Ethics In Brief: Does The Attorney-Client Privilege Survive After the Death of a Client?
by: Anne Rudolph
Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 6068, subdivision (e), an attorney must maintain inviolate a client’s confidences. The only exception is that an attorney may, but is not required to, reveal confidential information to the extent that the attorney reasonably believes the disclosure is necessary to prevent a criminal act that the attorney reasonably believes is likely to result in death of, or substantial bodily harm to, an individual.