Under confidentiality rules, a counselor may disclose confidential information without client authorization in which circumstance?

Prepare for the LPCC Law and Ethics Test 2. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations. Enhance your understanding of ethics and legal standards for effective counseling practice.

The main concept is that confidentiality has strict, legally mandated exceptions. The only situation in which a counselor may disclose confidential information without the client’s authorization is when a court order requires the disclosure or when disclosure is required by law. In those cases, the counselor must comply with the order or statute and disclose only the information necessary to satisfy that requirement.

Disclosures to a potential employer or to a family member upon request generally require the client's explicit consent, unless there is a separate legal obligation that dictates otherwise. Disclosing information simply for the client’s convenience is not permissible without a legitimate legal or safety-based exception.

So the correct circumstance is a court order or other legal requirement that compels disclosure.