The First Rule of a Summer Clerkship: Do Not Talk About Client and Firm Confidences
June 30, 2011
Nothing is more sacred to the legal profession than the confidential relationship between lawyer and client. This goes far beyond what is required by the rules of professional conduct. Your personal rule should be very simple — do not talk about the firm’s business, its clients, their problems or anything related to them outside the four walls of the firm. With anyone. At any time. It is that simple.
The greatest risks are casual social comments. Somewhere in the middle of a case of Heineken you pass along information about something of great sensitivity to a firm client. It was an innocent, alcohol-induced disclosure on your part, but it was a disclosure none the less. Now you may not worry about divulging sensitive information to a trusted friend or confidant, but the greater risk involves those comments made in restaurants, public places or cocktail parties that directly or indirectly reveal the business of the firm or its clients...
Label: privilege