Attorney-Client Privilege Definition

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A rule that keeps most communications between an attorney and client confidential. Attorney-client communications usually are protected from being discovered by the opposing party during trial preparation, or from being used as evidence in a trial.

But the attorney-client privilege doesn't protect all communications. For example, if a client communicates to their attorney an intent to commit a crime or to perpetrate a fraud on the court, those communications likely fall under the "crime-fraud" exception to the privilege and won't be protected.

A similar privilege exists between physician and patient, clergy and parishioner, and (in some states) spouses.

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