Attorney -- client privilege - wikipedia Attorney -- client privilege This article is about the law in the United States. For an overview, see Legal professional privilege. For the law in England and Wales, see Legal professional privilege in England and Wales. For the law in Australia, see Legal professional privilege in Australia. Evidence Part of the common law series Types of evidence Testimony Documentary Real ( physical ) Digital Exculpatory Inculpatory Demonstrative Eyewitness identification Genetic ( DNA ) Lies Relevance Burden of proof Laying a foundation Materiality Public policy exclusions Spoliation Character Habit Similar fact Authentication Chain of custody Judicial notice Best evidence rule Self - authenticating document Ancient document Hague Evidence Convention Witnesses Competence Privilege Direct examination Cross-examination Redirect Impeachment Recorded recollection Expert witness Dead Man 's Statute Hearsay and exceptions in English law in United States law Confessions Business records Excited utterance Dying declaration Party admission Ancient document Declaration against interest Present sense impression Res gestae Learned treatise Implied assertion Other common law areas Contract Tort Property Wills, trusts and estates Criminal law In the law of the United States, attorney -- client privilege or lawyer -- client privilege is a `` client 's right privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing confidential communications between the client and the attorney. '' The attorney -- client privilege is one of the oldest recognized privileges for confidential communications. The United States Supreme Court has stated that by assuring confidentiality, the privilege encourages clients to make `` full and frank '' disclosures to their attorneys, who are then better able to provide candid advice and effective representation. Contents 1 General requirements under United States law 2 When the privilege may not apply 2.1 Disclosure in case of a crime, tort, or fraud 2.2 Disclosure ostensibly to support lawyer 's own interests 2.3 Disclosure for the purpose of probate 3 Tax practice 4 In the federal courts 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External links General requirements under United States law Although there are minor variations, the elements necessary to establish the attorney client privilege generally are : The asserted holder of the privilege is ( or sought to become ) a client ; and The person to whom the communication was made : is a member of the bar of a court, or a subordinate of such a member, and in connection with this communication, is acting as an attorney ; and The communication was for the purpose of securing legal advice. There are a number of exceptions to the privilege in most jurisdictions, chief among them : the communication was made in the presence of individuals who were neither attorney nor client, or was disclosed to such individuals, the communication was made for the purpose of committing a crime or tort, the client has waived the privilege ( for example by publicly disclosing the communication ). A corollary to the attorney -- client privilege is the joint defense privilege, which is also called the common interest rule. The common interest rule `` serves to protect the confidentiality of communications passing from one party to another party where a joint defense or strategy has been decided upon and undertaken by the parties and their respective counsel. '' An attorney speaking publicly in regard to a client 's personal business and private affairs can be reprimanded by the bar and / or disbarred, regardless of the fact that he or she may be no longer representing the client. Discussing a client 's or past client 's criminal history, or otherwise, is viewed as a breach of fiduciary responsibilities. The attorney -- client privilege is separate from and should not be confused with the work - product doctrine. When the privilege may not apply When an attorney is not acting primarily as an attorney but, for instance, as a business advisor, member of the Board of Directors, or in another non-legal role, then the privilege generally does not apply. The privilege protects the confidential communication, and not the underlying information. For instance, if a client has previously disclosed confidential information to a third party who is not an attorney, and then gives the same information to an attorney, the attorney -- client privilege will still protect the communication to the attorney, but will not protect the communication with the third party. The privilege may be waived if the confidential communications are disclosed to third parties. Other limits to the privilege may apply depending on the situation being adjudicated. Disclosure in case of a crime, tort, or fraud The crime - fraud exception can render the privilege moot when communications between an attorney and client are themselves used to further a crime, tort, or fraud. In Clark v. United States, the US Supreme Court stated that `` A client who consults an attorney for advice that will serve him in the commission of a fraud will have no help from the law. He must let the truth be told. '' The crime - fraud exception also does require that the crime or fraud discussed between client and attorney be carried out to be triggered. US Courts have not yet conclusively ruled how little knowledge an attorney can have of the underlying crime or fraud before the privilege detaches and the attorney 's communications or requisite testimony become admissible. Disclosure ostensibly to support lawyer 's own interests Lawyers may disclose confidential information relating to the retainer where they are reasonably seeking to collect payment for services rendered. This is justified on policy grounds. If lawyers were unable to disclose such information, many would undertake legal work only where payment is made in advance. This would arguably adversely affect the public 's access to justice. Lawyers may also breach the duty where they are defending themselves against disciplinary or legal proceedings. A client who initiates proceedings against a lawyer effectively waives rights to confidentiality. This is justified on grounds of procedural fairness -- a lawyer unable to reveal information relating to the retainer would be unable to defend themselves against such action. Disclosure for the purpose of probate See also : Probate court and Surrogate 's court Another case is for the probate of a last will and testament. Previously confidential communications between the lawyer and testator may be disclosed in order to prove that a will represented the intent of the now deceased decedent. In many instances, the will, codicil, or other parts of the estate plan require explanation or interpretation through other proof ( extrinsic evidence ), such as the attorney 's file notes or correspondence from the client. In certain cases, the client may desire or consent to revelation of personal or family secrets only after his or her death ; for example, the will may leave a legacy to a paramour or a natural child. Courts have occasionally revoked the privilege after the death of the client if it is deemed that doing so serves the client 's intent, such as in the case of resolving testamentary disputes among heirs. Tax practice In the United States, communications between accountants and their clients are usually not privileged. A person who is worried about accusations of questionable accounting, such as tax evasion, may decide to work only with an attorney or only with an accountant who is also an attorney ; some or all of the resulting communications may be privileged provided that all the requirements for the attorney -- client privilege are met. The mere fact that the practitioner is an attorney will not create a valid attorney -- client privilege with respect to a communication, for example, that involves business or accounting advice rather than legal advice. Under Federal tax law in the United States, for communications on or after July 22, 1998, there is a limited Federally authorized accountant -- client privilege that may apply to certain communications with non -- attorneys. In the federal courts If a case arises in the federal court system, the federal court will apply Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence to determine whether to apply the privilege law of the relevant state or federal common law. If the case is brought to the federal court under diversity jurisdiction, the law of the relevant state will be used to apply the privilege. If the case involves a federal question, the federal court will apply the federal common law of attorney -- client privilege ; however, Rule 501 grants flexibility to the federal courts, allowing them to construe the privilege `` in light of experience and reason ''. See also Accountant -- client privilege Admissible evidence Buried Bodies Case Confidentiality Contract attorney Legal professional privilege : common law general concept and history Legal professional privilege ( England & Wales ) Physician -- patient privilege Priest -- penitent privilege Privilege ( evidence ) Public Interest Immunity Reporter 's privilege Joint defense privilege Shield laws Spousal privilege State Secrets Privilege Subpoena ad testificandum Subpoena duces tecum Swidler & Berlin v. United States Upjohn v. United States Notes Jump up ^ `` Attorney -- client privilege '', Black 's Law Dictionary, p. 1391 col. 2 ( Bryan A. Garner 10th ed. 2014 ). Jump up ^ Swidler & Berlin v. United States, 524 U.S. 399, 403 ( 1998 ). Jump up ^ Upjohn Co. v. United States, 449 U.S. 383, 389 ( 1981 ). Jump up ^ See, e.g., Colton v. United States, 306 F. 2d 633, 637 ( 2d Cir. 1962 ), cert. denied, 371 U.S. 951, 83 S. Ct. 505 ( 1963 ), citing United States v. United Shoe Mach. Corp., 89 F. Supp. 357, 358 -- 59 ( D. Mass. 1950 ). Jump up ^ LaForest v. Honeywell International Inc., 2004 WL 1498916, p. 3 Jump up ^ Id. Jump up ^ North Pacifica, LLC v. City of Pacifica, 274 F. Supp. 2d 1118, 1127 ( N.D. Cal 2003 ) ; Handguards, Inc. v. Johnson & Johnson, 69 F.R.D. 451, 453 ( N.D. Cal 1975 ). Jump up ^ Clark v. United States, 289 U.S. 1, 15 ( 1933 ) Jump up ^ In re Grand Jury Subpoena of Francis D. Carter, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19597 ( citing In re Sealed Case, 107 F. 3d 46, 49, 51 ( D.C. Cir. 1997 ) Jump up ^ See, e.g. United States v. Bauer 132 F. 3d 504 ( 9th Cir. 1997 ) vs. In re Grand Jury Proceedings ( 1996 ) ( 9th Cir. 1996 ). External links Federal Rule of Evidence 502 Resource Page Provides background and key links on the 2008 amendment `` to address the waiver of the attorney -- client privilege and the work product doctrine. '' Office of the General Counsel : The Attorney -- Client Privilege from Stanford University Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Attorney -- client_privilege&oldid = 842507077 '' Categories : Legal professional privilege Privacy Confidentiality Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 22 May 2018, at 22 : 15 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who holds the privilege when it concerns attorney-client communication
Answer: client