cli·ent / ˈklīənt/ • n. 1. a person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company. ∎  a person receiving social or medical services. ∎  (also client state) a nation that is dependent on another, more powerful nation.2. Comput. (in a network) a desktop computer or workstation that is capable of obtaining information and applications from a server. ∎  (also client application or program) a program that is capable of obtaining a service provided by another program.3. (in ancient Rome) a plebeian under the protection of a patrician. ∎ archaic a dependent; a hanger-on.DERIVATIVES: cli·ent·ship / -ˌship/ n.

CLIENT

A person who employs or retains an attorney to represent him or her in any legal business; to assist, to counsel, and to defend the individual in legal proceedings; and to appear on his or her behalf in court.

This term includes a person who divulges confidential matters to an attorney while pursuing professional assistance, regardless of sub-sequent employment of the attorney. This attorney-client relationship is quite complex and extensive in its scope. One of the key aspects of this relationship is confidentiality of communications. A client has the right to require that his or her attorney keep secret any discussion between them during the course of their relationship that pertains to the matters for which the attorney is hired. This protection extends to a person who might have disclosed any confidential matters while seeking aid from an attorney, whether the attorney was employed or not. If, for example, someone is "shopping" for an attorney to handle a divorce, the person might reveal certain private information to several attorneys, all of whom are expected to keep such communications confidential.

cross-references

Attorney-Client Privilege.

client In general, someone or something receiving a service of some kind. Within computing the term frequently refers to one element of a client/server system, typically an application, that communicates with the end-user by means of a server.

client one under the protection of a patron XIV; one for whom an advocate pleads XV; customer XVII. — L. cliēns, client-, earlier cluēns, sb. use of prp. of cluere, cluēre hear, listen; see LISTEN.
So clientele, orig. (XVI) — L. clientēla, but obs. in XVII and readopted from F. XIX.