Everything you tell us during our meetings is privileged and confidential. This is our legal, professional, and ethical obligation to you. We take this obligation more seriously than you could possibly imagine. Put simply, nobody will know what you discuss with your legal team. No one can force us to reveal those discussions, and we would certainly never reveal them in any other circumstance. Not to friends. Not to family. Not to anybody. It is vitally important, however, that you understand that this attorney-client privilege can be lost if you choose to talk about your case with others, even spouses. Do not make the mistake of violating your own right to secrecy.
Shhh… They’re Secrets. Keep Them Safe!
Why are we so unrelenting when it comes to your secrecy? Well, we know that the State can find ways to use your statements – even to other people – against you. For example, if you speak about your drunk driving case to your friends, those individuals can be forced to testify against you. That’s a concern silent clients never have!
- Never discuss your drunk driving charges or the facts of your case with anyone beyond your legal team. This means that you must REFUSE to talk about your case even with family and close friends.
- If asked about your charges, REFUSE to answer the questions. One simple refusal is to politely state: “My lawyer has advised me not to discuss this matter with anyone.”
- Never participate in any test given to you.
- Never try on any clothing whatsoever. No hats, caps, gloves, or shoes.
- Never provide voice or handwriting samples to any person who may ask for them.
- Silence! We Mean It! Once more: You have a right to remain silent. But it’s far more than that. You have an obligation to yourself to remain silent.
- You should NOT, under any circumstances, converse with or write letters to the Prosecutor or the Judge. You must not allow your family and friends to do so either. Only AFTER a conviction are letters appropriate or even helpful. Before a plea or prior to your trial, such letters only complicate matters and can even be used as evidence against you.
The Importance of Honesty
You must be honest with your legal team at all times. After all, that’s why you enjoy the attorney-client privilege, which guarantees complete confidentiality. We cannot provide a vigorous defense if you are not honest. Let’s put that another way: If you do not tell us everything – including your personal background – then our defense will be significantly weakened. Surprises are terrible things in a courtroom. Don’t let us be surprised!
Finally, if you tell us that you intend to lie, then we cannot present your lie to the jury. Moreover, if we discover your lie through the course of our investigations, then we cannot pursue a defense supported by that lie.
Learn this simple rule: To us, say nothing but the truth; to others, say nothing!