Attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between a client and their attorney made for the purpose of seeking or providing legal advice. It is one of the strongest privileges in the law and it exists to encourage clients to be fully candid with their attorneys.

The privilege belongs to the client. Only the client can waive it. An attorney who discloses privileged communications without authorization is in violation of professional responsibility rules.

The privilege has limits. It does not protect communications made to facilitate a crime or fraud. It does not protect facts that were communicated to the attorney only the communication itself.