Lawyers Beware Of What Information You Discuss in Legal Seminars
According to an article in the Boston Globe, a Massachusetts Judge recently ruled that a convicted murderer can proceed with a case against his former lawyer for libel after the lawyer allegedly discussed the defendant's personal history at a Continuing Legal Education Seminar and wrote a book about the case containing personal facts before the case went to trial. The killer claims that his former lawyer shared information that he provided to the lawyer to aid in his defense. The case deals with some key issues lawyers should always beware of when discussing a case they have been involved in - putting aside the libel issues which deal with the truth of what was said - lawyers cannot divulge attorney/client privileged information that is not part of the public record while speaking at seminars or writing an article or book without first attaining the clients consent.