Client Rights · 5 min read
Attorney-client privilege in plain language
What privilege protects, what it does not, and the common ways people accidentally give it away.
What privilege covers
Confidential communications between a client and their lawyer made for the purpose of seeking or giving legal advice are generally protected from disclosure. The protection belongs to the client, not the lawyer.
What it does not cover
Underlying facts are not privileged simply because you told them to a lawyer. Business advice, documents that existed before the relationship, and communications made to further a crime or fraud generally fall outside the protection.
How privilege is lost
Forwarding legal advice to outsiders, discussing it in front of third parties, or posting about it publicly can waive the protection. Using a work email or employer-owned device can also weaken a claim of confidentiality.
Practical habits
Keep legal communications in a private channel, limit distribution to people who genuinely need to know, and label sensitive material clearly.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.