What rule prevents sharing the status of an investigation with the CEO in a law-firm setting?

What rule prevents sharing the status of an investigation with the CEO in a law-firm setting?

• A. Good manners
• B. The attorney-work-product rule
• C. Trade secrets
• D. ISO 17799

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the attorney-work-product rule, which protects documents and materials created by or for lawyers in preparation for litigation from disclosure. In a law-firm setting, sharing the status of an investigation with a CEO (an executive who isn’t part of the attorney-client team) could reveal legal strategies, mental impressions, and trial-preparation work. This could undermine the case and risk waiving privilege by exposing protected material to a non-attorney. So, the work-product rule is what prevents that sharing. The other options don’t fit: good manners isn’t a legal protection, trade secrets cover business information not specifically tied to litigation prep, and ISO 17799 (now ISO/IEC 27002) is a general information-security standard, not a privilege rule.

The main idea here is the attorney-work-product rule, which protects documents and materials created by or for lawyers in preparation for litigation from disclosure. In a law-firm setting, sharing the status of an investigation with a CEO (an executive who isn’t part of the attorney-client team) could reveal legal strategies, mental impressions, and trial-preparation work. This could undermine the case and risk waiving privilege by exposing protected material to a non-attorney. So, the work-product rule is what prevents that sharing. The other options don’t fit: good manners isn’t a legal protection, trade secrets cover business information not specifically tied to litigation prep, and ISO 17799 (now ISO/IEC 27002) is a general information-security standard, not a privilege rule.