Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

It's privileged in most situations. Like many people who post on here, you have thrown out a legal question into a vacuum. Law does not exist in a vacuum, but rather depends on facts.

For example, if a client files a complaint with the State Bar, the first thing the Bar investigator asks for is a copy of the retainer agreement, It also becomes relevant in a dispute between the client and attorney over fees.

Mr. Roach is correct. It's not the contents that make it privileged, it's the context.