Definition

Noun: * A legal protection: The attorney-client privilege is a legal principle that protects confidential communications between a lawyer and their client from being disclosed without the client's consent. It is a fundamental right designed to encourage full and frank discussion so a client can receive effective legal advice.

Usage

The term is used in legal contexts to describe a specific, protected relationship and the information exchanged within it. It is a singular, non-count concept.

Examples: * The information you share with me is protected by attorney-client privilege. * The judge ruled that the documents were covered under attorney-client privilege and did not have to be submitted as evidence. * A breach of attorney-client privilege is a serious ethical violation for a lawyer.

Advanced Usage

• "To assert/invoke attorney-client privilege": To formally claim the protection of this privilege.
  • The corporation's lawyer invoked attorney-client privilege to avoid turning over the internal memos.
• "The privilege belongs to the client": A key legal principle meaning only the client can waive (give up) the privilege.
  • Remember, attorney-client privilege is your right, not the lawyer's. You control it.
• "Subject to attorney-client privilege": Describes information that is protected.
  • Their conversation was subject to attorney-client privilege and remained confidential.

Variants and Related Words

• Privileged (adjective): Describes the protected communication itself.
  • That email to your lawyer is a privileged communication.
• Attorney-client relationship (noun phrase): The formal professional relationship in which the privilege exists.
• Legal professional privilege (noun phrase): A broader term used in some jurisdictions that encompasses attorney-client privilege and related protections.

Different Meanings

This term has a single, specific legal meaning. There is no general or colloquial meaning for this compound noun.

Synonyms

• Lawyer-client confidentiality: A less formal, descriptive synonym.
• Legal confidentiality (in this specific context): Refers to the same protected state of communications.

Idioms

There are no common idioms using the full term "attorney-client privilege." Related legal idioms include: * "Off the record": While not a legal term, it colloquially suggests a similar expectation of confidentiality in non-legal contexts.

Phrasal Verbs

There are no phrasal verbs derived from this compound noun.

Noun

1. the right of a lawyer to refuse to divulge confidential information from his client