The goal of this article is to analyze and evaluate the phenomenon of professional secrecy of attorneys-at-law and their independence. This article is a result of the author’s particular interest in the issues concerning the independence of attorneys-at-law and its limits. The essence of this publication is to illustrate the complexity of this phenomenon.

The author tried to pay special attention to situations in which the obligation to maintain professional secrecy is subject to restrictions resulting from the specific nature of particular types of proceedings – primarily criminal proceedings, but also proceedings in the field of competition protection. The author also points out the consequences that an attorney-at-law faces for violating the obligation to maintain professional secrecy. 

The goal of this article is to analyze and evaluate the phenomenon of professional secrecy of attorneys-at-law and their independence. This article is a result of the author’s particular interest in the issues concerning the independence of attorneys-at-law and its limits. The essence of this publication is to illustrate the complexity of this phenomenon.

The author tried to pay special attention to situations in which the obligation to maintain professional secrecy is subject to restrictions resulting from the specific nature of particular types of proceedings – primarily criminal proceedings, but also proceedings in the field of competition protection. The author also points out the consequences that an attorney-at-law faces for violating the obligation to maintain professional secrecy.