In practice, in order to understand the case, lawyers inevitably need to know a lot of materials, information and evidence of their clients. Some of these contents are customer privacy, some are trade secrets, and some are not privacy and trade secrets, which will adversely affect their customers. Lawyers have the responsibility to keep secrets for their clients.
The confidentiality obligation of lawyers is determined by their professional nature, legal obligations of lawyers and contractual obligations of entrustment. Even if there is no confidentiality obligation in the contract, the lawyer's confidentiality obligation cannot be exempted. Of course, if the client authorizes the lawyer to disclose relevant information, the lawyer is allowed to disclose any privacy or business secrets without exceeding his authority. Lawyers who violate confidentiality obligations and cause reputational losses or economic losses to their clients shall be liable for compensation.
Confidentiality rules that lawyers should abide by
Confidentiality of customer secrets. Lawyers will get a lot of sensitive and confidential information in the process of contacting clients and handling cases, including clients' personal background, case details, financial information and so on. Lawyers have the responsibility to ensure the confidentiality of this information. Lawyers clearly stipulate in their professional ethics that they have the obligation to keep confidential the confidential information of their clients.
The confidentiality of the agency's entrusted secrets. In addition to client secrets, lawyers also need to protect the confidential information of clients. In the process of representation, lawyers will get a series of information related to the case, which also needs to be kept confidential.
The restraint of professional ethics. As a practicing lawyer, the restriction of personal professional ethics is also an important factor to ensure confidentiality protection. Lawyers should always be honest, diligent and cautious and should not abuse or disclose confidential information.