lawyerclient

A lawyer-client relationship is a fiduciary relationship in which a lawyer agrees to represent a client in legal matters. This relationship is built on trust, confidentiality, and a duty of loyalty. The lawyer has a professional obligation to act in the best interests of the client and to provide competent legal advice.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of this relationship. All communications between a lawyer and client are generally considered privileged and cannot be disclosed to third parties without the client's consent, with very few exceptions such as preventing a crime. This privilege encourages open and honest communication, allowing the lawyer to fully understand the client's situation and provide effective representation.

A lawyer must exercise due diligence and provide competent legal services. This means possessing the necessary legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably required for the representation. Lawyers also have a duty of loyalty, meaning they must avoid conflicts of interest and cannot represent clients whose interests are adverse to their current client's interests.

The lawyer-client relationship can be terminated by either the lawyer or the client. A client can fire their lawyer at any time, though they may still be responsible for fees incurred up to that point. A lawyer may withdraw from representation under certain circumstances, such as if the client insists on illegal conduct or if the relationship has irretrievably broken down. The ethical obligations of the lawyer continue even after the relationship has ended, particularly regarding confidentiality.