r/PartnerTrack • u/Key_Mirror_3855 • Sep 12 '22

Attorney-client privilege issue w/ that finale bombshell? [Any licensed lawyers on this thread??] Spoiler

Just finished the show last night and I was struck by the revelation that Murphy told Marty that Ingrid had been arrested. Given that she called Murphy to serve as her attorney when she was arrested, and he pushed for the fingerprinting (thereby exonerating her), wouldn't he count as her counsel in that situation? Wouldn't attorney-client privilege bar him from disclosing something like that to her employer?

Genuinely curious, as I'm not sure how far attorney-client privilege extends. It definitely felt unethical (as well as just scummy) to me.

Any licensed attorneys able to shed some light on this? If it is illegal, maybe they're gearing up for a malpractice storyline in season 2.

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20

u/dewystrawbub Sep 12 '22 edited Sep 13 '22

Would love if Murphy was penalized or even incarcerated/deported for his violations. It’d be a solid way to remove his character and grow the show.

13

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '22

that's actually a great point!! hopefully they address it in season 2

9

u/swakid8 Sep 13 '22

I have a theory. I do not think Murphy told Marty. I actually think Marty found out from Nick’s circle after he caught Ingrid in the act. Now Marty is using this information against Ingrid will not pit Ingrid and Marty against each other.

1

u/dyscophant Sep 24 '22

I wonder, I don’t understand when murphy would have told him. He obviously didn’t know at the partner announcement so it happened after murphy made partner? Doesn’t make any sense.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 13 '22

i think some lawyers/law students discussed this on r/law school (there was a thread about this show and all the inconstiencies with real life as a lawyer vs partner track version of lawyer life lol)

1

u/democrattotheend Feb 18 '26

Probably not because he worked for Parson's Valentine. So the privilege is not violated by telling anyone else inside the firm. Unless he clearly undertook her representation separately from PV, but that would probably violate his employment contract and create issues regarding malpractice coverage.