What materials are protected under the work-product privilege?

The work-product privilege protects materials that are prepared in anticipation of litigation, which encompasses a variety of documents and materials created by or for an attorney, or by their agents, when preparing for a legal proceeding. This privilege is designed to ensure that attorneys can prepare their cases without fear that their notes, strategies, and other preparatory work will be available to opposing parties.

This protection is crucial in maintaining the confidentiality of an attorney's preparatory processes and promotes fairness and efficiency in the legal system. Documents and materials that fall under this privilege can include drafting of pleadings, witness statements, legal memoranda, and trial strategy, among others, as they are intrinsically linked to the attorney's strategies and thought processes surrounding the case at hand.

Other options do not qualify for this privilege. For example, all documents related to a case could include various materials that are not necessarily prepared in anticipation of litigation. Official transcripts of court proceedings are public records and not considered work product, as they are created by the court rather than the attorney. Medical records and patient notes are protected under confidentiality regulations such as HIPAA, but they do not fall under the category of work-product privilege since they are not specifically prepared for legal proceedings.