Attorney-client privilege
Definition
A legal privilege that works to keep communications between an attorney and his or her client secret. The privilege is asserted in the face of a legal demand for the communications, such as a discovery request or a demand that the lawyer testify under oath. Contrast with attorney's duty of confidentiality.
Illustrative caselaw
See, e.g. Mohawk Industries, Inc. v. Carpenter, 130 S.Ct. 599 (2009).
See also
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
A rule that keeps communications between an attorney and client confidential and protects everything said between attorney and client from being discovered by the opposing party during pretrial investigation, or used as evidence in a trial. The same type of privilege exists between physician and patient, clergy and parishioner, and spouses.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:11 pm
