Federal and state law provide that all communications between a lawyer and his or her client in connection with the lawyer's providing legal advice are confidential, or "privileged." This attorney/client privilege is a fundamental protection, which allows clients to speak freely with their attorneys, and allows attorneys to provide candid advice.

For the privilege to apply, neither the lawyer nor the client may discuss or share their communications with any third party, which includes forwarding an electronic version of the advice. To do so risks "waiving" the privilege, which means that other parties or the government would be entitled to explore in discovery or at a trial any and all communications related to that topic.

If you are an employee of Emory University and in communication with the Office of General Counsel (OGC), you are obligated to keep all communications strictly confidential. Failing to do so risks waiving the attorney/client privilege.

If you have any questions about this or any other issue concerning your interactions with the OGC, please ask one of the attorneys.