Legal Definitions - confidence

Confidence

In a legal context, confidence refers to a situation where one party places trust in another, often involving the sharing of private or sensitive information with the expectation that it will be kept secret. It can also refer to the private information itself that is shared under such an understanding, particularly when that information is legally protected from disclosure.

• Example 1: A startup founder has confidence in their lead engineer's ability to develop a groundbreaking new software feature within a tight deadline.

  Explanation: This illustrates the general sense of firm trust or assured expectation. The founder believes in the engineer's skills and judgment to successfully complete the complex task.

• Example 2: A patient shares deeply personal health information with their doctor, relying on the doctor to treat these details as a confidence and not disclose them to unauthorized parties.

  Explanation: Here, confidence refers to the act of entrusting private information to someone within a professional relationship, with the understanding that it will be handled with discretion and kept private due to the nature of the relationship.

• Example 3: During a confidential meeting, a corporate executive reveals details about an ongoing internal investigation to the company's legal counsel. These disclosures are considered confidences protected by attorney-client privilege.

  Explanation: This highlights the most legally specific meaning. The information shared between the executive and the attorney is a "confidence" because it is a private communication made within a legally recognized privileged relationship (attorney-client). This privilege generally prevents the attorney from being compelled to reveal these details without the client's consent, ensuring open communication for legal advice.