Attorney Client Privilege

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Attorney-Client Privilege Ana Christopherson University of Phoenix Attorney-client privilege is a concept in the courts system that allows a client to be open and honest to their attorney knowing that the details of the conversation cannot be revealed to anyone. The standard definition of attorney client privilege is as follows: The right of an attorney to refuse to disclose confidential conversations with the client. This is also protected under the terms of privilege, which protects the attorney to having to disclose conversations or other information with the client to third parties. This is in order to protect the communication, trust, and confidentiality between an attorney and a client that allows for a relationship in which an attorney can adequately represent their client (Meyer & Grant, 2003, p. 162). It is important to the criminal justice system because a client should always have adequate representation. The issues that surround attorney-client privilege also make it very important to the court system. Some of the issues that exist because of the complexity of privilege are mainly questions such as in what instances should an attorney break that privilege, what if a client admits guilt of a crime, what about a client that conveys their intent to commit a crime. Admitting guilt of a crime that has already occurred is considered privileged information, however, a client that conveys their intent to commit a crime is not covered under the attorney-client privilege. It is an attorney’s obligation, in fact, to break that attorney-client privilege in order to prevent future harm (Meyer & Grant, 2003). Attorneys may also report intents to commit perjury in order to prevent an act of fraud against a court. These and many other issues are what make the concept of attorney-client privilege so important in regard to the court system. Bibliography
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