Are disclosures to instructing solicitors or admin staff allowed under a confidential setting without breaching Rule 108 under Rule 107?

• A. Yes, as long as they are necessary for providing legal services.
• B. No, never.
• C. Only when the court orders.
• D. Only with client permission.

Answer: (A)

Disclosing confidential information to those who help you provide legal services is allowed. If instructing solicitors or admin staff need to know certain details to carry out the representation, sharing that information is a normal and necessary part of delivering the service. The confidentiality obligation covers these internal disclosures, provided they are limited to what is reasonably necessary and the recipients are bound to keep the information confidential.

This doesn’t require a court order, and it doesn’t generally require client permission for routine staff disclosures within the operation of providing legal services. Of course, keep the scope narrowly tailored to what’s needed and ensure staff duties of confidentiality are respected.