The attorney-client privilege means that their interactions are confidential. The client can tell their attorney anything, and the attorney is not allowed to reveal this information to anyone else. They also can’t be compelled to reveal it during the trial.
For example, someone may be accused of murder. They do not believe that the authorities have the evidence to convict them, so they plan to plead not guilty. But they did actually commit the murder, and they tell their lawyer that they are guilty while planning their defense. The lawyer has to keep that information confidential because clients need to be able to be honest and talk openly with their legal representation – without worrying that the attorney will just reveal their guilt and cause a conviction.
But say that a client reveals something important to their attorney, and then the case ends. Does this mean that the attorney-client privilege also ends and the information could be made public?
A long-term obligation
No, the end of the trial does not end the attorney-client privilege between the two parties. That obligation in the relationship stays, even long after the two are no longer working together. The required privacy outlasts both the case and the business relationship between the two individuals.
If an attorney violates this relationship by revealing sensitive information, then it could be an example of legal malpractice. Doing so could affect future legal cases or the client’s reputation. If a client believes that their attorney has engaged in malpractice, they need to be sure they understand all of their legal options moving forward.