Under Rule 1.6(c)(4) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct — and similar rules in many states — a lawyer may disclose confidential client information “to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary” to defend against criminal charges, civil claims, or disciplinary actions arising from allegations of misconduct.
In other words, if a client sues for malpractice or accuses her former counsel of misconduct, the lawyer can reveal confidential communications — but only those strictly necessary to defend themselves.
This is not, of course, an invitation to expose our client’s …
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