Lawyer Honesty: The Need For Truth

Your attorney needs to know everything you know in order to present the best defense possible. Keeping secrets or outright lying is only going to hurt your case when things go to trial.

It is important to remember that your lawyer is not there to pass judgment on you. He is doing a job and his job is to defend you in a court of law or make the best possible case he can for a settlement. Lying impedes his ability to do this in many ways. Many people lie to their doctors when it comes to questions like “How much are you smoking?” or “How have you been eating lately?” They do this because they don’t want to be judged and they don’t want to receive a lecture. People do it to their attorneys for many of the same reasons. If you are in this position, however, remember that your attorney will only ever lecture you for not telling the truth.

Keep in mind that your lawyer wants to beat the case as well. He is on your side and nothing you are going to tell him is going to put him off that. It is his job to defend you. If he decides he doesn’t want to know whether or not you’ve committed the crime you are accused of, so be it. Otherwise, full disclosure is the name of the game. Remember that your attorney’s career takes a hit with every case they lose. They don’t have to like you on a personal level to want to try their hardest to defend you in court.

Above all, remember that the attorney-client privilege prevents a lawyer from repeating anything you tell him to someone else. The only exception to this is if you tell him you are planning to commit a crime in the future. He then may have a responsibility, or at least the option, to inform the authorities of your plan. Everything else must be kept completely confidential. This rule is in place to give clients the freedom to be open and honest with their representation. Go and take advantage of this rule, as it will only help you.