Depends on state law, intent of the parties, type of communication, etc.
You can have a free interview that is privileged...and yet never retain the attorney. Usually the attorney wouldn't then say you were "a client," but the attorney would certainly claim the attorney-client privilege for your benefit if an issue arose regarding that communication...the court would consider you his client for the limited purpose of protecting the content of that interview.
Work can be "pro bono" which means free, and the privilege can still attach.
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