does lawyer have to convey client who requested foia

by Rogelio Hegmann 10 min read

As we have noted before, not every communication from your lawyers is protected by the attorney-client privilege and exempt from disclosure under the FOIA.

Briefly, the FOIA exempts from its general disclosure mandate those documents protected by the attorney-client privilege. As we have noted before, not every communication from your lawyers is protected by the attorney-client privilege and exempt from disclosure under the FOIA.May 8, 2015

Full Answer

Does FOIA apply to information requests received from other federal agencies?

Aug 13, 2014 · An ill-conceived line of FOIA cases emanating from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has caused considerable confusion as to whether the attorney-client privilege protects an attorney-client communication where the specifics of the communication are confidential but the underlying subject matter is known to an outside third …

What does a freedom of information lawyer do?

May 08, 2015 · Briefly, the FOIA exempts from its general disclosure mandate those documents protected by the attorney-client privilege. As we have noted before, not every communication from your lawyers is...

What is the FOIA disclosure exception to the Privacy Act?

Mar 19, 2021 · Administrative appeals from EOUSA/FOIA are reviewed by an attorney in the Office of Information Policy. The attorney ordinarily will have available all of the files pertaining to the processing of your request and will make an independent determination as to whether the component has properly handled your request.

Is it easy to get information under the freedom of Information Act?

Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests …

What can a lawyer reveal from a conversation with a client that is in private?

Lawyers may not reveal oral or written communications with clients that clients reasonably expect to remain private. A lawyer who has received a client's confidences cannot repeat them to anyone outside the legal team without the client's consent.

Should a lawyer communicate with another party whom the lawyer knows is represented by counsel?

(a) In representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate directly or indirectly about the subject of the representation with a person* the lawyer knows* to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the lawyer has the consent of the other lawyer.

What are some of the important things that an attorney should do when first considering representation of a client?

In order to determine whether an attorney may represent a potential new client or an existing client in a new matter, the attorney must (1) identify the client; (2) determine whether a conflict exists; (3) decide if representation could be undertaken despite the conflict; and, (4) get consent from all clients involved ...Jan 31, 2008

What is the attorney-client privilege and what is the rationale for its existence?

The United States Supreme Court states that the privilege exists to “encourage full and frank communication between attorneys and their clients and thereby promote broader public interests in the observance of law and administration of justice.Dec 13, 2016

When can a lawyer communicate about a legal matter with someone who already has a lawyer?

In representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate about the subject of the representation with a person the lawyer knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the lawyer has the consent of the other lawyer or is authorized to do so by law or a court order.

Do lawyers have to talk to each other?

California Rule of Professional Conduct 2-100(A) prohibits a lawyer from communicating about a matter with a party known to be represented by a lawyer without the prior consent of that lawyer. Rule 2-100 defines “party” broadly.Sep 26, 2016

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What are the four responsibilities of lawyers?

DutiesAdvise and represent clients in courts, before government agencies, and in private legal matters.Communicate with their clients, colleagues, judges, and others involved in the case.Conduct research and analysis of legal problems.Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses.More items...

Can a lawyer testify against his client?

In essence, attorney-client privilege is what upholds attorneys' duty of confidentiality in legal proceedings. It's a rule of evidence that prevents lawyers from testifying about the contents of their oral or written communications with clients, or from being forced to do so by an opposing legal team.Nov 9, 2018

Which of the following may not be protected under the attorney-client privilege?

Which of the following may not be protected under the attorney-client privilege? A client who orally confesses to a crime. Correct!

What information is covered by the duty of confidentiality?

In common law jurisdictions, the duty of confidentiality obliges solicitors (or attorneys) to respect the confidentiality of their clients' affairs. Information that solicitors obtain about their clients' affairs may be confidential, and must not be used for the benefit of persons not authorized by the client.

How to request expedited treatment?

Can my request be processed faster? 1 First, a request will be expedited if the lack of expedited treatment could reasonably be expected to pose a threat to someone's life or physical safety. 2 Second, a request will be expedited if the information requested is urgently needed to inform the public concerning some actual or alleged federal government activity, and if it is made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information to the public. 3 Third, if an individual will suffer the loss of substantial due process rights, his or her request will be expedited. A request will not normally be expedited merely because the requester is facing a court deadline in a judicial proceeding. 4 Finally, a request will be expedited if the subject of the request is of widespread and exceptional media interest and the information sought involves possible questions about the government's integrity which affect public confidence. Decisions to expedite under this fourth standard are made by DOJ's Director of Public Affairs.

Can I request access to public records?

(Subpart A), one may request access to public, nonexempt records maintained by the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) and/or individual United States Attorneys' Offices (USAOs). Before submitting a request, please visit our "FOIA Libraries", as such records may be available, on-line, at no cost.

Can you request expedited processing?

Under certain conditions you may be entitled to have your request processed on an expedited basis. At the Department of Justice, there are four specific situations where a request will be expedited, which means that it is handled as soon as practicable.

What is FOIA law?

It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government.

Can a FOIA request be made for any agency?

A FOIA request can be made for any agency record. You can also specify the format in which you wish to receive the records (for example, printed or electronic form). The FOIA does not require agencies to create new records or to conduct research, analyze data, or answer questions when responding to requests.

What is an exemption 2?

Exemption 2: Information related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency. Exemption 3: Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law. Exemption 4: Trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is confidential or privileged.

Is there a fee for FOIA?

There is no initial fee required to submit a FOIA request, but the FOIA does provide for the charging of certain types of fees in some instances. For a typical requester the agency can charge for the time it takes to search for records and for duplication of those records.

What is the third exclusion?

The third exclusion is limited to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and protects the existence of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international terrorism records when the existence of such records is classified. Records falling within an exclusion are not subject to the requirements of the FOIA.