Attorney-Client Privilege

If you have specific questions regarding the nature and scope of attorney-client privilege, please contact our office for further guidance.

What is the attorney-client privilege?

The attorney-client privilege is an evidentiary principle that may protect from disclosure certain oral or written communications between a lawyer and a client. In order to be protected, the communications must be made within the context of a legal relationship and intended to be confidential. The purpose of the privilege is to encourage open and honest communication between clients and their attorneys in order to provide effective and competent legal advice without fear of unnecessary disclosure.

Protected from what?

Privileged communications are protected from disclosure unless consent is given, or the privilege is waived through an intentional disclosure of the privileged communication. The privilege is also recognized with respect to open records requests, such as the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. Consent to waive the privilege can only be made by the University itself, and not by an officer, employee, agent, or other individual.

Please remember that our office is dedicated to the University as a whole and communications by individual employees to our office may be disclosed to other administrators or to outside counsel retained to represent or advise the University on a “need to know” basis.