What is the professional obligation of confidence that lawyers have towards clients?

The professional obligation of confidence that lawyers have towards clients is fundamentally about protecting the secrecy of information learned in the course of the attorney-client relationship. This responsibility is rooted in the principle of client confidentiality, which is designed to foster open communication between clients and their lawyers.

Lawyers must safeguard all information related to the representation of a client, regardless of the source of that information, unless the client gives informed consent for disclosure or there is an exception to the rule. This obligation is paramount in maintaining the trust that is essential to the legal profession and ensuring that clients feel secure in sharing sensitive information with their attorneys without the fear of it being revealed to others.

Maintaining confidentiality also serves to protect clients' interests and rights, as well as uphold the integrity of the legal system. Therefore, the correct answer focuses on this critical duty of lawyers to protect all secret information learned from any source, which is central to their ethical responsibilities.