Seattle Criminal Attorney | Lawyer-Client Privilege

Whether a Seattle criminal attorney, a civil attorney, or simply a ordinary individual on the street, practically every person has heard of and has a vague picture on the subject of what the attorney-client privilege is. If we haven’t dealt with it directly in our personal lives then we’ve just about undoubtedly had the chance to see it in action on television or in the cinema.

But what is the lawyer-client privilege really? Does it represent that when you tell a attorney something that they can’t tell anybody no matter what? And when does it initiate? Do you need to employ the criminal defense attorney? And when does it end? Will a criminal attorney in truth take your secrets to their burial place? Read on to have these inquiries answered.

Let’s start off with what the privilege signifies. And, because I am a Seattle DUI attorney, we’ll use it in the context of criminal law, although it applies to other areas of the law uniformly. The lawyer-client benefit is the picture that everything you tell your lawyer, in private (when just the two of you are present) is classified.

This stands for the attorney cannot reveal to anybody what you have spoken about. They can’t tell their spouse, they can’t inform their friends, they can’t inform the judge, even if ordered to do so. The only time they can divulge is if the data you’ve told them is to perpetrate the commission of a crime or the loss of life or property of a person. It is a very strong benefit.

And the most excellent thing is, the privilege starts right when you walk in the door. You don’t even have to have hired the lawyer for the privilege to attach. It occurs automatically, and even if you don’t hire that attorney, they nevertheless have to keep your secrets secure. Let me give you an example to show you how robust it can be. Let’s say you are looking for a divorce and you go talk to a lawyer about it.

You inform him all about your situation and what has been going on, he quotes you a cost, and you disclose to him it’s too high-priced and go find someone else. A week afterward your spouse comes in and wishes to talk to a attorney concerning a divorce. The lawyer not only can’t take on the case since he’s already talked to you and representing the wife would create a conflict, but he can’t inform the spouse why he can’t represent her! The companion would basically be sent away. That’s how commanding the privilege is.

And the benefit outlasts even your life. Your secrets die with the attorney. In the criminal law context there are examples of people who have confessed to murdering people (it isn’t the commission of a future crime so it is private) to their attorney, another person is tried and convicted of the murder, and the attorney never told anybody about the confession (it obviously afterward came out, but not in any way that affected the client). So, essentially, your secrets are safe.

There is good reason behind this benefit – your criminal lawyer must know as much regarding your case as possible to present you the best defense possible. Without your data and candid conversation, that is nearly impossible. So, the next instance you are with your lawyer, don’t be afraid to speak up. Your secrets are safe.

Thanks for reading the Seattle Criminal Attorney Blog. Stay tuned for more helpful information.

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