What does a lawyer call the person they are defending?

In court, the person who gets sued or accused is called a defendant — they have to defend their innocence or reputation. Turn on any TV show about lawyers, and you’ll see some of them defending the defendant, and others trying to convict the defendant.

What is the proper role of defense attorneys regarding their clients?

A defense lawyer works to make sure that all information between them and their client is confidential, retaining their innocence throughout the trial. Even during the trial, a defense lawyer will be working to defend you and your rights.

Can a defense attorney lie?

There are standards in place to keep lawyers honest: they cannot lie if they do know information pertaining to their client’s legal guilt, and they also cannot offer evidence they know is false.

Can defense attorneys investigate?

In addition to using court discovery procedures to obtain evidence from the prosecution, defense attorneys have a duty to investigate their clients’ cases. Effective lawyers will gather evidence of their own in preparation for trial—and even to see whether the client has a reasonable chance of winning at trial.

When does the attorney-client privilege end for a lawyer?

The privilege generally stays in effect even after the attorney-client relationship ends, and even after the client dies. In other words, the lawyer can never divulge the client’s secrets without the client’s permission, unless some kind of exception (see below) applies. (United States v. White, 970 F.2d 328 (7th Cir.

Can a lawyer repeat confidential information to a client?

A lawyer who has received a client’s confidences cannot repeat them to anyone outside the legal team without the client’s consent. In that sense, the privilege is the client’s, not the lawyer’s—the client can decide to forfeit (or waive) the privilege, but the lawyer cannot.

Can a lawyer disclose what potential clients reveal in confidence?

Preliminary communications between a potential client and a lawyer are normally subject to the attorney-client privilege. That means that lawyers can’t disclose what prospective clients reveal in confidence even if the lawyers never ends up representing them. ( In re Auclair, 961 F.2d 65 (5th Cir. 1992).)

Can a lawyer report a client’s statements to the court?

Because the state ethics code permitted the lawyer to disclose the information in question, the lawyer was allowed to report the client’s statements. In addition, the lawyer’s report of the statements is admissible at the defendant’s trial. ( Shorter v.