Lawyer question

[ManBearPig]

deleted

 

[BoomerD]

There you go...presuming that liars lawyers have ethics or scruples...

 

[Slew Foot]

Depends on where the $ is coming from

 

[zerocool84]

It doesn't matter what you know, it's what you can prove.

 

[MonKENy]

So lets say you're a defense lawyer and you have to defend some asshole that clearly did something wrong. As the lawyer, if the guy doesn't plead guilty, but you know s/he did it (s/he admitted to doing it), would you be obligated to tell someone? Like let's say Casey Anthony told her lawyer she killed her daughter, but wants to try to beat the system, or maybe the attorney just strongly suspects she did it even though she won't admit it...would he have to turn her in to the authorities? I've always wondered this.

no. If they are your lawyer and the crime is already committed they cannot divulge any information what so ever. The sme goes for doctors, therapists, psychiatrists

The only difference is if there is a possibility that the client is going to do something that may harm a life or person. Im not sure about lawyers, but doc, therapist, psychs, etc have a legal obligation to report the act to the authorities ONLY if it may cause harm. If you tell your doc you are going out to sell weed or steal a car they can NOT report you.

Also if you killed a person, as in past tense, and you saw a therapist and told them. They can NOT report your crime.

My dad is licensed MFT

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Attorney/Client privilege... how does that work?

 

[Pray To Jesus]

#1: It would be hearsay; as such it will be inadmissible as evidence.
#2: You would lose your license if you get reported.

 

[tboo]

Have you been watching the Jodi Arias trial?

 

[Jeeebus]

Every state has its own rules regulating attorney conduct. In Florida (as I'm sure it is in most if not all states), your question is directly built into the rules:

Rule 4-1.6 Confidentiality of Information

(a) Consent Required to Reveal Information.

A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to representation of a client except as stated in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), unless the client consents after disclosure to the client.

(b) When Lawyer Must Reveal Information.

A lawyer shall reveal such information to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary:

(1) to prevent a client from committing a crime; or

(2) to prevent a death or substantial bodily harm to another.

The more interesting question is what do you do when you know your client is lying as he testifies or you know he is going to lie before he takes the stand to give sworn testimony? The correct answer is that you either shouldn't put him on the stand or you should withdraw from the case, but I'm sure that's one that more lawyers wrestle with than your question - especially when big fees are at stake, the lawyer is low on the totem pole at a firm and is worried about his/her job security, etc.

Doesn't have to be a criminal trial. What if you know your client uses 10 different email addresses and has 3 laptops. Your client sits for his deposition, and testifies that he has no documents, is computer illiterate, and doesn't even know what email is. What do you do?

 

[SearchMaster]

What if you know your client uses 10 different email addresses and has 3 laptops. Your client sits for his deposition, and testifies that he has no documents, is computer illiterate, and doesn't even know what email is. What do you do?

Steal his 3 laptops. He'd never notice.

 

[Clemenza]

Every state has its own rules regulating attorney conduct. In Florida (as I'm sure it is in most if not all states), your question is directly built into the rules:




The more interesting question is what do you do when you know your client is lying as he testifies or you know he is going to lie before he takes the stand to give sworn testimony? The correct answer is that you either shouldn't put him on the stand or you should withdraw from the case, but I'm sure that's one that more lawyers wrestle with than your question - especially when big fees are at stake, the lawyer is low on the totem pole at a firm and is worried about his/her job security, etc.

Doesn't have to be a criminal trial. What if you know your client uses 10 different email addresses and has 3 laptops. Your client sits for his deposition, and testifies that he has no documents, is computer illiterate, and doesn't even know what email is. What do you do?

That's always the biggest problem I've ran into with clients. Criminal clients are always lying about something. You never know what's going to come out if their mouth.

As to lawyers being ethical, or lying, in my 7 years of practice in criminal defense, I've found lawyers to be a very ethical bunch. They are much more trustworthy than the cops and witnesses that testify, under oath.

 

[TheFamilyMan]

As to lawyers being ethical, or lying, in my 7 years of practice in criminal defense, I've found lawyers to be a very ethical bunch. They are much more trustworthy than the cops and witnesses that testify, under oath.

Wow...just wow...made my day though...haven't had a laugh like that in a loooong time.