Privacy Statement

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This Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information collected through our website and in connection with our business activities. We are committed to handling personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and our professional obligations as legal practitioners.

Our obligations extend beyond privacy legislation. As lawyers, we owe duties of confidentiality to our clients and to the courts. Legal professional privilege may also protect certain documents, communications and information relating to the legal services we provide.

Our approach to privacy

We collect and handle personal information for legitimate business and legal purposes, including providing legal services, communicating with clients and meeting our legal and regulatory obligations.

Where reasonably possible, we obtain information directly from the person to whom it relates. In some circumstances, however, information may be obtained from another source where direct collection is impracticable or unreasonable.

Depending on the circumstances, we may obtain information from clients, employers, colleagues, government registers, recruitment agencies, publicly available sources, and online publications.

Website and cookies

When you visit our website, our website provider or other service providers may collect technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited and information about how you use the website.

We may use cookies and similar technologies to operate, secure and improve our website and to understand website usage.

You can generally adjust your browser settings to refuse or restrict cookies. However, doing so may affect the functionality of some parts of our website.

Information we may collect

Personal information generally means information or an opinion about an individual who is identified or reasonably identifiable, regardless of whether that information is recorded.

The information we collect will depend on the nature of our relationship with you. It may include:

• Your name, address and contact details;
• Your date of birth;
• Your position, employer, professional memberships and other professional information;
• Information about your dealings with us or our clients;
• Information about an  organisation with which you are associated, including relevant employees      and management;
• Payment and billing information;
• Information relating to legal matters;
• Information concerning   your interests in particular areas of legal practice or our events; and
• Information provided in connection with applications for employment or other roles with us.

We may also collect sensitive information, which is a specific category of personal information under the Privacy Act. This can include information concerning racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, memberships, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, health or criminal history.

Sensitive information will only be collected, used or disclosed where reasonably necessary for our functions and where you have consented, or where applicable law permits or requires us to do so.

Information collected for AML/CTF purposes

We are a reporting entity under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (AML/CTF Act). Our obligations under that legislation may require us to obtain information about individual clients and certain individuals connected with our clients. This may include government-issued identification information. Information collected specifically to satisfy our AML/CTF obligations is maintained separately from our ordinary operational information and is used for compliance purposes.

Where the AML/CTF Act requires us to provide information to AUSTRAC, we may be legally prohibited from notifying you of that disclosure. Information protected by legal professional privilege is not required to be disclosed where the privilege applies.

Why we use personal information

Personal information may be collected, held, used or disclosed for purposes such as:

• Providing legal advice and other legal services;
• Communicating with clients and other relevant persons;
• Arranging seminars, events and other communications;
• Engaging external providers who assist us in delivering our services;
• Managing our business and client relationships;
• Improving the services we provide;
• Complying with legal, regulatory and professional obligations;
• Exercising rights or performing functions authorised by law; and
• Other purposes reasonably connected with operating our business.

If we cannot collect certain personal information, we may be unable to provide some of our services or perform particular functions.

When information may be shared

We may disclose personal information where appropriate and consistent with our professional duties.

Recipients may include:

• Barristers, experts, valuers and other professionals engaged in connection with legal matters;
• Other parties involved in dispute resolution;
• Contractors, agents and service providers, including imaging, marketing and courier providers;
• Professional advisers and insurers;
• Regulators, government bodies and law enforcement agencies where required or authorised by law;  and
• Other people or organisations where you have given us permission to disclose the information.

We do not ordinarily disclose personal information outside Australia. An overseas disclosure may occur where this is appropriate or necessary in connection with legal services being provided to a particular client.

Where it is lawful and appropriate, we seek to ensure that organisations or individuals receiving personal information are subject to confidentiality obligations. This may not be possible when information is provided to a court or government authority.

Marketing and communications

If you have an existing business relationship with us, or have otherwise provided consent, we may send you legal updates, information about events or other relevant communications.

You can withdraw from marketing communications at any time. You can do so by contacting us using the details in this policy or by using the unsubscribe function included in our electronic communications.

We do not sell or provide your personal information, including your email address, to third parties so that they can market their own goods or services to you.

Protecting personal information

We maintain personal information in both electronic and physical formats and use security measures designed to protect it from:

• Unauthorised access;
• Unauthorised      modification or disclosure;
• Misuse;
• Interference; and
• Loss.

Our safeguards include password controls, antivirus and firewall protections, and restricted access to sensitive information. 

Access to sensitive personal information is limited to authorised personnel who are subject to confidentiality obligations.

When information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy or delete it. Information relating to legal matters will generally be retained for seven years following completion of the relevant matter before being securely destroyed or deleted.

Keeping information accurate

We recognise that accurate and current information is important, particularly when providing legal services.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information we collect, hold, use and disclose is accurate, complete and up to date. Where information is used or disclosed, we also seek to ensure that it remains relevant to the purpose for which it is being used or disclosed.

Your right to access information

You may ask us for access to personal information we hold about you.

We will acknowledge your request and advise you when you can expect a response. Where access is refused, we will generally provide written reasons for the decision and explain how you can make a complaint, unless the law permits us not to provide those details.

We may charge reasonable costs associated with providing access to personal information.

Our professional obligations may sometimes prevent us from confirming whether we act for a particular client or whether we hold information about a particular individual. This may apply at a particular point in time or more generally.

Privacy enquiries and complaints

Questions, concerns or complaints about our privacy practices, this Privacy Policy or our compliance with the Privacy Act or applicable privacy codes can be directed to our admin team at Admin@precinctlegal.com.au.

If you are dissatisfied with how we have handled your personal information, you may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

Information relating to our employees, partners and contractors

We collect information about our employees, partners and contractors throughout their relationship with us. This can begin during recruitment and onboarding and continue throughout their employment or engagement.

Information may be obtained directly from the individual or, where appropriate, from third parties such as recruitment agencies.

Depending on the person's circumstances and role, the information collected may include:

• Health information;
• Evidence of the person's right to work in Australia;
• Other sensitive information; and
• Information required for background or suitability checks.

Certain roles may require additional vetting, including criminal history checks, background checks or security clearances.

We may disclose personnel information to third parties where necessary for vetting or in connection with the person's employment or engagement. These third parties will generally be located in Australia, although some may be located overseas.

Where appropriate and legally permitted, we take reasonable steps to ensure that recipients of personnel information are subject to confidentiality obligations.

Under the Privacy Act, personal information relating to current and former employees may, in certain circumstances, be collected, used or disclosed where it is directly connected with the employment relationship. We handle employee information in accordance with applicable legislation and our policies as amended from time to time.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may review and update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our practices, legal obligations or business operations.