What is the relationship between the duty of confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege?

Asked by: Mabel Gusikowski Jr.  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (7 votes)

While a court may order disclosure of information clearly within the bounds of a lawyer's duty of confidentiality, if a court determines that the attorney-client privilege applies to a communication, the communication cannot be compelled; in other words, the protection is absolute.

What is the relationship between confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege?

The principle of client-lawyer confidentiality applies to information relating to the representation, whatever its source, and encompasses matters communicated in confidence by the client, and therefore protected by the attorney-client privilege, matters protected by the work product doctrine, and matters protected ...

What is the difference between confidentiality and privilege?

Privilege is more narrowly defined than confidentiality. Where confidentiality covers the entire relationship with the client, solicitor-client privilege covers communications between the lawyer and client for the purpose of seeking or giving legal advice.

Are the terms and subjects of confidentiality and attorney-client privilege the same?

The Bottom Line

The attorney-client privilege and duty of confidentiality serve distinct and important functions in the representation of a client. While there is some measure of overlap between the concepts, they are subject to different standards and apply under different circumstances.

What is the duty of confidentiality to the client?

Duty of confidentiality

There are a small number of exceptions to the above which are discussed in the SRA's guidance on confidentiality of client information, but in general you must keep your client's information confidential unless the law or your client's consent allows you to disclose it.

Attorney Client Privilege & Lawyer Confidentiality EXPLAINED

40 related questions found

What is the duty of confidentiality?

It means, unlike the attorney-client privilege, the duty of confidentiality is in effect at all times, not just in the face of legal demands (e.g., by a court) for client information. According to this duty, lawyers must not affirmatively disclose information about a client's representation.

How to explain attorney-client privilege to client?

At its most basic, the privilege ensures “that one who seeks advice or aid from a lawyer should be completely free of any fear that his secrets will be uncovered.” 2 Thus, the underlying principle of the privilege is to provide for “sound legal advice [and] advocacy.” 3 With the security of the privilege, the client ...

Is the general duty of confidentiality broader than the lawyer client privilege?

It clarifies that the duty of confidentiality is broader than the lawyer-client privilege and also includes information acquired by virtue of the representation, regardless of the source, and information protected under the work product doctrine.

Are confidentiality and privileged communication the same principles?

Although the concepts of confidentiality and privileged communications overlap, they are not necessarily the same. For example, victims are entitled to confidentiality regardless of statutes governing privileged communications.

Is attorney-client privilege made in confidence?

As a general matter, the privilege protects: (A) a communication, (B) made between privileged persons (i.e., attorney, client, or agent of either), (C) in confidence, (D) for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal assistance for the client.

What are three confidentiality examples?

Some examples of confidential information include;
  • Contact details.
  • Bank details.
  • Medical records and history.
  • Personal information such as name, birthday, sex, address.
  • Company reports whether sales, financial.

What does "confidential and proprietary" mean?

Confidential refers to information that's meant to be kept secret between certain groups of people. Proprietary information is property or ownership claimed by certain people. A company's trade secrets are considered confidential information and are also proprietary information since they're owned by the company.

What is the difference between privilege and privileges?

Privilege is a permission given to an individual or group. Privileges are used to distinguish between different granted permissions (including no permission.) A privilege is a permission to perform an action. A permission is a property of an object, such as a file.

Does attorney-client privilege extend to power of attorney?

It follows, then, that the protections of the attorney-client privilege do, in fact, attach to communications made within the scope of a power of attorney arrangement.

What is the key difference between the attorney-client privilege and the accountant client privilege?

One major difference between the practice of attorneys and that of accountants has historically been the privilege of confidentiality extended in attorney-client communications, and the lack of confidentiality in accountant-client communications.

What is the confidential client information rule?

(a) A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation or the disclosure is permitted by paragraph (b).

What is the difference between privilege and confidential?

Confidentiality is a responsibility to protect someone else's choices about disclosure, and. Privilege is a legal rule prohibiting the disclosure of private information against someone's will.

What is the key distinction between confidentiality and attorney-client privilege is client communication?

In contrast to the duty of confidentiality, the attorney-client privilege is the evidentiary principle that confidential communications between attorneys and their representatives and clients and their representatives and even prospective clients that are made for the purpose of obtaining or rendering legal advice, and ...

What is confidentiality and privilege as they relate to a therapist client relationship?

confidentiality. refers to the counselors obligation to protect clients privacy and promise to clients that the information they disclose during sessions will be protected from discloser without their consent. privileged communication. is the narrowest of the three terms, and is a legal concept.

What is confidentiality between lawyer and client?

The attorney-client privilege is a rule that protects the confidentiality of communications between lawyers and clients. Under the rule, attorneys may not divulge their clients' secrets, nor may others force them to.

What is the professional duty of confidentiality?

In practice, this means that all patient/client information, whether held on paper, computer, visually or audio recorded, or held in the memory of the professional, must not normally be disclosed without the consent of the patient/client.

What happens if a lawyer breaks confidentiality?

Whether intentional, malicious, or careless, an attorney's breach of attorney-client confidentiality comes with severe consequences. Attorneys are likely to face disciplinary action. In some circumstances, they risk being disbarred.

How do you beat attorney-client privilege?

Either voluntary or inadvertent disclosure to outside or non-covered recipients, professional advisors outside the privilege, and experts and consultants, can result in waiver as a matter of law.

What is the federal rule for attorney-client privilege?

In this rule: (1) “attorney‐client privilege” means the protection that applicable law provides for confidential attorney‐client communications; and (2) “work‐product privilege” means the protection that applicable law provides for tangible material (or its intangible equivalent) prepared in anticipation of litigation ...

What factors are required for professional client privilege to arise?

The communication must be between someone who was (or wanted to be) a client to an attorney acting as such at the time; The communication must have been made in confidence (without strangers present); and. The communications must have been made for the purpose of obtaining legal assistance.