A lawyer who receives a document inadvertently must:

A lawyer who receives a document inadvertently must:

• A. Copy the document for internal use.
• B. Notify the sender of the inadvertent receipt.
• C. Disseminate the document to others.
• D. Destroy the document immediately.

Answer: (B)

When a lawyer receives a document that was sent by mistake, the priority is to protect the privilege and confidentiality involved. The proper move is to promptly notify the sender that the document was inadvertently received. This gives the sender the chance to address the mistake and take any needed steps to retrieve and protect the material. Copying the document for internal use goes against that duty to protect the information and would unnecessarily retain privileged material. Disseminating the document to others would spread the confidential material and violate ethical obligations. Destroying the document immediately, without first notifying the sender, bypasses the sender’s opportunity to reclaim the document and could disrupt the protection of the confidential information. Notifying the sender is the essential first step, after which you would typically return or securely destroy the document in accordance with the rules.

When a lawyer receives a document that was sent by mistake, the priority is to protect the privilege and confidentiality involved. The proper move is to promptly notify the sender that the document was inadvertently received. This gives the sender the chance to address the mistake and take any needed steps to retrieve and protect the material.

Copying the document for internal use goes against that duty to protect the information and would unnecessarily retain privileged material. Disseminating the document to others would spread the confidential material and violate ethical obligations. Destroying the document immediately, without first notifying the sender, bypasses the sender’s opportunity to reclaim the document and could disrupt the protection of the confidential information. Notifying the sender is the essential first step, after which you would typically return or securely destroy the document in accordance with the rules.