ICAM launches “Nuestro secreto, tu defensa” to highlight professional secrecy

The Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid (ICAM) has launched the institutional campaign “Nuestro secreto, tu defensa” to raise awareness of professional secrecy as a fundamental guarantee of the right to legal defence. Timed to coincide with the International Day of the Lawyer, the initiative emphasises that lawyer-client confidentiality protects citizens, not lawyers.

The campaign unfolds through two digital spots and a series of online materials aimed at both the general public and legal professionals. The first video illustrates how citizens facing legal issues — from dismissal to criminal accusations — depend on a safe space to speak freely with their lawyer. The second traces ICAM’s recent institutional efforts, including legislative amendments, responses to breaches of confidentiality, and support for in-house and tax lawyers.

ICAM dean Eugenio Ribón stated: “Professional secrecy is not a shield for lawyers, it is a shield for citizens. Without it, the right to defence becomes a fiction.”

The graphic centrepiece of the campaign shows a folder on a lawyer’s desk — a metaphor for the protection granted to anything shared with a defence lawyer. The campaign uses a direct, accessible tone to explain why confidentiality affects every person, particularly in an increasingly digital justice system.

“Nuestro secreto, tu defensa” is part of a broader strategy by ICAM’s governing board, which since 2023 has defended professional secrecy at judicial, legislative, and institutional levels in Spain and Europe. The campaign also includes a downloadable media kit for law firms, legal departments, and associations.