Is a Consultation With a Lawyer Confidential? Yes. A lawyer is professionally obligated not to disclose any details from your consultation. This privilege exists even if you choose not to hire the lawyer to represent you.
Are free consultations privileged?
In general, as long as the prospective client is seeking legal advice or representation and reasonably believes the communication will be confidential, the consultation is privileged. This is so even if the would-be client never pays or hires the attorney.
Are conversations with lawyers confidential?
As a general rule, any communication between a lawyer and a client is confidential and subject to the attorney client privilege. The attorney cannot tell that information to anyone without the client’s consent. Importantly, this privilege applies to the lawyer’s prospective clients, as well as actual clients.
What happens at a free lawyer consultation?
During the consultation, you should ask the attorney important questions about his or her experience and about your case. … In addition to asking the attorney questions, the attorney will also use the consultation to ask you questions about your case.
When must a lawyer reveal confidential information?
The confidentiality rule, for example, applies not only to matters communicated in confidence by the client but also to all information relating to the representation, whatever its source. A lawyer may not disclose such information except as authorized or required by the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law.
Is legal advice confidential?
Legal advice should be confidential and only disseminated within the company for the purpose of informing people of that advice.
Can a lawyer reveal the identity of a client?
“In most situations, the identity of a client is not considered confidential and in such circumstances Attorney may disclose the fact of the representation to Prospective Client without Witness Client’s consent.” Citing to Los Angeles County Bar Association Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee Op.
Is everything you tell a lawyer confidential?
The duty of confidentiality prevents lawyers from even informally discussing information related to their clients’ cases with others. They must keep private almost all information related to representation of the client, even if that information didn’t come from the client.
What should you not say to a lawyer?
- “The Judge is biased against me” Is it possible that the Judge is “biased” against you? …
- “Everyone is out to get me” …
- “It’s the principle that counts” …
- “I don’t have the money to pay you” …
- Waiting until after the fact.
Can my lawyer scream at me?
Eric Edward Rothstein. You can not sue your lawyer for calling you names and yelling at you.
Why do lawyers give free consultations?
Most lawyers offer a free consultation so that you have a chance to determine if he or she is the right person for you. … You will not get much legal advice at this consult since it is not meant to resolve your legal question, but is instead an opportunity to determine if you wish to hire this attorney.
CONTINUE READING BELOW
What does a free consultation consist of?
So, when a lawyer says that he or she will provide a free consultation it means that they will sit down with you, hear about your problem, and give you some initial thoughts about it, at no charge or obligation to you. This meeting gives you a chance to “interview” the lawyer and the lawyer the chance to interview you.
Do all lawyers charge a consultation fee?
Consultation Fee: The lawyer may charge a fixed or hourly fee for your first meeting where you both determine whether the lawyer can assist you. … If you lose the case, the lawyer does not get a fee, but you will still have to pay expenses. Contingency fee percentages vary . A one-third fee is common.
What is the no contact rule for lawyers?
Generally, clients may communicate directly with each other without going through their solicitors. … The solicitor should inform the opposing party that they cannot communicate directly with the party unless their solicitor agrees.
What are the legal requirements for 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 is unethical for a lawyer?
Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, over billing, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while …