What is an example of attorney-client privilege?

Asked by: Sincere Rosenbaum  |  Last update: August 9, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (67 votes)

For example, the privilege would not protect the fact that a vice president met an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel to discuss the development of a particular University contract, but the privilege would protect the discussions between the two persons such as the advice sought or given.

What makes something an attorney/client privileged?

For the privilege to exist, the communication must be to, from, or with an attorney. In addition, the communication must be for the purpose of requesting or receiving legal advice. The following example illustrates this point. Example 1: A former employee threatens to sue the University for wrongful termination.

What are three examples of advice that would be covered by the attorney-client privilege?

Three examples where advice would be covered by the attorney-client privilege are initial consultations, identity information, and whereabouts. On the other hand, three examples that attorney-client privilege doesn't cover are the client's fee arrangement, physical evidence, and preexsisting documents.

What type of information is not protected by attorney-client privilege?

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.

What is the attorney-client privilege exists to?

Attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between a lawyer and their client that relate to the client's seeking of legal advice or services.

7 Signs You Hired A Bad Lawyer (and What You Can Do About It)

31 related questions found

Which of the following may not be protected under the attorney-client privilege?

MATTERS NOT PROTECTED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE

The factual circumstances surrounding the communications between an attorney and a client, such as the date of the communication and the identity of persons copied on correspondence, are likewise not privileged.

What is the attorney-client privilege and list its exceptions?

The attorney-client privilege protects most communications between clients and their lawyers. But, according to the crime-fraud exception to the privilege, a client's communication to her attorney isn't privileged if she made it with the intention of committing or covering up a crime or fraud.

What voids attorney-client privilege?

Imminent death or harm. Your attorney can't be held to attorney-client privilege if they believe that keeping your confidence would result in death or significant physical harm to someone.

What client information is not confidential?

You will not have a duty of confidence if you are being used by a client to perpetrate a fraud, and, by analogy, any other crime. The common law has long recognised that information of this nature cannot be confidential.

What is the common interest exception to the attorney-client privilege?

Under the common interest doctrine, an attorney can disclose confidential information to an attorney representing a separate client without waiving the attorney-client privilege or attorney work product protection “if (1) the disclosure relates to a common interest of the attorneys' respective clients; (2) the ...

What are the 5 C's of attorney-client privilege?

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.

How to lose attorney-client privilege?

Generally speaking, the disclosure of privileged information and communications to third-parties who do not play an essential role in the dispute for which the attorney was retained, will likely result in the loss of the privilege, even where the disclosure is unwitting or unintentional.

How to mark something as attorney-client privilege?

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.

What is an objection to attorney-client privilege?

Attorney-Client Privilege

When the objection from the other lawyer is due with privilege information, the judge will rule objection sustained, which means the question is not permitted, and the witness does not have to respond to the question.

What three elements are necessary in order to take advantage of the attorney-client privilege?

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.

What is an example of a privilege law?

Common examples of privilege include attorney-client privilege, doctor-patient privilege, and spousal privilege.

What are two exceptions to client privacy and confidentiality?

Are there any exceptions to confidentiality? Yes, there are some circumstances where confidentiality cannot be maintained. For example, a therapist must report suspected child abuse, neglect, or imminent harm to self or others. Therapists may also have to release records if subpoenaed by a court of law.

What are three situations where information normally considered to be confidential?

A person has been, or is likely to be, involved in a serious crime. A person is likely to harm others. Your safety is placed at risk. A child or vulnerable adult has suffered, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm.

What are 5 examples of confidentiality?

The following information is confidential:
  • Social Security number.
  • Name.
  • Personal financial information.
  • Family information.
  • Medical information.
  • Credit card numbers, bank account numbers, amount / what donated.
  • Telephone / fax numbers, e-mail, URLs.

How strong is attorney-client privilege?

The privilege protects communications between attorney and client, not underlying information, so providing existing non-privileged information or documents to an attorney does not render them privileged. The privilege is “held” by the client, which means that the client—that is the University—is free to waive it.

What do lawyers do when not litigating?

On the other hand, attorneys do more than just litigation. Their work is quite broader since it includes advising clients; drafting legal documents; negotiating settlements among others. These involve other non-litigation matters like business transactions or estate planning.

What is the Upjohn warning?

A typical Upjohn warning consists of an explanation that the lawyer repre- sents the company, not the individual. Therefore, anything revealed during the course of the interview is only privileged as between the lawyer and the com- pany.

What triggers attorney-client privilege?

The attorney-client privilege does not apply to every communication with an attorney. For the privilege to exist, the communication must be to, from, or with an attorney, and intended to be confidential. In addition, the communication must be for the purpose of requesting or receiving legal advice.

What is the fiduciary exception to the attorney-client privilege?

Under the fiduciary exception, legal advice provided to plan fiduciaries acting in their fiduciary capacity is not protected by the doctrine of attorney-client privilege and may be discovered by plan participants and beneficiaries (and those who stand in their shoes) in litigation.

When a lawyer is paid a percentage of whatever amount the client wins or settles for in a case?

Contingency fees mean you will pay the lawyer a certain percentage of the money you receive if you win the case or settle the matter out of court. If you lose your case, the lawyer does not receive any payment from you.