Attorney Client Privilege With Consultants In Fairfax
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FAQ
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.
A: Firstly, the privilege requires that three things exist: 1) an attorney (including his whole office and staff) and a client; 2) a private communication; 3) the purpose of providing legal advice. Once you have those three things, the privilege covers everything and is construed very broadly.
Three types of privilege: Those that protect confidential communications made in the course of a professional relatinoship. Exempt from testifying at all. Exempt from giving certain types of information.
Commonly cited relationships where privileged communication exists are those between attorney and client, doctor–or therapist–and patient, and priest and parishioner.
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.
For example, your indictment may be a public record, but if your attorney gives you a copy of the indictment, you aren't required to disclose that you were given the document because that fact is privileged. Attorney-client privilege extends to intended documents that weren't delivered.
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.
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.
There are two major exceptions to the lawyer-client privilege under the California Evidence Code, as discussed below. 2.1. Crime or fraud. 2.2. Preventing death or substantial physical harm.
A lawyer shall not reveal information protected by the attorney-client privilege under applicable law or other information gained in the professional relationship that the client has requested be held inviolate or the disclosure of which would be embarrassing or would be likely to be detrimental to the client unless ...
