Certified Legal Professional (CLP) Practice Exam

When can a corporate attorney disclose information about a violation discovered within the corporation?

1. Only with the corporation's explicit consent.

2. When there's clear evidence of wrongdoing.

3. When necessary to uphold the integrity of the legal system.

4. When an employee raises a concern about the ethical implications of corporate actions.

The correct answer is: When necessary to uphold the integrity of the legal system.

A corporate attorney is generally bound by the duty of confidentiality, which protects information obtained during the representation of a client, including a corporation. However, there are exceptions to this rule under which an attorney may disclose information without violating confidentiality. The choice that indicates disclosure is appropriate when necessary to uphold the integrity of the legal system aligns with the attorney's ethical obligations under various legal frameworks, such as the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. These rules allow attorneys to reveal information when they have a reasonable belief that disclosure is necessary to prevent a crime or fraud that is likely to result in substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another, or to prevent, mitigate, or rectify substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another that is reasonably certain to result from the client's commission of a crime or fraud. This reasoning underlines why an attorney can be compelled to act in the interest of the legal system’s integrity, particularly when the actions of the corporation might cause significant harm. Thus, the correct choice reflects the legal and ethical responsibility of corporate attorneys in situations where their client’s actions pose a broader risk to other stakeholders or the public. In contrast, the options regarding explicit consent, evidence of wrongdoing, or employee concerns do not encapsulate the broader legal obligation to