Northern Territory Numbered Acts Northern Territory Numbered Acts(1) In this Division:
"client" includes the following:
(a) a person or body who engages a lawyer to provide legal services or who employs a lawyer (including under a contract of service);
(b) an employee or agent of a client;
(c) an employer of a lawyer if the employer is:
(i) the Commonwealth or a State or Territory; or
(ii) a body established by a law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory;
(d) if, under a law of a State or Territory relating to persons of unsound mind, a manager, committee or person (however described) is for the time being acting in respect of the person, estate or property of a client – a manager, committee or person so acting;
(e) if a client has died – a personal representative of the client;
(f) a successor to the rights and obligations of a client, being rights and obligations in respect of which a confidential communication was made.
"confidential communication" means a communication made in such circumstances that, when it was made:
(a) the person who made it; or
(b) the person to whom it was made;
was under an express or implied obligation not to disclose its contents, whether or not the obligation arises under law.
"confidential document" means a document prepared in such circumstances that, when it was prepared:
(a) the person who prepared it; or
(b) the person for whom it was prepared;
was under an express or implied obligation not to disclose its contents, whether or not the obligation arises under law.
"lawyer" means:
(a) an Australian lawyer; and
(b) an Australian-registered foreign lawyer; and
(c) an overseas-registered foreign lawyer or a natural person who, under the law of a foreign country, is permitted to engage in legal practice in that country; and
(d) an employee or agent of a lawyer referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
"party" includes the following:
(a) an employee or agent of a party;
(b) if, under a law of a State or Territory relating to persons of unsound mind, a manager, committee or person (however described) is for the time being acting in respect of the person, estate or property of a party – a manager, committee or person so acting;
(c) if a party has died – a personal representative of the party;
(d) a successor to the rights and obligations of a party, being rights and obligations in respect of which a confidential communication was made.
(2) A reference in this Division to the commission of an act includes a reference to a failure to act.