Communication. Open, honest, and regular communication forms the backbone of an effective attorney-client relationship. Our attorneys ensure they are accessible to clients, providing updates on their cases and being clear about the legal process.
The general rule in South African law is that communications between a lawyer and their client, as well as documents prepared by lawyers for their clients, may not be disclosed without the client's consent.
There is not difference between a lawyer and an attorney, other than semantics. In different regions around the world, licenced legal professionals are called by different names. In South Africa, we refer to someone who performs a legal function as lawyers or attorneys (which can be used interchangeably).
California courts have held that an attorney-client relationship can only be created by contract.
Professional Ethics: Most legal ethical codes strongly discourage or outright prohibit lawyers from engaging in romantic relationships with clients during representation. This is to maintain professional boundaries and ensure that the lawyer-client relationship is based solely on the client's legal needs.
Whose Burden is it to Prove a Communication is Privileged? The party asserting the attorney-client privilege must prove that the communication in question meets the standard to be protected and that no waiver of the privilege was made.
Privilege is a legal right which allows persons to resist compulsory disclosure of documents and information. The fact that a document is sensitive or confidential is not a bar to disclosure, although privileged documents must be confidential.
Professional Ethics: Most legal ethical codes strongly discourage or outright prohibit lawyers from engaging in romantic relationships with clients during representation. This is to maintain professional boundaries and ensure that the lawyer-client relationship is based solely on the client's legal needs.