Attorney–client privilege

This article is about the law in the United States. For an overview, see legal professional privilege. For the law in England and Wales, see legal professional privilege in England and Wales. For the law in Australia, see legal professional privilege in Australia.

Attorney–client privilege is a US-American legal concept that protects certain communications between a client and his or her attorney and prevents the attorney from being compelled to testify to those communications in court.

The attorney–client privilege is one of the oldest recognized privileges for confidential communications.[1] The United States Supreme Court has stated that by assuring confidentiality, the privilege encourages clients to make "full and frank" disclosures to their attorneys, who are then better able to provide candid advice and effective representation.[2]

General requirements under United States law

Although there are minor variations, the elements necessary to establish the attorney client privilege are:

  1. The asserted holder of the privilege is (or sought to become) a client; and
  2. The person to whom the communication was made:
    1. is a member of the bar of a court, or his subordinate, and
    2. in connection with this communication, is acting as an attorney; and
  3. The communication was for the purpose of securing legal advice.[3]

There are a number of exceptions to the privilege in most jurisdictions, chief among them:

  1. the communication was made in the presence of individuals who were neither attorney nor client, or was disclosed to such individuals,
  2. the communication was made for the purpose of committing a crime or tort,
  3. the client has waived the privilege (for example by publicly disclosing the communication).

A corollary to the attorney–client privilege is the joint defense privilege, which is also called the common interest rule.[4] The common interest rule "serves to protect the confidentiality of communications passing from one party to another party where a joint defense or strategy has been decided upon and undertaken by the parties and their respective counsel."[5]

An attorney speaking publicly in regard to a client's personal business and private affairs can be reprimanded by the bar and/or disbarred, regardless of the fact that he or she may be no longer representing the client. Discussing a client's or past client's criminal history, or otherwise, is viewed as a breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

The attorney–client privilege is separate from and should not be confused with the work-product doctrine.

When the privilege may not apply

When an attorney is not acting primarily as an attorney but, for instance, as a business advisor, member of the Board of Directors, or in another non-legal role, then the privilege generally does not apply.[6]

The privilege protects the confidential communication, and not the underlying information. For instance, if a client has previously disclosed confidential information to a third party who is not an attorney, and then gives the same information to an attorney, the attorney–client privilege will still protect the communication to the attorney, but will not protect the communication with the third party.

The privilege may be waived if the confidential communications are disclosed to third parties.

Other limits to the privilege may apply depending on the situation being adjudicated.

Disclosure to prevent a crime, tort, or fraud

The crime-fraud exception can render the privilege moot when communications between an attorney and client are themselves used to further a crime, tort, or fraud. In Clark v. United States, the US Supreme Court writes that "A client who consults an attorney for advice that will serve him in the commission of a fraud will have no help from the law. He must let the truth be told."[7] The crime-fraud exception also does require that the crime or fraud discussed between client and attorney be carried out to be triggered.[8] US Courts have not yet conclusively ruled how little knowledge an attorney can have of the underlying crime or fraud before the privilege detaches and the attorney's communications or requisite testimony become admissible.[9]

Disclosure ostensibly to support lawyer's own interests

Lawyers may disclose confidential information relating to the retainer where they are reasonably seeking to collect payment for services rendered. This is justified on policy grounds. If lawyers were unable to disclose such information, many would undertake legal work only where payment is made in advance. This would arguably adversely affect the public's access to justice.

Lawyers may also breach the duty where they are defending themselves against disciplinary or legal proceedings. A client who initiates proceedings against a lawyer effectively waives rights to confidentiality. This is justified on grounds of procedural fairness—a lawyer unable to reveal information relating to the retainer would be unable to defend themselves against such action.

Exceptions

Disclosure of information that is already in the public domain does not breach the duty. Further, information that was not public knowledge at the time of the retainer agreement is not subject to the duty if it subsequently enters the public domain. Therefore, the purpose served by maintaining the confidence—the protection of the client—is arguably extinguished.

Nonetheless, the lawyer still owes a duty of loyalty, and clients may feel betrayed if such information is disclosed, even if it had become public knowledge. Though there are no legal ramifications for disclosure, discretion on part of the lawyer may be in the long term interests of maintaining the propriety of the legal profession.

Disclosure for the purpose of probate

Another case is for the probate of a last will and testament. Previously confidential communications between the lawyer and testator are no longer secret for the purpose of proving the will is the intent of the now deceased decedent. In many instances, the will, codicil, or other parts of the estate plan require explanation or interpretation through other proof (extrinsic evidence), such as the attorney's file notes or correspondence from the client.

In certain cases, the client may desire or consent to revelation of personal or family secrets only after his or her death; for example, the will may leave a legacy to a paramour or a natural child.

Courts have occasionally revoked the privilege after the death of the client if it is deemed that doing so serves the client's intent, such as in the case of resolving testamentary disputes among heirs.

Tax practice

In the United States, communications between accountants and their clients are usually not privileged. A person with aggressive tax strategies or who is worried about accusations of questionable accounting, such as tax evasion, may decide to work only with an attorney or only with an accountant who is also an attorney; some or all of the resulting communications may be privileged provided that all the requirements for the attorney–client privilege are met. The mere fact that the practitioner is an attorney will not create a valid attorney–client privilege with respect to a communication, for example, that involves business or accounting advice rather than legal advice.

Under Federal tax law in the United States, for communications on or after July 22, 1998, there is a limited Federally authorized accountant–client privilege that may apply to certain communications with non–attorneys.

In the federal courts

If a case arises in the federal court system, the federal court will apply Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence to determine whether to apply the privilege law of the relevant state or federal common law. If the case is brought to the federal court under diversity jurisdiction, the law of the relevant state will be used to apply the privilege. If the case involves a federal question, the federal court will apply the federal common law of attorney–client privilege; however, Rule 501 grants flexibility to the federal courts, allowing them to construe the privilege "in light of experience and reason".

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Swidler & Berlin v. United States, 524 U.S. 399, 403 (1998) (“The attorney–client privilege is one of the oldest recognized privileges for confidential communications.”).
  2. ↑ Upjohn Co. v. United States, 449 U. S. 383, 389 (1981)
  3. ↑ See, e.g., Colton v. United States, 306 F.2d 633, 637 (2d Cir. 1962), cert. denied, 371 U.S. 951, 83 S. Ct. 505 (1963), citing United States v. United Shoe Mach. Corp., 89 F. Supp. 357, 358–59 (D. Mass. 1950).
  4. ↑ LaForest v. Honeywell International Inc., 2004 WL 1498916, p. 3
  5. ↑ Id.
  6. ↑ North Pacifica, LLC v. City of Pacifica, 274 F.Supp.2d 1118, 1127 (N.D. Cal 2003); Handguards, Inc. v. Johnson & Johnson, 69 F.R.D. 451, 453 (N.D. Cal 1975).
  7. ↑ Clark v. United States, 289 U.S. 1, 15 (1933)
  8. ↑ In re Grand Jury Subpoena of Francis D. Carter, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19597 (citing In re Sealed Case, 107 F.3d 46, 49, 51 (D.C. Cir. 1997)
  9. ↑ See, e.g. United States v. Bauer 132 F.3d 504 (9th Cir. 1997) vs. In re Grand Jury Proceedings (1996) (9th Cir. 1996).

External links

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