Last-Link Doctrine Law and Legal Definition
Last link doctrine is a rule that the identity of a client may become privileged if divulging it would reveal information protected by the attorney–client privilege, particularly if the information would provide essential evidence to support indicting or convicting the client of a crime. This is an exception to the rule that a client's identity is not privileged.
The last link doctrine, protects a client's identity when disclosure of that identity would disclose other, privileged communications (e.g., motive or strategy) and when the incriminating nature of the privileged communications has created in the client a reasonable expectation that the information would be kept confidential.[In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 896 F.2d 1267, 1273 (11th Cir. Fla. 1990)]
