how to tell if a document is protected from disclosure by the attorney client privilege

by Miss Alisha Vandervort II 10 min read

The attorney-client privilege may protect a communication from disclosure if five fundamental elements exist: (1) an attorney; (2) a client; (3) a communication; (4) a confidentiality that was anticipated and preserved; and (5) legal advice or assistance (as opposed to business or personal advice) as the primary purpose of the communication.

Full Answer

What is not protected by the attorney-client privilege?

Rule 3: Label the top of the communication or the subject line of an email: “Privileged and Confidential: Attorney-Client Privileged Communication.”. This notice should be prominent and easily viewable as soon as someone receives the communication.Mar 4, 2020.

Can a lawyer disclose confidential information to a potential client?

Discussions of previous acts are generally subject to the attorney-client privilege. If, for example, if a client tells his lawyer that he robbed a bank or lied about assets during a divorce, the lawyer probably can't disclose the information. But if a client initiates a communication with a lawyer for the purpose of committing a crime or an act of fraud in the future, the attorney-client privilege …

When does attorney-client privilege apply to confidential communications?

Oct 01, 2015 · The attorney-client privilege protects from disclosure to third parties: (a) confidential communications; (b) between an attorney and client; (c) made for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal advice. Unless all three of these prongs are met, the communication is not privileged.

Is Everything you Tell Your Lawyer privileged?

Mar 11, 2022 · Attorney-client privilege protects your communications with an attorney from being shared with other parties. When you meet with a criminal defense attorney to discuss your criminal case, you can openly talk about what occurred without fear of what you say being used against you in court. It applies whether you are innocent or guilty of the alleged crime.

How do you determine if a document is privileged?

The description of the document needs to contain sufficient facts to demonstrate why that document is privileged. Privilege logs are also commonly accompanied with a “players list” that not only shows the identity of attorneys, but also the positions of the non-lawyers on the communications.Jun 29, 2018

Does attorney-client privilege protect documents?

Documents that were prepared by or for an attorney will only enjoy protection if they were intended to remain confidential. Documents that a client prepared for purposes not related to the attorney-client relationship, but later given to the attorney, are not privileged communications at all.

What are the communications which are privileged from disclosure or prohibited from being disclosed?

Privileged legal communications are confidential conversations that a witness cannot be compelled to disclose, even though the communication is related to relevant facts. The court cannot force a witness to disclose such interactions.Mar 28, 2021

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

Under this doctrine, a lawyer's notes, observations, thoughts and research are protected from discovery processes. The attorney-client privilege only protects the essence of the communications actually had by the client and lawyer and only extends to information given for the purpose of obtaining legal representation..

What documents are legally privileged?

The idea of documents being privileged is common sense when you understand it but takes a little bit of explaining. An email or letter from you to a qualified lawyer (barrister or solicitor) asking for advice, and the written legal advice you receive, are examples of documents which are privileged.

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!

What are privileged communications under what circumstances the privilege can be claimed?

The communications between a husband and a wife have been given the status of privileged communication under Section 122 of the Evidence Act. It states that a married person: Shall not be compelled to disclose any communication made to them during the marriage by their spouse or ex-spouse.Mar 14, 2020

Are confidential and privileged communications the same?

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

Under what circumstances the privilege can be claimed?

To claim privilege under section 126 of the Act, a communication by a party to his pleader must be of a confidential nature. Also, there is no privilege to communications made before the creation of a relationship of a pleader and client.

What information is covered by the duty of confidentiality?

In common law jurisdictions, the duty of confidentiality obliges solicitors (or attorneys) to respect the confidentiality of their clients' affairs. Information that solicitors obtain about their clients' affairs may be confidential, and must not be used for the benefit of persons not authorized by the client.

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

The main difference between attorney-client privilege and attorney-client confidentiality is that the former is an evidentiary principle while the latter is an ethical principle.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021

Attorney-Client Privilege

  • The attorney-client privilege, which originated in Roman and canon law, "is the oldest of the privileges for confidential communications known to the common law." Upjohn Co. v. U.S., 449 U.S. 383, 389 (1981). Its purpose is "to encourage full and frank communications between attorneys and their clients," and it exists to protect" not only the giving of professional advice to t…
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Basic Rules Regarding Attorney-Client Privilege

  • What Is Protected? FIRST, the attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between an attorney and his or her client "made for the purpose of furnishing or obtaining professional legal advice and assistance."In re LTV Securities Litigation, 89 F.R.D. 595, 600 (N.D.Tex. 1981). The privilege applies in both directions: to communications from the client to th…
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Privilege Offers Absolute Protection

  • FINALLY, it is important to note that the attorney-client privilege affords absolute protection to privileged communications. As the Ninth Circuit explained in Admiral Insurance Co. v. U.S. District Court, 881 F.2d 1486 (9th Cir. 1989), "the principal difference between the attorney-client privilege and the work-product doctrine, in terms of the protections each provides, is that the privilege ca…
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Common Interest Privilege

  • The "common interest" privilege enables counsel for clients with a common interest "to exchange privileged communications and attorney work product in order to adequately prepare a defense without waiving either privilege."Haines v. Liggett Group Inc., 975 F.2d 81, 94 (3d Cir. 1992); see also: 1. Walter v. Financial Corp. of America, 828 F.2d 579, 583 n.7 (9th Cir. 1987) ("communicati…
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Work Product Doctrine

  • "The work product doctrine is an independent source of immunity from discovery, separate and distinct from the attorney-client privilege." In re Grand Jury, 106 F.R.D. 255, 257 (D.N.R. 1985). It is "broader than the attorney-client privilege; it protects materials prepared by the attorney, whether or not disclosed to the client, and it protects material prepared by agents for the attorney."In re G…
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Introduction

  • The attorney-client privilege has preserved the confidentiality of communications between lawyers and clients since the days of Elizabethan England. It was originally designed to prevent a lawyer from being compelled to testify against a client. The modern purpose is to encourage full disclosure so that the client receives the best and most informed legal advice, without fear that t…
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What Is Protected

  • The privilege protects (1) oral and written communications, including electronic communications, (2) between an agent of the University and an attorney from the Office of General Counsel (3) for the purpose of requesting or providing legal advice on University matters. Thus, the contents of a memorandum from a faculty member to General Counsel seeking advice on the copyright implic…
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What Is Not Protected

  1. The fact that a consultation between attorney and client occurred and the general subject matter of the consultation are not privileged, only the content of the communications.
  2. The mere fact that a lawyer is called upon to be present or participate in a discussion/meeting does not make all communications privileged. Only such portion of communications where legal advice i...
  1. The fact that a consultation between attorney and client occurred and the general subject matter of the consultation are not privileged, only the content of the communications.
  2. The mere fact that a lawyer is called upon to be present or participate in a discussion/meeting does not make all communications privileged. Only such portion of communications where legal advice i...
  3. Documents sent to or reviewed by an attorney are not automatically privileged; they must be forwarded to the attorney for the purpose of obtaining legal advice.
  4. Communications made in "public" settings, or in the presence of third parties without a legitimate need to know otherwise confidential communications, are not deemed confidential, and are not privi...

When to Seek Protection Under The Privilege

  1. In anticipation of potential litigation;
  2. Prior to (and, as needed, during) the investigation of conduct that may raise legal concerns;
  3. In connection with compliance and risk management programs;
  4. As needed with any other University matters where legal advice may be helpful and confidentiality is critical.
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Invoking The Privilege in Oral Communications

  1. When the purpose of any meeting is to obtain or discuss legal advice, or to gather information needed to obtain legal advice, it is best to have an attorney from the General Counsel's Office presen...
  2. Avoid discussing attorney-client communications in places where you could reasonably expect to be overheard.
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Invoking The Privilege in Written Communications

  1. Identify and assert the privilege on the document by marking the document at its heading, "Attorney-Client Privileged Communication."
  2. Send the document to a University attorney and limit distribution to those with a legitimate need-to-know. Identify all recipients on the document, no blind copies.
  3. Treat the document and all information contained on computer disks, hard drives and back u…
  1. Identify and assert the privilege on the document by marking the document at its heading, "Attorney-Client Privileged Communication."
  2. Send the document to a University attorney and limit distribution to those with a legitimate need-to-know. Identify all recipients on the document, no blind copies.
  3. Treat the document and all information contained on computer disks, hard drives and back up systems as confidential and maintain securely.
  4. In case of an inadvertent disclosure, immediately consult General Counsel, advise the recipient that disclosure was inadvertent, and request return of written materials.

Example

  • Through conversations with a colleague at another institution, Dr. Jones becomes aware that he may have inadvertently violated certain regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Jones asks the colleague for further information about the regulation, but is careful not to reveal that the university may not be in compliance. Dr. Jones immediately sends an email to an OGC a…
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“But In-House Counsel Was Copied on The Email, Isn’T That Enough?”

  • When a business faces the prospect of producing documents in litigation, determining which documents are protected by the attorney-client privilege and preventing those documents from inadvertent disclosure is of paramount importance. Such a disclosure can have serious consequences for both the attorney’s and the client’s interests, including a court finding the privil…
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The Attorney-Client Privilege

  • The attorney-client privilege may protect a communication from disclosure if five fundamental elements exist: (1) an attorney; (2) a client; (3) a communication; (4) a confidentiality that was anticipated and preserved; and (5) legal advice or assistance (as opposed to business or personal advice) as the primary purpose of the communication. Paul R. Rice, et al., Attorney-Client Privileg…
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In-House Counsel and The Attorney-Client Privilege

  • The nature of many business communications makes it difficult to determine when the attorney-client privilege applies. Business communications often involve many participants, outside or in-house counsel may or may not be personally involved, legal recommendations or requests are often mixed with day-to-day correspondence and long email chains meander along multiple topi…
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Who Is The Attorney and Who Is The Client?

  • Communications with outside counsel are often easy to segregate and identify. If Company A hires Law Firm B to litigate a dispute, it is clear that communications between Company A and Law Firm B are likely protected by the attorney-client privilege (and often the work product doctrine as well). However, the application of the attorney-client privilege is more nuanced with i…
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Is The Communication Intended to Be Confidential?

  • The applicability of the attorney-client privilege in the corporate environment is often most difficult to determine in the context of email, a now ubiquitous form of communication that frequently makes up the bulk of documents produced in discovery. Corporate emails often involve multiple people with long chains of multiple communications and attachments. In making a privi…
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Is Legal Advice The Primary Purpose?

  • It may be tempting for a privilege reviewer to quickly mark as privileged a communication between in-house counsel and the client or a document that has boilerplate language indicating that the communication is privileged. However, privilege is not that simple. The communication must satisfy all privilege requirements, including the requirement that the communication’s “pri…
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