Policy
The Attorney-Client Privilege is an evidentiary rule that protects confidential communications exchanged between attorneys and their clients when legal advice is provided to the client.
The privilege was originally designed to prevent attorneys from being compelled to testify against their client, and is designed to foster frank, open communications between the client and the attorney. The attorney must know all facts – both favorable and unfavorable – in order to properly advise the client.
The attorney-client privilege enables the client to communicate all the facts to the attorney without fear of disclosure. The privilege may be waived if the confidential communications take place in the presence of third parties unnecessary to accomplish the purpose for which the attorney’s advice is sought, or if the confidential communications are disclosed to third parties without a need to know.
At the University of California, it is only those attorneys who are hired through UC’s Office of General Counsel (the attorneys in the Office of Legal Affairs here at UCSF are all members of the Office of General Counsel) who can represent The Regents and the University in legal matters, and who can establish an attorney-client relationship protected by the privilege.
For further questions regarding the Attorney-Client Privilege, please call the Office of Legal Affairs at 476-5003
