Federal Rule of Evidence 502 governs the treatment of inadvertent disclosures of privileged attorney-client communications or work-product materials. While Rule 502 is an evidence rule, the cases interpreting and applying it focus on its impact on the scope of discovery. Enacted by Congress in 2008, it was designed to address the growing risks of inadvertent disclosure in the era of e-discovery. The rule acknowledges the practical challenges of privilege review and aims to reduce the associated costs and uncertainties.
In the January 30, 2025 edition of The Legal Intelligencer, Kelly Lavelle writes, “The Importance of Federal Rule of Evidence 502 and Its Impact on Privilege.” Continue reading ›