What is attorney-client privilege?

Attorney-client privilege is a legal concept that refers to a communication between an attorney and his or her client, which is confidential and protected from being used in a court of law. The reason for this is so that a client can feel safe in speaking candidly and openly with their lawyer without fearing that the information they reveal could be used against them in a court of law. Additionally, attorney-client privilege is important for the protection of the attorney as well, because they can advise their clients openly without fear of the attorney being accused of misconduct by the court. In Hawaii, attorney-client privilege is protected by the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct. This rule states that while a lawyer is defending a client in court proceedings, they are to keep all communications between themselves and their client in strict confidence. This implies that the client should not disclose any material to their lawyer which they do not wish to be revealed in court. As such, whatever is disclosed by the client to the lawyer will remain confidential. The attorney is also prohibited from revealing any information they have heard from the client to anyone outside of the legal proceedings. Ultimately, attorney-client privilege is an important protection that allows a client to speak freely and openly with their lawyer, without fearing that anything they say could be used against them in court. Without this protection, the legal system would be unable to provide fair and just justice for all parties involved.

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What is attorney-client privilege?

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