Generally speaking, yes, an attorney has a duty of confidentiality even before agreeing to represent the client in their case. See TDRPC, Preamble, Sec. 12; Rule 1.05(a); and TRE, Rule 503(a)(1).

In most cases, the answer is no. Attorneys are bound by the attorney-client privilege, which means anything told to your attorney is confidential and can only be shared other attorneys in the firm and their staff. There are some exceptions to this rule, but generally attorneys cannot disclose information obtained in the course of your case.

First, always discuss your concerns and issues directly with your attorney. During these discussions, it is important to remember that just because there was an unfavorable result in your case, it does not mean the attorney did anything legally wrong. Legal issues often involve uncertainty and vastly different outcomes occur on a case-by-case basis.

If you do not feel that your concerns were addressed by your attorney, you can call the Client Attorney Assistance Program of the State Bar of Texas, which assists clients in resolving disputes with attorneys. To contact CAAP, call 1-800-932-1900.

To file a grievance against a lawyer, or to obtain more information about how or when to file a grievance against an attorney, to www.texasbar.com. In the “For the Public” section of the home page, click on the link that reads: “Complaints against a lawyer? Get information on the process.”

Yes, a lawyer may record a telephone conversation with a client without their knowledge or consent. This rule has changed as of November 2006. However, the lawyer may not expressly deny to the client that the conversation is not being recorded. The recording must be for a legitimate purpose, not be a violation of law, and be treated as confidential client information as per the attorney-client privilege.

No, this is a conflict of interest and in violation of DR 1.06 (a).

You are not required to have a lawyer to obtain U.S. Immigration benefits. All immigration applications and their instructions are available online. However, the U.S. Immigration system can be extremely complex. Immigration attorneys, such as NSZ Independent Attorneys, are the best way to navigate the complex immigration law. They will assist with developing an application strategy, which is vital for a successful immigration case. If you expect any difficulties with your case or simply prefer to have someone else handle the legwork on a simple case, it is best to talk to an immigration attorney.