In Vietnam, is it compulsory for lawyers to keep clients' information secret after completing legal services?
In Vietnam, is it compulsory for lawyers to keep clients' information confidential after completing legal services? In Vietnam, is it compulsory for colleagues of lawyers to keep clients' information confidential?
Hello Lawnet. As far as I know, in the process of providing legal services to clients, lawyers must keep absolute confidentiality of all information of the case and the clients' information. After the service is finished, can the lawyer disclose the clients' information? Looking forward to your answer.
<subquestion>In Vietnam, is it necessary for lawyers to keep customers' information confidential after completing legal services?</subquestion>
Pursuant to Point 7.1, Rule 7 of the Code of Ethics And Conduct of Vietnamese Lawyers issued together with the Decision 201/QD-HDLSTQ in 2019 stipulating confidentiality as follows:
7.1. Lawyers have the obligation to preserve the confidentiality of any information of a client while rendering legal service and upon completion of the service, unless there is the consent of the client or otherwise prescribed by law.
As regulations above, lawyers shall keep customers' information confidential even after completing legal services. They shall only disclose the clients' information when they have permission from the clients.
<subquestion>In Vietnam, is it compulsory for colleagues of lawyers to keep clients' information confidential?</subquestion>
Pursuant to Point 7.2, Rule 7 of the Code of Ethics And Conduct of Vietnamese Lawyers issued together with the Decision 201/QD-HDLSTQ in 2019 stipulating confidentiality as follows:
7.2. Lawyers have the responsibility to request relevant colleagues and staff in their legal practice organization to commit not to disclose any confidential information they know, and clearly explain legal liability upon revelation of any secret.
As regulations above, lawyers' colleagues, who are relevant to their current legal services, shall also keep any customers' information they know confidential.
