What type of information does Rule 1.6 safeguard?

Rule 1.6 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct specifically addresses the confidentiality of information related to the representation of a client. This rule emphasizes the importance of safeguarding all information pertaining to the representation, which is deemed confidential and privileged.

The rationale behind this regulation is to ensure that clients can speak freely and openly with their attorneys without fear of their disclosures being made public or used against them in any way. This protection is crucial for fostering a trusting attorney-client relationship, which is the cornerstone of effective legal representation.

Confidential and privileged information can include not only what the client shares with the attorney but also any information that comes to the attorney’s knowledge during the course of representation that is not known to the public and that, if disclosed, could be damaging to the client’s interests.

In contrast, financial records and publicly available documents do not fall under the same confidentiality standards as the information governed by Rule 1.6. Client testimonials, while important, do not relate to the confidentiality that is emphasized by this rule. Hence, the correct answer highlights the vital nature of protecting client information in a professional legal context.