Define Attorney-client Relationship In Law In King
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If an attorney-client relationship exists, an attorney owes a duty of confidentiality to the clients. Except in those situations where a court appoints an attorney, the attorney-client relationship is created by contract, either express or implied.
Attorney client privledge lasts even after death. However, no client nor attorney can claim attorney-client privledge if the communication enables or assists in any way the commission of a crime. That is considered an exception to the Rules of Ethical Standards which is where Attorney client privledge is covered.
An attorney-client relationship may be implied when: (1) a person seeks legal advice from an attorney; (2) the advice sought is within the attorney's professional competence: (3) and the attorney actually gives the advice.
“The word lawyer can refer to anyone who has been trained in the law, whether they are licensed to practice or not. In contrast, the word attorney refers specifically to a lawyer who is licensed to practice law.”
Preman, 911 S.W. 2d 288, 301 (Mo. App. 1995) ("The relation between attorney and client is fiduciary and binds the attorney to a scrupulous fidelity to the cause of the client which precludes the attorney from any personal advantage from the abuse of that reposed confidence. . . .
The establishment of the attorney-client relationship involves two elements: a person seeks advice or assistance from an attorney; and the attorney appears to give, agrees to give or gives the advice or assistance.
Attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between a lawyer and their client that relate to the client's seeking of legal advice or services.
While it may include attorney and client, stockbroker and customer, real estate agent and buyer, a senior family member and an unsophisticated relative, the relationship is defined on a case-by-case basis, with reliance and dominance the key factors.
You reference spending 7 years with a firm. Some firms do make decisions about partnership after 7 years; however, many firms have partnership tracks based on 8, 9, 10 or 11 years. At a firm with a track of 10 years, it would not be at all unusual to be a 7th year associate that was not yet up for partner.