraging full disclosure to their lawyer without fear ...

Is attorney-client privilege extinguished?

If the substance of attorney-client communications is disclosed to persons outside the University - or even to persons within the University who are not directly involved in the matter - the privilege may be extinguished. Your communications with attorneys in the General Counsel's Office or outside counsel representing FGCU should never be discussed with anyone outside FGCU, including family members or friends; within the University such communications should be discussed only with persons who have responsibility for the particular matter.

What is a privilege in a lawyer?

The privilege extends only to communications that the client intends to be confidential. Communications made in non-private settings, or in the presence of third persons unnecessary to accomplish the purpose for which the attorney was consulted, are not confidential and therefore are not protected by the privilege.