Can You Tell Your Lawyer You’re Guilty? The Truth About Attorney–Client Honesty
When it comes to criminal defense, one of the biggest moral and legal questions people ask is: “Can I tell my lawyer I’m guilty?” Movies often dramatize this moment as a tense confession a lawyer looking shocked, a client breaking down but real life operates under a very different, and far more complex, set of ethical rules. Let’s unpack what actually happens when a client admits guilt, and how honesty impacts your case. Understanding Attorney–Client Privilege Before anything else, it’s important to understand the foundation of trust between a lawyer and client: attorney–client privilege . What It Means Attorney–client privilege means that: Anything you tell your lawyer in confidence can’t be shared with anyone else not the judge, not the police, not even the prosecution. This protection encourages open communication , allowing your lawyer to give you the strongest defense possible. Exceptions to the Rule While privilege is powerful, it’s not absolute. A lawyer...