What can I tell my solicitor in confidence?
Solicitors owe a duty of confidentiality to their clients.
However, there are exceptions to this rule, the most recent being the obligation on law firms to report clients whom they suspect of money-laundering.
If a solicitor has a suspicion that a client is attempting to launder money, he or she has a duty under the law to report them to the Metropolitan Police who have a Special Unit – the National Crime Investigation Service - dedicated to the task of tracking down money launderers.
The solicitor cannot tell the client that they have been reported - otherwise the solicitor will have committed an offence known as “tipping off” and will go to prison as a result.
Solicitors also can reveal confidential information that they believe is necessary to prevent a client or a third party committing a criminal act that they reasonably believe could result in serious bodily harm.
A number of laws empower government and other bodies, for example the HM Revenue and Customs, to require disclosure of documents and/or information. Solicitors may have to provide information in these circumstances.
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