what factors must be present for a communication between an attorney and a client to be privileged

by Dr. Andre Reichert V 3 min read

In Pennsylvania, the attorney client privilege attaches only if the following four factors are present in any individual communication: 1) the person making the communication is a client or seeks to be a client; 2) the person to whom the communication is made is a lawyer and member of the Bar of a Court or his subordinate; 3) the communication relates to a confidential fact of which the attorney was informed by the client, outside the presence of strangers, for the purpose of securing either an opinion of law, legal services, or assistance in a legal matter and not for the purpose of committing a crime or tortious act; 4) the privilege has been claimed and not waived by the client or potential client.

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.

Full Answer

Are all communications with an attorney privileged under attorney-client privilege?

The implied relationship may be evidenced by several factors, including, but not limited to, the circumstances of the conversation, the payment of fees to an attorney, the degree of sophistication of the would-be client, the request for and receipt of legal advice, and the history of legal representation between the alleged client and the practitioner.

What is rule 1 of the attorney-client privilege?

Mar 04, 2020 · The attorney-client privilege is a way to address communication to your outside or in-house counsel when you need to send a message (i.e., letter or email) but don't want it …

Can a client waive the privilege of a lawyer?

First, the communication or information transmitted to one’s attorney must be related to legal services. For example, communication about the circumstances surrounding a client’s DWI arrest is privileged, but a communication about public relations may not be. Second, the communication must be in confidence.

Is Everything you Tell Your Lawyer privileged?

They must keep private almost all information related to representation of the client, even if that information didn't come from the client. Expecting Confidentiality. Lawyer-client communications are covered by the attorney-client privilege only if the …

What makes a communication privileged?

What Is Privileged Communication? Privileged communication is an interaction between two parties in which the law recognizes a private, protected relationship. Whatever is communicated between the two parties must remain confidential, and the law cannot force their disclosure.

What are the factors to establish the existence of attorney-client privilege?

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.

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.

Are conversations between attorneys privileged?

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.

What is the privileged communication between lawyer and client?

One rule adopted to serve this purpose is the attorney-client privilege: an attorney is to keep inviolate his client's secrets or confidence and not to abuse them.May 26, 2005

What is privileged communication Philippines?

A privileged communication is one made bona fide upon any subject matter in which the party communicating has an interest, or in reference to which he has a duty.

What is required before privileged communication?

What is required before privileged communications can be shared with anyone else? written consent of the patient it should state what info is being released and to whom the info goes to.

What are the two types of privileged communication?

Privileged CommunicationAttorney-client privilege, involving private conversations between lawyers and those they represent.Spousal conversations, as in the case where one spouse cannot be compelled to testify against another.More items...•Mar 25, 2019

What is privileged communication in counseling?

What is Privileged Communication in the Context of Counseling? In a counseling context, privileged communication protects the counseling client from having to share information or a conversation that was shared with a counselor. It also protects the counselor from having to share what a client said.Mar 18, 2019

Is the fact of a communication privileged?

Confidential communications Just because a communication is confidential it does not, however, mean it will be privileged. It will need to meet all of the other requirements of LAP as well. Sensitive commercial documents may well be highly confidential but they would not be privileged.Jul 24, 2019

Are communications between opposing counsel privileged?

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

Are communications between joint clients privileged?

The attorney-client privilege exists between a lawyer and each client in a joint engagement. The privilege applies to communications between the lawyer and each client regarding the engagement; it also applies to communications among joint clients and their common attorneys.Jul 11, 2018