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HomeEvidence CodeDiv. 8Ch. 4Art. 3.5§ 965 Client And Lawyer Definitions

§ 965 Client And Lawyer Definitions

Evidence Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 965 Client And Lawyer Definitions

Key Takeaways

  • •A 'client' is someone who asks a lawyer referral service for help finding a lawyer, even if they're not fully capable of making decisions themselves.
  • •Any private talk between a client and a lawyer referral service is kept secret, just like with a doctor or priest.
  • •Only the client (or their guardian, if they have one) can decide to share that secret info later.
  • •A 'lawyer referral service' is a special, approved service that helps people find lawyers.

Example

You call a service to find a lawyer because you got hurt in a car crash.

The things you tell the service to help find the right lawyer are kept private, just like if you told a doctor about your injury. Only you can decide to share those details later.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 965 Client And Lawyer Definitions

For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) “Client” means a person who, directly or through an authorized representative, consults a lawyer referral service for the purpose of retaining, or securing legal services or advice from, a lawyer in his or her professional capacity, and includes an incompetent who consults the lawyer referral service himself or herself or whose guardian or conservator consults the lawyer referral service on his or her behalf. (b) “Confidential communication between client and lawyer referral service” means information transmitted between a client and a lawyer referral service in the course of that relationship and in confidence by a means that, so far as the client is aware, does not disclose the information to third persons other than those who are present to further the interests of the client in the consultation or those to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for the transmission of the information or the accomplishment of the purpose for which the lawyer referral service is consulted. (c) “Holder of the privilege” means any of the following: (1) The client, if the client has no guardian or conservator. (2) A guardian or conservator of the client, if the client has a guardian or conservator. (3) The personal representative of the client if the client is dead, including a personal representative appointed pursuant to Section 12252 of the Probate Code. (4) A successor, assign, trustee in dissolution, or any similar representative of a firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, or public entity that is no longer in existence. (d) “Lawyer referral service” means a lawyer referral service certified under, and operating in compliance with, Section 6155 of the Business and Professions Code or an enterprise reasonably believed by the client to be a lawyer referral service certified under, and operating in compliance with, Section 6155 of the Business and Professions Code. (Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 123, Sec. 2. (AB 267) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

complianceclientconfidential communicationholder of the privilegelawyer referral servicepartnershipcorporationdissolution

Related Statutes

  • § 966 Lawyer Referral Service Privilege
  • § 967 Lawyer Referral Service Privilege
  • § 968 Crime Or Harm Exception
  • § 1035.8 Sexual Assault Counselor Privilege
  • § 954 Client-Lawyer Confidentiality Privilege

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Evidence Code. Section 965.
View Official Source