Attorney Client Privilege With Consultants In Los Angeles
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The privilege belongs to the client, meaning they have the authority to waive or invoke it.
(c) The person who was the lawyer at the time of the confidential communication, but such person may not claim the privilege if there is no holder of the privilege in existence or if he is otherwise instructed by a person authorized to permit disclosure.
This privilege is codified in California law via Evidence Code 954, which gives your attorney the right to refuse to divulge the contents of your conversation, gives you the right to require confidentiality from your attorney, and with few exceptions, makes any breach of that confidence inadmissible in court.
The attorney-client privilege maintains the confidentiality of certain communications, made between attorneys and their clients, for the purpose of seeking or providing legal advice. The privilege protects communications made orally or in writing, in person or over the telephone, in letters or in emails.
(“The lawyer who received or made a communication subject to the privilege under this article shall claim the privilege whenever he is present when the communication is sought to be disclosed and is authorized to claim the privilege under subdivision (c) of Section 954.”)
Once a contract or retainer agreement has been signed between both parties, there's no question that privilege applies. Nonetheless, it generally starts before a contract is officially signed, even if you ultimately do not hire the attorney you had a consultation with.
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.
How Long Does Attorney-Client Privilege Last in California? In California, privileged information between attorneys and their clients remains confidential after the case ends. An attorney may never share protected information without a client's consent. Even if a client dies, this information may not be disclosed.
The attorney-client privilege applies to communications “to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for the transmission of the information or the accomplishment of the purpose for which the lawyer is consulted.” Cal. Evid. Code § 952. This includes communications to an expert consultant.