During initial (usually free for most cases) consultations, some potential clients will ask if consultations are confidential. The short answer is “yes.” Even though these people have not become clients yet, their statements are not disclosed to anyone outside the office without permission from the potential clients.
Rule 1.18 of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct states:
(a) A person who discusses with a lawyer the possibility of forming a client-lawyer relationship with respect to a matter is a prospective client.
(b) Even when no client-lawyer relationship ensues, a lawyer who has had discussions with a prospective client shall not use or reveal information learned in the consultation, except as Rule 1.9 would permit with respect to information of a former client.
